The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-05-07
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An Arrested Development
By Charles Gkig
copyright. by J. B. Lippincott Co..

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}, Lippincott Co..
her broken VOWS; all his loneliness
and suffering seemed as unsubstantial
In that wonderful moment of reunion
as a dream or a meringue.
She came forward briskly, Offering
him her hand, at arms length, just as
If she had been some rather welcome
acquaintance. simultaneously chill
ing torrent of words poured from her
red lips. How d'you do, Mr.. Mans
field? I'm so glad to see you again.
I'm afraid I've kept you waiting quite
long time; but, you see, I'd no idea
you would come so early, and seldom
have breakfast before half-past nine"
why, yes" he said drearily, feeling
as if he had lost his individuality
yes, I'm afraid I'm too early"
mo, not at ALL" she said. "Have
you breakfasted?"
He made an effort to remember, feel
ing how little food mattered, and won
dering whether this could actually be
her greeting. He longed for some dem
onstration of love, and she spoke of
breakfast. The thought of food sick
ened him.
"I'll tell Harris to have something
cooked at once" she said. "You must
be famished after your journey. They
seldom prepare anything but an egg
or two for me-"
pray don't trouble" he said, try
ing to hide his disappointment, I'm
not hungry"
Silence fell upon them for a mo-
ment, but she cloaked her embarrass-
ment, as before, with rush of empty
words. He could not tell whether or
not she felt any real emotion, but it
was wholly evident she wished to dis
play none. She asked the usual ques-
tons about his voyage, spoke of the
defects of the local train-service, keep
ing him rigidly in the conventional rut.
Her process dazed him, but he made
an effort to strike the personal note.
"You have not changed, Coralie," he
said. Il was prepared to find you
aged"
She laughed-a shallow, little laugh
and dived back to the commonplace.
She had a great deal to say to him
about local bazaar in aid of some
| deserving mission, and he could not tell
whether any of the old love lay hidden
beneath this flood of foolish words. 1t
was, at least, certain that she meant
to avoid a scene, and he could not bat
tie against her volubility.
He found himself lying in wait for
some indications of her bright humor
or of the breadth Of mind that he had
so confidently looked for. And, at last,
she did say something which might
| have amused him from q girl of 20.
He responded to the POOR little jest
with a CHASTITY grin and a sinking
! heart.
The butler announced breakfast.
Mansfield followed her to the break
fast-room He would not admit to
himself that he was disillusioned.
"Coralie," he whispered fervently as
he walked after her through the long,
slippery hall. She did not hear him,
because she was talking fast over her
shoulder. Even the beloved name now
seemed cheap, tawdry, theatrical. 1t
| suggested a music-hall artist.
Mansfield seated himself at the ta-
ble-their places had been laid many
feet apart-and tried manfully to eat
the food prepared for him. She, sitting
at the head of the table, behind a bar
ricade of jugs and plated ware, talked
on necessarily. 1t required some effort
on his side to follow what she said.
The human interest was wholly lack
ing until, at the close of the meal,
she Numbered upon something which
gave him the clue to his disillusion-
ment.
Mrs. Huntley:" he said. Il seem
to remember that name. Is she a
friend of yours?"
ooh, no." she answered plaintively,
"a mere acquaintance. I don't get on
with women, as you may remember"
II remember" he said; "but sup.
posed you would outgrow that little
prejudice"
| women are so jealous and spiteful
to their own SEX" she replied, with an
air of profundity.
He remembered that she had ex.
pressed the same generality in the
very same words at the age of 90
Then he had thought her especially
astute. He perceived now that her
judgment was narrow and false, and
it dawned upon him that Coralie's
mind had aged as little as her body.
"You have not changed at ALL" he
said wistfully as he looked at the
foolish, girlish face above the barri
cade of jugs.
tim so glad you think SOL" she said
and slight blush confirmed her pleas
ure. But perhaps you only say it as
a compliment, Herbert?" she added
softly.
NO. said Mansfield; Its the lit
eral TRUTH"
Half-an-hour later he caught a train
to Southampton. Coralie never fully
understood why he returned to South
America.
Curious Church Architecture.
Some of the most curious specimens
of church architecture in the worlG
may be found in Norway. At Dor
gund, for example. is a singula r-l0ok