The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-01-11
THE LIE CHARITABLE
BY HARLAN EUGENE READ

When it came to tho point of &C.
'tually carrying out his intentions on
that wonderful May afternoon, Mr.. j.
Spencer Parker seemed to accomplish
no more than hunting dog chasing
a rabbit In the tall rye, continually
jumping up and down and never get
ting anywhere. A dozen times he
walked resolutely toward the brass
dOor-knob of 1916, and as many times
he concluded to saunter languidly
past, as II he had no other reason
for appearing in that neighborhood
than simply to sun himself. But
finally he summond up courage enough
to pull the bell-knob, and an imitation
'cow-bell tinkled in the back of the
house.
u. Spencer Parker, upon my word!"
exclaimed the middle-aged woman
who came to the door. And pray
what brings you here to-day?"
She spoke in sweet, musical tone,
in pleasing harmony with the diff
dent demeanor of her guest, whose
every motion was quiet and respect
able, and whose voice sound ed strange
ly like hers, as he replied: "Just WIS.,
my regards, Mrs. Simpson, and to con-
graduate you upon Mr.. Watkins. who
is coming to board with you"
Congratulate mel" cried Mrs.
Simpson. why, I am indeed delight
ed to hear that. Do you know. /
have never seen him yet?'
"Yes?" The look in Mr.. Parker's
eyes was far away as he replied, and
his body bent forward attentively, Il
have known Mr.. Watkins-Jeremiah
Watkins, ma'am-from a boy. l am
glad he is come to such home az
yours"
Indeed, you please me, Mr.. Parker"
returned Mrs. Simpson. Il shall be
especially happy to tell our boarders
what sort of person they may ex.
pect"
Mr.. Parker gave sudden start, but
carefully recovered himself. "Ah," he
said, that's what I came to tell you
Of"
"Indeed?"
Eyes, Mr.. Watkins is a-a-a gen.
tleman"
Again the courteous speaker leaned
forward as he spoke, struggling awk-
wardly for the next word-"but want
you to know that he is "a gentle
man."
"Ah!" returned Mrs. Simpson, with
ready intuition. "Then he is perhaps
eccentric?"
mot exactly" replied Mr.. Parker,
thoughtfully and sweetly, "but he
looks, let me say, he looks rougher
than he Isl
YES" said Mr.. Parker. ''IIe is, a
gentleman"
Half an hour later the door closed
softly, and J. Spencer Parker came
down the front steps of 1916, at first
smiling, and then sadly, walking with
slow, unsteady step. AS he passed
by the little corner grocery store, he
paused and smote himself pathetically
on the breast
''Liar!" he said, grooming. Liar!
And yeti had to be done. God
forgive mel"
Anyone who had happened to see
Mr.. Parkers friend, Mr.. Jeremy Wat
kins, on the next day, when he came
with his trunks to 1916, might have
been excused for cherishing the sus-
picion that he was not exactly Beau
Brummel or Lord Chesterfield. He
cursed the baggage man for letting
his trunk fall roughly to the ground,
and quarreled with him over his fee:
and, to further give vent to his feel
ings, he strobe to the door and gave
the bell knob vicious jerk. There
was not look on his face or a ges-
ture of his body that did not reveal
him coarse, ill-mannered young man,
properly Of the stable, rather than
the house. His square, rough face,
with its loose mouth and broad nose,
his burly shoulders and big hands,
and his clothing, inviolate with re-
spect to any previous contact with the
whisk broom; bespoke a vulgarity of
person that he did not attempt to con.
ceal. It seemed almost impossible
that he should be friend or acquaint.
ance of such person as J. Spencer
Parker.
Mrs. Simpson, radiant, sweet and
fresh, appeared at the door, and gazed
at him for moment Then, seeing
his trunks, she extended her hand
and said:
Mr.. Watkins, l suppose?"
YES" J. Watkins was on the point
of asking her who in HI she thought
he was, with two trunks right there
before her eyes; but something in her
ladylike manner evidently different
from what he had been accustomed to.
checked him.
Il am so glad to see YOU" she
went on. 80 glad to know that we
are to have you here. We are almost
like a family here, and so you can
imagine how much I was pleased to
learn that our new lodger was a cul-
tivated gentleman"
Watkins flushed angrily. supposing
that she was making snort ~ h;,.