The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-07-13
BY AID or
MORPHEUS !. !: !
BY MARVIN DANA
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

oA'tAHs o'oI LAelr cOHee IN the even
ang, the various members of the coach
ing party were detailing Impressions
from the days trip.
BY common consent the others
paused when Madam la Baronne de
Vaux began to speak. The dainty
frenchwoman was favorite with all.
and she was usually sure of listeners
to whatever she chose to say.
"Ah, that little village" she cried,
gally. That little village all of wood
with it's wooden church! But in
France 1t had been all of brick and
stone. Yet it was like-oh, so very
Hke!-a tiny place quite near our
chateau. And it was there that some
thing happened once, something droll,
and sweet
Madam la Baronne paused end
deepened, and the drollness flashed in
her black eyes.
Tell US, please tell us, madam" the
others clamored.
Surely" the baroness replied.
There was dear old boy lived in
the village, and, too, a dear old lady.
He was an old bachelor, and she was
an Old maid. Once, years and years
and years ago, she and ne had been
sWeethearts. Somehow they could not,
or would not, marry. He went away
for years, while she remained in the
village always. Then at last he came
back, and they were good friends.
They were too old to marry, or so they
thought. But every evening he called
on her, and they sat and chatted on
the Veranda when the season was
right, and at other times they sat in
two great chairs before the little fire
In the little parlor of her cottage.
One winters night, when the air was
most biting and their old blood chilled
by the frost of it, they sat cozily in
the par1or. as always, and the old gen.
tleman, suppose, was very busy to
heap the tiny fire high and to keep the
blaze brisk, so that they sat snugly in
their huge chairs and basked in the
warm glow, and chatted lazily and
drowsily of the past days, when love
was hot in their young hearts"
Madam, la Baronne broke off and
ran her merry eyes over the group
about her.
Have none Of you read the tale?"
she questioned. mo? Well, there is
little more. Indeed, l have only to
finish now. In the morning, when the
bonnie entered the parlor to dust it and
put things straight, she found the dear
old gentleman and the dear old lady
In their great chairs before the dying
fire in the tiny CRATE, and they were
sound asleep!"
The baroness smiled, and laughter
ran in the circle around her.
They were married as quickly as
the law would allow. Otherwise there
must have been whisper of scandal.
And, oh, l am sure that they lived
happy ever after; yes, even as happy
as befOre!"
The group chartered merrily over
the narrative and thanked the racon-
teuse with enthusiasm.
And now let us have some music"
the baroness suggested, and turned to
a patriotic American. "Of course.
that means you, Mr. Blennen."
Blennen's dark, thin face lighted
with pleasant smile, as he nodded
an assent to the general demand. but
before he rose from his chair his ewes
wandered toward woman at little
distance from him and there they rest
&c with suggestion of expectation in
their gaze. Almost instantly the
woman turned to meet his look, and
she spoke eagerly:
'Oh, please, Mr.. Blennen."
At the words a glow of pleasure
shone from the musicians face, and he
fastened toward the piano.
The early summer night of the Hud-
son valley was soft, dangerous, silent.
save for the restful droning of the in
sects. Through the open windows of
the great drawing-room came the lux
urious mingleu perfumes of many BIOS
SONS. 1t was night and company
for music. For Blennen, though
the inheritor of princely fortune,
was master of music.
When he had finished, and the crowd
of enthusiasts at last allowed him to
break from their compliments, he went
to her.
She made place beside her. and
flashed a glance of fond pride upon
him.
ut was wonderful, wonderful" she
cried, softly. 'Your genius, Vance. is
so true-so splendidly true! All, when
I listened to you, my soul went float
ing in magic land Of harmony. T.
She broke OF abruptly. Then, with
hardly seconds pause, she continued
gayly:
Il should never mind my insomnia
If could lie and hear you playing"
Poor child! you don't show any sign
of it. You are as fresh and dainty. as
lovely and superb Is ever-more beau.
tiful in my eyes, Grace"
The woman blushed and dropped he1
gaze in confusion at the passion in
his voice. Her, silence emboldened
him, and he continued in an cage,
whisper: 49, -.
Tell me, Grace, is not my happiness
coming to me soon-soon?"' ~ =:
But the woman raised her, hand an