The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-09-09

why, the lady who paints pictures
and can't sell them afterwards. She's
got a room in our house. She's four
weeks behind on her rent, and almost
starving to death. She's 80 thin you
can see through her, and when she
amt painting she's crying"
Seems to be a sad case"
you bet! Heap sadder case than
mine was few minutes ago. Say, If
you are gent you ought to go up and
see her. She's your style. She's a
born lady. She talks so big we can't
hardly understand her. Oh, she's
been top Of the heap, but had to come
down. I guess It's what they call a
romance. Mebbe she wouldn't see
you. though. She never sees stran.
gers"
And her name?" asked Denham.
without much interest.
1--WE call her the painter lady, but
one day she told me might call her
Bab."
What! What"
Say. don't scare girl to death.
Lawks! but chewed my heart that
time. Yes, call her Bab-Miss Bah.
l amt hight 'nutf up to call her Bah
alone. 'Twouldn't be manners"
Can you describe herr"
blue eyes, chestnut hair, white
teeth, and real lady. One of my
shoes would make a pair for her Got
slim hands. Never uses slang. Goes
without eatin' two days and then pre-
tends she isn't a bit hungry. If was
gent like you Id go up and see
lady like her. If you'll come with me
I'll introduce you. I'll say:
Miss Bah, this is the gent as
saved your last ten cents and gave a
fellow the awfullest kick you ever
saw"
There had been young lady named
Bah two years before. She was hun
dreds of miles away when Rex Den
ham last saw her. She had widowed
mother who was fairly well off. Bah!
Bah! The name spoken stirred him.
If there was q Bah in trouble she
should have aid. If the girls descrip-
ton was correct
Got to go into the butcher shop
after mutton to make BROTH" said his
companion. "They might give you the
guy If you went in with me. Don't
make a sneak while I'm in there
She found Denham waiting when
two stalwart policemen to move him
on.
Say said the girl, "crackers go
with mutton broth, but I haven't the
cash. Butcher got it all and then
said l was too chin-chin besides Want
to buy 'em for Bab?"
Denham accompanied her to a deli
catessen store and filed a basket
with goodies, and then insisted on
carrying it home for her. She walked
along beside him with her head held
very high, and when spoken to by a
girl she knew her austere reply was.
Anna, can't you see l am walking
with a real gentleman!"
The mother could tell little more
than the daughter. 1t was a cheap
looming house. Yes, the painter lady
was lady, it was easy enough to see
that. She was something of an art
list, but her pictures would not sell
She had sold most of her wardrobe,
but had fallen behind. The descrip-
ton was right.
ham. She'll ask, but make no ex-
plantations. Coax her to eat and get
strong. Cheer her up a bit. Take
this money and buy whatever she
thinks she can eat. If she doesn't
improve we'll have DOCTOR I'll send
in wine from the drug store, and to-
morrow evening I'll call again.
ma, don't you see how it 1s?" said
the girl to her puzzled parent. I'VE
take in lady. She can't pay She
comes down to hard-pan. / take her
last ten cents to get her mutton for
broth. and l meets gent who res
cues me and canes and kicks loafer
Straight as Decline, ma. tell the
gent the lady is Bah, and he can't
stand still. Romance, ma-romance!
Romance, and I am in it! You are
going to see high links around this
hotel"
Denham came on the morrow. He
came on the next day and the next
On the third day Miss Bah was re-
ported better and he went up softly
to find her trying to work. He Was
not introduced. There was no need
OF it. 1t was two hours before he
came down and announced that the
landlady was to lose her roomer
In two hours much can be told
many misapprehensions set right. The
two years had seen death-chicanery
false friends-illness, despair-pov-
erty, but brighter day had dawned.
AS the carriage drove away the
landlady's daughter began to sniffle
And what's the matter with your
was asked.
"Just my luck. If hadn't told him
about Miss Bah he'd have married
met"