The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-04-12

The water was clear and cold and
still, save for the fleeing rlpples made
by Pauldings swift oars as he drove
his shell determinedly toward the op
pnsfte shore. A dingy Panama was
pulled quite over his eyes; could one
have caught their look. sterner ex
preston was in the mild gray depths
than they had ever before worn. His
shirt sleeves were rolled back to the
elbows. the brown. muscular fore
arms flashing like bronze In the sun
light, and with every dexterous
stroke, the grim lines about his mouth
became more SET
Suddenly the boat scraped on the
sand and Paulding spranG ashore, fas
tening it to one of the willows that
dipped it's branches low into the wa
ter. He stood moment, surveying
the placid eXpanse OF treacherous
green. Over the distant edge of it.
rim Of blue, like turquoise hoop
curved itself in vivid contrast High
up in the west the sun gloWed q
the lake grew saffron under it's van
ishing splendor. then wheeled abrupt
~ and walked up the bank, f1inging
himself down On the spongy carpet OF
daisy studded grass.
An hour slipped by, and he did not
stir. He was cynically reviewing the
past and wondering, with last, des
perate thread of hope, if life had
really come to an end for him in this
tragic way; a suicides grave!
Cynthia was no weakling, he knew
that. She Was, as matter of fact,
uncompromising. and he could not
even try to deceive himself further
with visions of her relenting. When,
on the occasion of his last call, she
had coldly send down word that she
ne had felt in his bones that her
words were final Every effort to com
municate with her thereafter. either
personally or by letter, had been met
by the same unconlpromising frigid-
ity. Every note had been returned
not even allow him a syllable or ap-
peal. And for what? He cudgled his
ingenuity in vain. Obviously, he had
committed some objectionable sin in
Cynthla's eyes. and quite as obvious
ly, he was never even to know what
it was!
Another 60 minutes were gone and
with groan, Paulding dragged him
self stift1y to his feet and moved
down to the waters edge. Twilight
had choked away the pretty pink haze
and long, drab shadows were begin
ming to culver greWsOmely over the
lake. With benumbed fingers, he
united the rope that fastened his shell
and threw it in the bottom of the boat.
He settled himself with painstaking
care in his seat aud resting on his
oars, sat for moment. gazing about
him at the familiar landmarks every
where, made doubly dear by associa-
ton. For it was here, almost on this
very spot, that Cynthia had given him
her hand and he had kissed her on
the lips to seal their betrothal
Twenty feet out, the water was
deep. 1t would be but a moments
work, and-setting his lips, he shot
ahead like an arrow. then gradually
slowed down. His face was quite
paie, almost ashen, and his heart was
pounding heavily. His eyes, from
mild gray, had grown perfectly black
Suddenly he dropped his oars and
sprang into the water. 1t closed over
him, sending millions of circles rip
ping away in every direction. 1t
was icy cold and chilled Paulding to
the marrow. His head emerged after
a seconds time. ten feet nearer shoro
A few powerful strokes brought hin
to firm ground. He clambered MA H.
bank, shaking himself like a dreachsd
terrier
The DEVIL" he muttered.
Then some sudden revulsion of feok
ing caused him to laugh aloud. There
was an instantaneous echo, and with
a hot, guilty feeling. Paulding turned
and glared in the direction from
which it came.
Less than a rod away girl. slim
and graceful, in white yachting suit,
smiled at him over the yapan.
"Cynthia!'
The next minute, he was at her
side. But she deity evaded his touch
and stood regarding him with cold. in
scrutible eyes. He noticed with A
pang that her cheeks had lost some
of their roundness and much of their
old-time color.
why did you come here TODAY?
he asked, steadying his voice by an
effort
The girl remained silent, with .,,iz-
ical eyes. Her lips. trembling. hu.
mid and half-parted. closed abruntlv
over the words she would have ut-
tered. Her mute gaze accused him
more plainly than words could have
done
"Cynthia," he began after a con.
strained silence, tell me whv von
refused to see me?'