The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-07-29
Cupid and the Prophecies
By Catherine N. Patterson



Patricia stopped In the middle of her
speech, and her face flushed.
Go on. What did she say?"
"She said," repeated Patricia, with
an effort, that if l was not engaged
] to you l ought to be, and"
my sentiments exactly. The lady
OF the hatchet-face is not such a bad
sort, after all. But to go on. What
else?"
"She said 1t was disgraceful the
number OF times that you come here.
and the lateness of your stay Is al
ways perfectly shocking. And those
are my sentiments, Jimmie; you SIM
ply must co.
mot until you have promised to
become Mrs. J. Brent before the year
is over"
I'D never do that"
| Very we'll, then, here I'll sit. Mean
time, take heed unto yourself and re-
member the hour"
II am remembering it, Jimmie.
Please, please go. Finish your cigar
as you cross the park"
mo, thank you; that isn't included
in my campaign plans. Tell me more
about these interesting people. Who
is the second member of the family
that you know"
"A horrid, freckled boy, who is tho
most ubiquitous person with whom 1t
has ever been my misfortune to come
in contact. He is always in the halls
and lately he has insisted on posting
my letters for me. Fairly snatches
them out of my hand and races of
like mad. can't stir any more with
out finding him at my heels"
You seem to have made conquest,
and, after the manner of womankind
In general, you don't appreciate it.
BY the way, how did all these remarks
of the hatchet-faced one reach your
ears? That point isn't quite clear to
me-"
Aunt Nancy told me. The woman
herself and the janitor, to whom my
most estimable neighbor across the
way has also been talking. it seems.
told Aunt Nancy"
, But, Patricia, what was that you
said about people listening to tales
from servants. and talking to them?"
Jimmie, you are horrid. 1t is Diff
ferent with Aunt Nancy. She is"
"A dear, as I have always main.
tained," interrupted Jimmie But
come, Patricia. Aren't you going to
accept me this time?"
mo, am not. Oh, Jimmie, it is one
o'clock. Please 60"
Il will not until you promise to be
my wife, Patricia" and, rising quickly,
Brent crossed to Patricia, who also
had risen. lie took her in his arms
P tricia attempted to free herself.
promise me, Patricia, that you will
be my wife," coaxed Jimmie, gently.
but there was underneath it all a
stern tone that implied that the man
would brook delay no longer.
will you go at once if do prom
ise?"
I'LL go In five minutes. l want to
tell you something first. Is it bar
gain?"
YES, Jimmie, l will marry you"
Before the year Is over?"
"Yes."
Brent bent and kissed her before he
asked: Ion your word of honor, in
spite of what am going to tell you!
Oh, I promise you I haven't commit
ted penal offlense or disgraced the
| family In any way"
Tell me- You have my word, and
that once given holds good for all
time"
Brent bent and kissed the face he
held between his hands before he
spoke. Patricia, ana the main part
| of the new family that has just moved
into the apartment across the hail."
| "You!" gasped Patricia. And, and
the woman with the awful face and
voice? They are dreadful. even If she
is related to you"
But she isn't relation of mine, SO
don't look so distressed. She will not
come to pay us long visits. She is
most estimable woman, however, and
| my-housekeeper."
And the boy?"
THE 'horrid imp which believe
was the affectionate and tender term
you used in conjunction with him, is
my young brother, who, by the way.
thinks that you are the one woman.
And all those tales were purely my
own invention, carried to the right per.
son by my faithful housekeeper. You
see, dear, was getting desperate. Re.
member, you have promised, on your
word of honor, to marry me; so there
is to be no retraction."
Marry you? l certainly WILL" said
Patricia, positively, If for no other
reason than to keep my eye on you
In the future and prevent your doing
something still worse. But do you
remember your own promise to go?'
Yes; and I'll CO." said Jimmie,
snatching up his cigar from the chin.
ney piece. "Only I'll smoke this. not
as l cross the park, but as cross the
hail."