The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-12-30
threw out my chest and gave an
imitation of St. Anthony.

"Ah, I have it," I cried, brave-heart-
ed liar that I was: che means my
Aunt Eliza and her daughter Julia!
You remember Aunt Eliza, and Julia?"
II never heard you speak of them
BEFORE" she said, still unconvinced.
Good reason, too, for up to this aw-
full moment never had an Aunt Eliza
or cousin Julia, but relatives must
be found to fit the emergency.
"Oh, you've forgotten, my DEAR"
said, soothingly. Aunt Eliza and
Julia are two of the best aunts I ever
had-er, I mean Aunt Eliza is the
best cousin-well, let it go at that!
Bunch may have met them on the
street, you see, and they inquired for
my address. Yes. that's 1t. Dear old
Aunt Eliza!"
"Ts she very old?" Clara J. asked,
willing to be convinced If I could de-
liver the goods.
"Old." echoed, then suddenly re-
Numbering Bunch's description; "oh.
no; she's young widow, about
twenty-eight or forty-one, somewhere
along in there You'll like her i'm
mensely, but hope she doesn't come
out until we get settled in year or
two"
Clara j. dried her eyes, but l could
see that she hadn't restored me to her
confidence as a member in good stand
ing.
She pleaded a headache and went
away to her room, while sat down
with Bunch's telegram in my hands
and tried to find even a cowpath
| through the woods.
Uncle Peter came out, none the
| worse for his cold plunge.
"Ah, my boy, isn't this delightful"
he cried, drinking in the air. There's
nothing like the country, l tell you!
Look at that view! Isn't it grand?
John, to be frank with you, up until
! | saw this place I didn't have much
faith in your ability as business
man, but now certainly admire your
wisdom in selecting a spot like this
what did it cost you?"
Cost me! So far it had cost me an
attack Of nervous prostration, but
couldn't tell him that. I hesitated for
the simple reason that l hadn't the
faintest idea what the place had cost
Bunch. | had been too busy to ask
him.
ITS all right, john" the old fellow
went on; don't think me too inquisi-
tive A rubberneck is the root of all
evil. It's only because I've been
came out here and you seem to be
nervous about something. I had an
idea maybe it took all your ready
money to buy the place, and possibly
you regret spending so much-but
don't you do it! The best days work
you ever did was when you bought
this place!"
Eyes, believe you!" sighed, wear
lily, as turned to look down the road.
l stiffened in the chair, for | saw
my finish in the outward form of two
women rapidly approaching the house.
Its Bunch's sister and her daugh-
ter" l moaned to myself. well, I'll
be generous and let the blow fall first
on Uncle Peter" Accordingly, made
quick exit.
In the kitchen found Clara j., her
headache forgotten, busily preparing
to cook the dinner.
She's foxy little bundle OF peaches,
that girl is; and was wise to the fact
that her suspicion factory was still
working overtime, turning out mate
rial for the undersigned.
l felt It In my bones that the steer
I gave her about Aunt Eliza had been
placed in cold storage for safe keep
ing.
Her brain was busy running to the
depot to meet the scandal Bunch's tel
egram limited at, but she pretended
to catch step and walk along with me.
John" she said, Il certainly do
hope your relatives won't come out
for some little time, because we really
aren't ready for visitors, now are we,
dear?"
Indeed we are not" groaned.
ct cant help thinking it awfully
strange that you should be notified OF
their coming by Mr.. Jefferson, and IN
such peculiar language" she said,
after pause.
Didn't I tell you Bunch is low
comedian?" said, weakly. Besides,
he knows them very we'll. Aunt Fanny
is very fond of Bunch"
Aunt Fanny" she repeated, drop
ping a tin pan to the floor with a
crash; II thought you said her name
was Eliza?"
Sure thing!" l chortled, while my
heart fell off its perch and dropped
in my shoes Her name is Eliza
Fanny; some of us call her Aunt Eliza,
some Aunt Fanny-see?"
She hadn't time to see, for at that
moment Tacks rushed in, exclaimlng.
Say, sister, they's two strange WON
en- on the piazza talking to Uncle Pc
ter, and maybe when they go one OF
them will fall down the steps 1t
put some more soap there!"
Like whirlwind he was gone again.
Clara ]. simply looked at me queerly
and said, THE queens are here; treat
them white, John!"
felt as happy as piece OF cheese.
copyright, by G. w. Dillingham; co.,