The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-12-21

Eldridges, the Gordons were there, Tn
addition to perhaps dozen and q half
other people whom had never met
Also. Mr.. Blodgett was there. y
Old Mr.. Blodgett is Hawkins IA
ther-in-law. There is Mrs. Blodgett,
too, but she is really too sweet an old
lady to be placed in the mother-in-laW
category.
Blodgett, however, makes up Tor any
deficiencies on his wife's part In the
traditional traits. He seems to have
analysed Hawkins with expert care
and precision-to have appraised and
classified his character and attain
ments to nicely.
Consequently, Hawkins and MI.
Blodgett are rarely to be observed
wandering hither and thither with
their arms about each others waists
Finally, I was there myself with my
wife.
It seems almost superfuous to men
ton my presence. Whenever HAWKINS
is on the verge of trouble with one OF
his contrivances, some esoterlc force
seems to sweep me along in his OIL
rection with resistless energy.
Sometimes 1 wonder what Hawkins
did for a victim before we met-but
let that be.
Dinner had been lively, for the
guests were mainly young, and the
wines such as Hawkins can afford;
but when we had assembled In the
drawing-room, conversation seemed to
slow down somewhat, and to pass over
to a languid discussion of the house as
a sort of relaxation.
Then it was that pert miss from
one of the Oranges remarked:
Eyes, the frescoing is lovely-almost
| all of it. But-whoever could have
| designed that frieze, Mr.. Hawkins!
| *Er-that frieze?" repeated the In
ventor, little uncomfortably, 1nd1-
| eating the insane-looking strip OF
painting foot or so wide which ran
along under the ceiling.
ayes, It's so funny. Nothing but
dots and dots and dots. Whoever
could have conceived such an idea?'
"Well, I did, Miss Mather,". Hawkins
replied. 81 designed that myself
"Oh, did you?" murmured the in
quisitive one, going red.
Hawkins turned to me, and the girl
subsidized; but old Mr.. Blodgett had
overheard. He felt constrained to put
in, with his usual tactful thought and
grating, nasal voice:
"It's hideous-simply hideous.
don't see-I can't see the sense In
spending that amount of money in
plastering painted roses and undressed
young ones all over the ceiling, Her.
bert"
"No?" said Hawkins, between his
teeth.
"Folly-pure folly" grunted the old
gentleman. mo reason for it-no
reason under the SUM-
Hawkins at least reserves family
dissensions for family occasions. He
held his peace and his tongue.
eyes, SIR persisted Blodgettt,
"everything else out of the question,
the house might catch fire to-night,
and your entire stock of painted ba.
bies go up in smoke. Then where'd
they be? Eh?' ,.-3
| 'See here" said Hawkins, goaded
into speech, you just keep your mind
easy on that score at least, will you,
| papa, dear?"
whats that? What's that?"
''This house isn't going up in
| smoke" went on the inventor, tartly.
You can take my word for it,
isn't, eh?" jeered the elderly Blod.
gett with his nasty sneering little
chuckle. "And how do you know it's
not? Eth? Smarter men than you,
my boy, and in better built houses
| have"
Look here! This particular place
isn't going to burn, because" Haw-
kins raped out.
What isn't going to burn, Her.
bert?" inquired Mrs. Hawkins, with a
j cold, warning glance at her husband
as she perceived that hostilities were
| in progress. els he teasing you again,
| papa?"
Teasing met" shifted Blodgett with
an unpleasant leer at Hawkins.
"Teasing that antiquity!" Hawkins
growled in my ear. "Say, isn't that
enough to-" /
Don't whisper, Herbert-it isn't po-
1ite,' continued Mrs. Hawkins, the
p1ayfulness other manner somewhat
belied by the glitter in her eye. LET
us all into the secret
"Oh, there's no secret said the in
ventor, shortly. - ~ w..
NO dance, either pouteds the girl
from Jersey, who was an Intimate OF
the family. al -. %t2s ~ r.
1t was the signal for the light fan.
tastic business to begin. :. Hawkins IL
VIGOROUSLY out Of sympathy with
dancing. He took my arm and guided
me stealthily from the .drawing-room.
"Phew!'' !. remarked the inventor
when we had settled ourselves urlpp. 10.
stairs with couple Of cigars. Say
Griggs, do you still wonder at crime?''
,'sMeaning?' (. <mS$, 3, !. .. : !. =Is # s* Fl.
! Meaning dear: Papa Blodgett,'
snapped Hawkins. s.5h III onestly, do you
believe 1t would be really wicked to
L 80 - 81. 81