The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-09-09
Not Announced
By Jeanne Olive Loizeaux

AS he reached her in the stream of
guests. mostly feminine, Emile Fen.
ton gave him. her hand and her best
smile. Thomas Townsend at her mu-
s1cale was better than she had hoped
he seldom bothered himself with
afternoon functions And this was
small and select-for a purpose, too.
which she thought he did not suspect.
she suddenly had a horrid fear that
ne had been interested in Natalie.
VINO had said so. She could not
remember.
Il know you're surprised to see
me-" he submitted impudently.
Yes, l asked you because l was
so sure of your absence! What does
bring your?
Oh, long unfed yearning for
candle light in broad day, dollhouse
flowers and dollhouse ladies'" He
parted her question.
II shall tell Natalie. You'll be
quite too big for an ordinary door
way, you know" He laughed and
passed into the dim, fower-bedecked,
candle-lit parlors, deliberately sought
chair that seemed able to endure
his weight for the space of an hour,
and then looked about him at the
other guests who were chattering
with the zest which nothing but the
prospect Of music gives a company.
Presently Maude Borely trailed in
and came briskly over to sit by him.
He did wish there was a time limit
to the kittenish in a woman's man
ner, but lie listened contemporary
TO her gossip. Gossip, in fact, was
what he came for. He had heard
some rumors about Natalie that had
stirred him to a grim determination.
Natalie Norris is to play" she in
formed him. "She's been abroad
seven years. They say she sleeps
with that violin of hers. hear she's
awfully pretty, though I haven't seen
her since she was mere child. Let's
see-didn't they live next door to
you?"
Il believe they did," he answered,
But I was at school and all l seem
to remember is a black-eyed romp
with curls to her knees"
He did not say that in his after
college Europe vacation a few years
since he had spent a summer in a
German town where she was.
Maude continued: "They say her
mothers desperate because she's re.
fused all sorts of lords and things.
Her playing has taken her to courts.
The girl says she doesn't want any,
body, but If she has to marry at all
wants an American. You see they're
none too we'll off and the old lady
knows that money-my world" She
nudged him excitedly and strained
her near-sighted eyes at a fat, half
bald, wholly blase-looking old-young
man smirking before the hostess in
the doorway. Thomas Townsend
squared his big shoulders and looked,
too. So his suspicious were verified.
Chris Kirk" whispered Maude.
Hes followed her like dog for two
years. And they say her mother has
fairly bullied the girl into tacitly &C.
cepting him, though it is not yet an
nounced. Do you know, it's whis-
pered that it IS to be announced this
afternoon? Emile is cousin, their
only relative, believe. But it's
rather pity, isn't it, after all?
Money is not everything" she said
sentimentally, land the world knows
Christopher Kirk"
I'D love to-kick him." he said
through his teeth.
The man took a seat in front of
them, it being near the piano and the
chairs reserved for the musicians.
The hum and chatter continued till
sudden hush made Townsend look
up. His glance fell into the hall
where. coming almost shyly down the
winding stairway, lovely amber
clad silhouette against the stained
glass windows, he saw Natalie Norris
with the violin. The young mans
steady blue eyes looked with a sort
of hunger at the girl. She was very
pale, and a set little smile was all
IldI lllleu 1cl lace from look OF
tragedy.
She stopped to speak to Emile in
the doorway. Kirk gave a movement,
but Townsend was on his feet, across
the room, and beside the girl in an
instant, offering her his arm. No
greeting passed between them, but a
surprise marvelously like relief
lighted her face to glowing beauty for
an instant. He led her to seat,
and would have gone back to his own
place save that her glance babe, nay
begged, him to stay. He sat down by
her.
After this, 1t was the usual thing
"a soprano sang. mostly on the key;
a tenor sang, mostly off,
The best was for the last, evidently
But presently Emile, in a graceful
little speech, introduced the young
woman who had been a child in their
midst The girl rose and bowed grave