The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-11-16

Claudia knocked three times light:
: " on the study door, making slight
pause after the first tap, then hardly
waiting for the low-voiced Come"
. from within, she pushed open the
door,
~Oh, it's you," said Pauline, glanc-
ing over her shoulder from her seat
in front of the open fire; then she
smiled and added: II ought to know
your knock by this time, but some
how 1 never fail to look inquiringly
when the door opens"
AS if anyone but me is ever ad-
united into this-I should say-un-
holy of unholies," cycling Pauline's
cigarette with some severity. Paul
inc laughed and moved the chair be-
side her fraction of an inch.
"Have one?" she asked, extending
n case from the taborette at her other
side.
THANKS, I believe I WILL" said
Claudia, promptly, taking the chair
and the gold-tipped cigarette at the
same time. She unloosened her furs,
stretched out two small feet to the
fire, and for a few moments there
was silence. Then Claudia, after
glance around the room, said, gloom
lily: Il don't see how you take all
this so calmly"
Pauline came out of her reverie
suddenly. "All this what?" she asked,
quietly. "Oh, don't PRETEND Claudia
was inclined to be cross. These
er-fesh pots, you know" with cir
.cuitous sweep of her hand around the
room.
Pauline turned slowly in her chair,
and followed with her eyes the wave
Of Claudia's hand. taking in for the
first time critically, as it were,
the rooms luxurious appointments;
its velvet rugs and costly draperies,
its pictures and brOnZes, and books.
She became conscious suddenly of the
dangerous odor of roses that en-
comprised her. Then having made
the circuit her eyes rested for mo-
ment on herself as revealed by the
long panel mirror at one side of the
fireplace. She studied, half curiously,
that face that looked back at her
the grave, sweet lips, the violet eyes
and brown hair; her eye followed the
lines of her slim figure in it's loose
negligee, and rested moment on
the patrician fingers of the hand that
held her cigarette. Then, after flick
ing carefully the ashes from the Gig
arctic, she turned squarely and faced
Claudia, looking earnestly at the
fresh, lovely young face, now half
-znockingly revealed against the rich
furs.
"Tell me, are you happy, Claudia?"
she asked, abruptly. -
Claudia stared a moment, then
caught her meaning. why, yes" she
said, slowly. Il have a good hus-
hand, dear little child, coy home,
and all that sort of thing, if that's
what you mean. I'm not unhappy,
nor even disconnected, but she
sighed little. sometimes I won
der why it has been given to you to,
be what you are-courted, admired,
envied, loved" Pauline raised
protesting hand.
Don't interrupt said Claudia, in
sudden vehemence. why were you
chosen to be one of the elect? l al
ways knew you liked to write and
all that-so did I. You and I were
girls together, within the same as
.pirations, but I never dreamed you
would write-like you do, you know
ooty1o 0hfoiro1 c111
den astonishing prestige because
know you Intimately. I'm not the
rose, but live near it, and all that"
and Claudia made face.
Nov, why can't write when l de-
sire to as intensely as you do?
couldn't put any feeling into any
thing'-half bitterly-"to save my
iife And why, l want to know, can
you? In short, why are you the
traveller, the distinguished author
the only Pauline Courtney Trevor
the celebrity"
Pauline was silent awhile, then
with sudden irrelevance:
-"How long have we been separated,
Claudia?"
Its ten years since you went
abroad" said Claudia, land you've
.been back-let me see-two years."
Pauline stared meditatively at her.
! self in the long mirror, and Claudia
it another cigarette, then turned to
took at Pauline half curiously. Her
long silence seemed pregnant with
meaning. Presently Pauline began to
speak with low-toned passion.
''Did you ever stop to think,
Claudia, that these" She paused,
and as she sent another swift glance
around the room, half smiled, these
flesh pots were bought with a price?"
Claudia drew back the least bit
uneasily.
What do you mean, Pauline?"
<'That they were bought with my
hearts blood" in sudden WEAKNESS,
and leaning her head back against
the chair.
1t costs something to be-a celeb
rity.''
Claudia waited.