The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-12-23
A Call and a. Climax
By MABEL CHASE ENGLAND

bO~A3s0A
shrinking back in her chair. And
besides. l have to stay here till my
cousin-till Miss barton comes back.
There's no one else at home.
"Then will you come with me this
evening pleased" he begged. I'll
have the car up here by o'clock"
But don't you think-hadnt you
better take Miss Darton? You came
to see her. you know"
"Oh, well, this is different. Why.
your cousin probably cut her eye
teeth in an automobile, and has lived
in one ever since. It'd be no novelty
to her. I want you to come"
VERY well, then." she agreed, III
you think-if you're sure she won't
mind"
"Don't believe she'd come If l
asked her. She must be more or less
done up after careering round the
country for three years. Do you ever
long to travel?"
thing else l can think of. And to see
New York and all those beautiful big
cities! Didn't you hate to leave 1t
all to come out here?"
Her shyness seemed to vanish In q
wave of eager enthusiasm.
well, yes-I did hate it just at
first, but now-well, I'm really be-
ginning to get fond of the place. But
you-you must certainly come East
sometime"
He wondered to himself If the East
would spoil her, shy little futtering
thing that she was. with her vague.
golden dreams of the big world out
side. What Joy it would be to take
her around, to watch her wonder and
bewilderment and delight. She must
certainly come. He would talk to
Miss Darton about it.
In his eagerness to strengthen her
desire he launched into vivid de-
scription of the amazing joys and
wonders Of the far cities: he told her
of the immense buildings, the crowd
ed streets. the marvels that met one
at every turn.
Indeed. in his sudden enthusiasm,
and just to watch her eyes grow
round and big. he called on all the
arts Of his imagination and added
many awesome touches of his own.
described strange happenings I'M
known to man or beast, and added
thrilling tales Of wild enchantment.
At last, realizing that the sun was
slipping down behind the trees and
the shadows growing long across the
grass he rose hastily. apologizing for
his thoughtlessness.
At that moment the woman he had
met on the road turned in at the gate
and came slowly up the path. She was
less frumpy seen at close range,
Philip decided. He sprang down the
steps to meet her.
Miss Darton," he exclaimed. II am
dreadfully sorry to have missed a
chat with you. I've been waiting an
hour or more. I'm Phillip Malvern,
you know. My father"
"Oh. yes. indeed" she responded
cordially, your father wrote ms
about you. And I am sorry. too but
I'm glad you found Elise. Your father
was anxious that you two young
people should meet. He thought it
might make it pleasanter fc- both 81
you"
"Why-er-yes, of course" he
stammered. out Of his perplexity.
"She-I-that is"
Miss barton looked at him in as.
constituent.
Hasn't Elise been good to you?"
she asked, smiling somewhat anx.
iously. "She can be very provoking
and w1llful. know. I haven't chaper'
oned her around Europe for three
years without realizing that"
He stared bewilderedly
"Ellse-then she-pardon me. ]
thought you were Miss Darton," he
stammered, an awful conviction surg
ing through him."
Il am" she laughed; "our names
are the same. We are cousins. YOU
know Now what''-a light was be
ginning to break In her eyes-"what
has that young mink been up to-"
"Nothing-nothing at ALL" Phillir
assured her hastily. He glanced back
Indignantly at the porch. 1t was
empty. With somewhat abrup,
leavetaking he strobe out Of the gate
and began viciously to crank his
machine. Shy, indeed! Timid little
| fluttering thing! His tales of the
glowing east! A hot wave rushed
i over him from head to foot. VIVA,
must she think of him?
He leaped into his car and whfzzed
of down the road, with a reckless
and evergrowing violence of speed.
Suddenly a memory, like a flash
Of white light, illumined the darl
depression Of his mind His express
sion changed. He brought his ca,
! ton an abrupt halt.
by Jove! Eight o'clock this even
Tag. She promised"
Selling the wheel once more he
proceeded onward at a staid and
decorous pace.
II won't smash myself up-quite-
yet" he decided.