The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-05-24


view the victim of your foolishness!
| cynthia said solemnly, Il am not
going to do it."
Honor she said insinuatingly,
Just think how horribly unpleasant
1t would be for me to meet him, not
having notion as to which letter I
PUT in the post. Whereas you could
be as innocent as lamb, and easily
ind out incidentally in conversation,
whether said Yes or No."
| i am not going to help you,' said,
rising and walking across the gravel
cd terrace to the balustrade
L am sure you will when you think
OF it, Honor, DEAR" she said entreat-
lngly. 1T is not much I am asking
you to do. Just to see Mr.. Peters,
instead of me- Then I shall know
how to meet him, and shan't be taken
aback."
1t was close upon three o'clock. and
a servant came to tell me that Mr..
Peters was in the drawing-room and
that Cynthia could not be found.
AS the interview had been forced
on me determined to make the best
of it.
Cynthia faced me quite placidly on
her return.
"Well?" she said interrogatively.
did you see him."
Yes, l saw him." answered
CURLY.
And which letter was it 1 put in
the mafl?"
Il nave no more notion than you
have"
Cynthia opened her eyes.
You mean to tell me you talked
TO him for half an hour and couldn't
find out that much! Weren't there
any symptoms?'
What do you mean by 'symp-
toms?'"
When he came into the room did
ne look jubilant-as if he would like
to stand on his head? Oh did he
look as if he hadn't shaved for a
week, and never meant to shave
again? Did you ask him if he was
happy?'
MOI | cried, exasperated, NOR did
ask him if he was good; nor how old
ne was; nor whether he dyes his hair,
nor any other impertinent ques-
ton
Then 1t seems to me it has all
got to be done over again, and we are
no further than we were before" she
said dismally, rising from her chair
and walking to the window.
Il am afraid you will have to face
him yourself the next time, Cynthia"
replied gently.
"Suppose | were to throw myself
on his mercy" she said hopefully,
turning round after pause-"tell
him the whole truth, and say I had
made a Observation-Disclosures way it
was-What do you think he would
say?'
HE would certainly have nothing
more to do with you," | answered se
verely
Il do wish 1 knew what I said."
she murmured. II should feel SC
much more settled"
Three days passed and there was
no sign of Mr.. Peters. Cynthia's spir
its began to droop, and I was sur
prised to notice little line of worry
permanently settle itself between her
eyebrows.
Then one afternoon I found her in
a secluded corner in tears.
"Oh, Honor" she sobbed, giving
way altogether, Il must have said
No Can't you help me ANYHOW,
Honor? You have never failed me
yet"
But what can do? replied.
helplessly.
go and see him. she said, des-
perately. Tell him 1 didn't mean
it, Honor-that l mean Yes for ri,
the rest of my life
II can't do that" l said at last
but I'll go and persuade him. if
can, to come and see you.'
l returned some two hours later
from my rather distasteful mission to
find Cynthia by herself in the draw
lng-room. To my surprise her face
was wreathed in smiles, and she
waved a square of white paper at me
exultantly as l entered the room.
"Honor!" she cried. Its the let.
ter! l found it in the pocket of the
dress l was wearing that day. and
he's just waiting till the end of the
week for my answer!' l stared at
her stupidity
"Oh, Honor, l am so happy" she
said softly; don't be angry with
me-"
'Mr. Peters is putting up his horse
and will be here in a moment" / an.
swered, my wrath only partly appeas-
ed, and now, Cynthia, I hope you've
had a lesson, and know your own
mind at last"
"Of course I d." she retorted. with
slight show of Indignation.
Mr. Peters at that moment camo
in at the door, and I went out by tho
window into the garden.
HIS cAANcE