The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-07-19

I'D just run over and sit awhile.
A bright, motherly face showed it.
self inside the door, followed by an
ample figure Eleanor Chase rose
from her rocking-cha the worried,
almost fretful look, which of late
had become her habitual expression
and marred an otherwise pretty face,
dispelled for the moment by smile
of welcome
Come right in, Mrs Lincoln she
said cordially Il am glad you came
over"
The elderly woman seated herself.
Excuse my fancy-work, she
smiled drawing a well-worn stocking
from a bag of ample dimensions. Il
could not have come unless l had
brought it"
Her hostess sighed.
Mrs Lincoln was holding her head
on one side contemplating hole, with
a look of comical despair.
Eleanor Chase glanced at her.
You take everything so cheerful"
she said somewhat wistfully. Little
things don't seem to wear upon you
and make you nervous, as they do me.
| think you must have been intended
for motherhood. i sometimes doubt
whether | am"
MY dear-" Mrs Lincoln laid down
her stocking and looked fixedly at her
COMPLIMENTARY woman was in
tetnded for motherhood; make no mis-
take about that People may ad-
vance all the new-fangled theories
they like about higher vocations.'
for which the Lord himself formed
U.S.
The two women sewed for some
time in silence They had been near
neighbors for ten years, ever since
Mrs. Chase as pretty bride had
come to live in Pineville, and had
reached that stage of pleasant init
macy where speech is not always nee
essary.
II had letter from my sister, Mrs.
Van Dusen, this morning." Mrs Chase
remarked after awhile-she was fond
Of quoting her sister Mrs Van Du-
sen, who had married a wealthy bank
err many years her senior, and was
now widow, moving in the most
exclusive circles of conservative
New England city-"she wants me to
go and spend week with her, but
of course that is out of the ques-
ton
"Why?" Mrs. Lincoln asked.
"Oh, l couldn't take the children,
and what would they do without their
Mummy Dee as ENeline calls me-"
Eveline was four, and the baby of
the family.
Now, look here, Mrs. Chase" the
neighbor laid down her work and
spoke emphatically-"a vacation is
just exactly what you need. You are
tired, and matters seem all awry to
you. A week with your sister will be
an entire change and you will look
at things with widely different eyes
when you return. Mr.. Chase can get
his meals down town, and l will take
Eveline right over to my house. see
that Elsie and Alan have enough to
eat and keep an eye on them out of
school hours. | can run over here
at bedtime, too, and see that they are
all right"
"Oh, I couldn't think of allowing
you to do all that" Mrs Chase had
dropped her sewing Also A faint
pink flush came into her cheeks and
her eyes shone.
Don't you worry" the neighbor
said comfortably, "a child or two
more or less never yet faxed me-"
Twenty-four hours later Eveline's
Mummy Dee" stood arrayed in a
smart travelling suit hastily pur-
chased for the occasion, her prettiest
clothes packed and already on their
way to the railway station.
Once on the train her mind reach
ed out toward the alluring prospect
ahead A week, whole week of
freedom from petty household cares.
with no concern about meals except
to sit down to an e~quisitely appoint
ed table and the priv ilege of mingling
with her sisters Gu tured friends.
Mrs. Van Dusen 1aet her at the
depot. She was tai, distinguished
looking woman, whose whole appear
ance spoke of good tast> and the DOW.
err to indulge it. Eleanur leaned back
against the luxurious cushions of
the carriage, sense OF pleasurable
excitement growing upon Aer, as they
We're driving home.
The round table was exc. isite with
It's rare china, cut glass and damask
There was no small, irresponsible
hand here to reach out with a;mless
grasp and upset the cream. Mrs,
Van Dusen had no children. \ soft.
booted maid waited upon them, antici.
pating every want
Afterwards they retired to the OWN
particular sanctum of the hostess
but once enscOnced there Eleanor did
not find that the ball of conversation
rolled as easily as she had expected
The sisters paths in life had run in
such dHerent directions, they had de-
veloped along such widely different
lines In the last few years, that the
only common ground upon which II
seemed possible for them to meet was
the time when they were Girls to-
gether. This subject they dwelt upon
living old scenes over and over again
and Eleanor retired feeling that she
had had a delightful evening. There
was no hint by which she could have
discovered that Mrs. Van Dusen found
1t somewhat of a strain.
The latter was waiting when she
ran down IN hreakfae+ ,ox4 -