The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-05-07

The great ocean liner had entered
southampton docks hard upon sunset,
TOO late to enable him to reach her that
night. His disappointment was keen,
although he chafed at his own lack of
patience.
A thousand times during the long
journey from the South American
state IN which he had spent his exile
Mansheld had read her letter. He not
only knew the wording backward, but
ne mad fully succeeded in shaping the
rather prim phrases to the white heat
OF his own ideals. Her simple piety
would account, he argued, for the re-
straint she had exercised. She re-
corded the death of her husband; and
how could he expect so noble woman
as Coralie to regard that event as he
did? The late Mr.. Brooke ought to
have died ten years earlier; indeed, he
ought never to have lived. No doubt,
he had treated her kindly, although
he could never have understood her.
benin the knowledge that Coralie
had married him against her inclina-
tion
In the height of his misery Mans
field had never doubted that her heart
remained faithful to her broken VOWS
Worldly parents had persuaded her to
marry the fellow. Mansfield had long
ago accepted the inevitable, though
at the time life had been robbed of
all sweetness for him and the future
without her had seemed entirely void.
He had never reproached her. He
had replied in simple, manly words to
her hysterical letter announcing the
parental decision. True, he had urged
her to defy conventions and to face
possible poverty with him. Coralie re-
piled that such was her overmastering
desire, but that her sense of duty held
her bound as in chains. Thus they had
drifted apart-she marrying Brooke,
he seeking distraction in South Amer
lea, starting life anew, shaking the
dust of civilization from his feet. A
very ordinary affair. you will perceive.
But the death of Brooke had
changed for Mansfield the gray hue of
life. In these ten years of strenuous
work he had grown moderately rich.
Her bright image lay enshrined in his
heart. No other woman had ever at
tracted him for an hour, except one or
two who recalled some memory of
Coralie. Mansfield read of the death
of her husband in an old newspaper
but exactly IL months elapsed before
COralie wrote to him herself.
She wrote guardedly, but he read be-
tween the lines of her conventionality
Or fancied that he did Leaving his
affairs in the hands of friend, Mans
field at once started for England
Next morning the early train from
Southampton brought him to the near
est town by eight o'clock, and thence
he drove to Eggbottle in fly. He had
shaved on his beard on the previous
night. Also he had sent her a tele-
gram. About $3.50 a. m. the fly en-
tered the village. Mansheld's heart
beat fast. He pictured their meeting.
They would look long into each others
eyes, he holding her responsive hand
"Coralie!" he would exclaim passion
ately.
AT last, my Herbert; at last!" she
would whisper as she sank upon his
breast.
The rest was delirious, glorious, and,
on the whole, vague. He did not get
definitely further than her whispered
AT last!" and the sinking business
The village was wholly strange to
him, but he knew that she lived in a
house called "The Laurels," and thith-
er the cabman had been directed to
drive. 1t may have been 8:45 when
the cab stopped at the door of the
house, which was approached by way
Of prim carriage-drive, fianked at
automatically exact intervals by
prim shrubs. The house itself was
large, square, and altogether unworthy.
No doubt Brooke had chosen it. A
solemn butler, looking unaffectedly
hostile, opened the door.
us Mrs. Brooke at home?" gasped
Mansfield.
Mrs. Brooke does not breakfast till
$780," was the chilling reply.
Tin an old friend" said Mans
field. '1'll wait"
Il will take your card up if the bust
ness is urgent" said the butler.
Mansfield affected to search for his
card. He had long ceased to use such
things, but the butler, he felt, would
not have condoned such a breach of
fashion.
1--WE no card with me-" he ex.
planned. "Say Herbert Mansfield"
Il don't want to say it." said the but.
Ter.
Il mean, that's my name," explained
Mansfield.
The mistress never receives in the
morning." objected the butler. 1.-THE
AT Home days are the second and
fourth Tuesday, between 4 and {
p. M"
Mansfield took a half.crown piece
from his pocket, and the butte,
yielded.
well, sir, If you'll wait in the cal
for a few minutes, I'll send your name
up" he said.
After a long delay the butler re
turned.
'The mistress will see you, sir, IL
half-an-hour, unless you would prefer
to return to luncheon"
The message chilled him, but t.
postpone the meeting till luncheon
time was unthinkable. He followed The
butler to large drawing room, ant
was left alone with yesterdays news
naner and a view of the urim from