The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-04-11


you," he answered, cheerfully.
Didn't l see you at the band con-
cert in the winter gardens the other
EVENING"" he asked.
Hilda nodded and smiled.
"You saved an old clergyman from
tumbling off his chart" she said,
amusedly. Il saw you. Why is 1t
clergymen are such a stupid set of
men all round?"
He gave a slight start.
"So-er-stupd- clergymen?" he
repeated obviously, as if he had not
heard Alright.
Hilda thought him quite dense.
yes" she explained, merrily I'm
afraid / dislike clergymen. It's very
wrong of me, know, BECAUSE"
She paused and a brilliant flush
suffused her delicate cheeks as she
suddenly became interested in the
sea.
"Because?" he repeated, patiently
awaiting her answer.
"Because-oh I'm supposed to be
going to-Oh! l don't quite know
why" she said, incoherently. "You
see-well, l daresay you will laugh
at me-but I've always been brought
up to expect that some day l must
marry a clergyman! 1t is very
stupid. Most probably If dad had
wanted me to marry an actor
should have felt distinctly rebel
lious desire for the cloth But as
1t is"
Human nature rebels, eh?" he
suggested, with a laugh. and the
balance is in favor of the actor"
81 don't know any actor, really"
she responded, naively. 80 l am
afraid there is no balance!"
And it's all dead weight against
the poor parson," he murmured,
taking a side glance at her.
Hilda shrugged her shoulders.
"Poor!" she echoed. "Do you
like clergymen?"
Il never thought didn't" he said,
slowly. II fact l used to"
But you don't?" she began mer-
rily,
"No-since knew you," he said.
boldly, eve altered my opinion!"
I'm such a short time" began
Hilda.
1t was fortunate that at that mo-
ment Mrs. Hunt, who had been on
the lookout for them, opened the
door, for Hilda had an uncomfortable
feeling that things were going too
far.
Mrs. Lely worshiped at St. Peters
and duly carried Hilda off to that
church the following Sunday. The
tall figure of the hero slipped into
pew just opposite and fixed his blue
eyes nearly all the service through
just below Hilda's pretty chiffon hat.
The elder Miss Lely prayed for the
speedy return of the prospective
bridegroom, and Hilda decided that
certain tall figures looked equally
well in gray tweed or black.
That Sunday was to live long in the
memories of both ladies. The elder
Miss Lely actually sat down and vol
unteered to wait for the young people
If they cared to walk a little farther
/ before returning to the house. Hilda
Glanced at her companion and met
his gaze with rash courage. Soon he
was speaking fast and passionately.
Don't think me mad--and don't
say l am presumptuous. But are
you really engaged to that clergyman
you talked of the other day? An
swer me truthfully, please, because
it makes all the difference in the
world to me-"
He turned his handsome face to.
ward her, and his eyes were lit with
an eager. passionate fire that Hilda
found disconcerting, albeit delight
! full.
L" She stopped. They sat
down, while she told him the whele
story. He laughed as lie heard it.
And you intend to marry this man
this Observation-Disclosures you like
him or not?" he asked at the finish.
Hilda looked down toward the sea.
She had completely forgotten the
waiting Aunt Ellen on the esplanade.
II must see him 1rst," she said
simply.
But you have seen him!"
She smiled softly.
Not since l can remember any.
thing" she answered. 81 couldn't
have the heart to tell dad l refuse be.
fore seeing him."
Suppose he is ugly?"
"If loved him, it wouldn't matter
how ugly he was!" the girl said in
her soft voice.
The hero INN ned M Suddenly and