The Virginia enterprise., 1907-06-21

hand in his. For mOment-it seemed
to HIM only an instant of time, and
yet it was just long enough to convey
it's own meaning-she allowed it to
remain. Then she withdrew it.
He was a wise young man. II he
had attempted to pursue even this in
tinitesimal advantage, and to reach
forward again, doubtless he would
have been rebuked in that queenly
manner which upon occasion she could
so easily command
And so he was content to wait, and
change the subject
II is proper to state, however, that
the new subject was more in line with
his real train of thought than the old.
They had, when he made his advance,
been talking on the commonplace
topic of the latest historical novel.
Now he turned slowly, and looked
her sQuarely in the eye.
I'm going to marry YOU" he said.
Are you indeed: When did you
make up your mind to that?'
"Oh, some time ago. l mean it, you
know"
And lose million?'
He turned again, abruptly.
How did you know anything about
that?" he asked.
Your father told me-
"When?'
"Oh some time ago.. He called"
why, you must have known
then"
THAT you wanted to marry me? No,
l didn't All l knew was that you had
spoken to your father about it. You
know you might have changed your
mind-afterward."
He smiled grimly.
What you mean' he said, "is this:
that thought it best to consult the
governor first, and find out where ]
stood with him. before I found out
where>I stood with YOU"
"Yes."
Hs got up and took turn around
the room.
We'll, that wasn't exactly it, he
continued. You see, if had had any
doubt about marrying you, l wouldn't
have done that would have gone
for you first, and let the rest go. l
meant business, and thought it ought
to be ,lone right. Besides, l said to
myself: If the old man turns me
down, then my conscience is clear
She apparently unheeded the last
part Of his remark.
MAY l ASK" she said, what made
you so sure of me?"
II wasn't. But l was sure of my
self. l knew the girl l wanted. That
is everything in love-"
You seem to have gotten very wise
all Of a sudden"
F1e grasped the top Of the tarnished
gilt chair with both hands, and leaned
against it hard as he looked into her
eyes.
I've knocked around some," he
SAID. Since I've left college, I've run
win the Newport crowd and the high
people in town. I've had lot of girls
thrown my way. but l wouldn't give a
white chip for the whole gang I've
seen them at their best and worst.
They're all right-some of them It's
the life l don't fancy don't care
for the pace
1t was her turn to smile
But there's nothing about me-" she
said, that ought to specially recon-
mend itself to you. Why, even have
to earn my own living"
But your grandmother didn't, did
she?'
why, no, suppose not. She was
Puritan
We'll, mine did I've heard the
governor tell the story So what's the
difference? A few years of time
more or less, generation or So"
She opened her eyes rather wide.
You seem to have taken on such q
sudden weight of accumulated philos-
ophy," she said, that l hardly recog-
nize you. Where's Jack Wakefield,
member of 20 clubs; the great polo
player the bowling swell? That sort
of fellow doesn't go with such depth
as this"
Cant a man do that sort of thing,
and still-be man."
why, of course; but they don't go
together as a rule