The Virginia enterprise., 1910-10-21
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Cousin Fanny's House Party
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By EDITH S. SPEED
copyright, 1910, by Associated Literary Press.)

uS SuOWUOuuQ pair maze great
strides toward intimacy. They made
mad journeys to brakes cottage, theI
barns and the henneries. They took
constitutionals on the piazza; they
read; they shoveled paths. Helen
played the piano and her companion
sang sonic songs, which greatly
amused Mr.. and Mrs. Drake, who
chaperoned the pair with great care.
On Saturday afternoon, after lunch
con, Helen had an inspiration to build
snow man. Hooded and mittened
and with Mrs. brakes overshoes on
her feet she was an amusing little fig
ure, as she worked. The man watched
her small fingers as they deftly wield-
ed the large Jumps Of snow. Surprised
at his lack of energy, she rolled a soft
SNOWFALL and deliberately threw it at
him.
"Oh, you will. will you?" he cried
bounding toward her. She threw ans
other ball as she retreated. For a
few minutes she eluded him, and f.
nally stumbled in drift She gasped;
spluttered and struggled, but she
could not get away. Her rosy face
was thoroughly washed with snow.
Helpless, she stared up at him. Sud-
denly the arm that held her shoulder
frightened. "You DEAR" he whispered
as he kissed her; then, stupefied by
his audacity he released her.
Blundering to her feet, she looked
at him with eyes full of scorn and
anger. and marched into the house.
"She will never forgive me-" he mut]
tered to the snow man, 'and I don't
blame her. What cad I have been,
| when she was up here all alone!"
Upstairs, Helen was washing her
face thoroughly, striving to rub of the
kiss; but her cheek still burned. He
came into the house and called her.
but she did not answer: then she
heard him pace back and forth across
the hall
HE may walk forever. but I shall
! not leave my room until 60 for my
train," she said angrily. Later she
heard the front door slam and through
the window watched him stalk with
long strides over the drifts down to
the Drake cottage.
Humiliated and angry she lay upon
the couch DULY contemplating the
ceiling.
1T is my fault" she sobbed bitterly.
II should have gone to the hotel"
| Then she thought Of the girl to whom
he had been disloyal and she pitied
| her.
If she knew what he has done,"
she whispered. "she would never mar
ry him."
An hour later a loud knocking at
her door aroused her.
who Is it," she asked.
1T is Crofton. Please open the
door: I want to speak to you."
| She confronted him.
! Il don't want you to think me a cad
as we'll as coward, Helen," he said.
Miss Stevens. If you please" she
said coldly.
Mrs. Drake has just told me-" he
continued easily, that you think I am
engaged. The girl to whom was so
attentive last summer was my sister,
in-law. It was wrong, however, to do
what I did but somehow l could not
help IT,"
A dull red mounted her cheeks and
her heart began to beat madly.
Wont you forgive me and come
downstairs?" he pleaded. 1T IL so
lonely"
Maybe" she answered slowly.
striving to control her voice.
Later, when she made her appear
ance. he met her at the foot of tbs
stairs and handed her slip of paper.
This is telegram I am going to
send." he said. please read it."
Hope baby is better. Had { de-
lightful time at Sunny Craig. Am
madly in love with Helen Stevens. I
intend to make her marry me. Bill
Crofton"
That isn't truthful stammered
the girl, land you convey an utterly
false impression. Cousin Fanny will
think that you expect to have di@-
Guilty in persuading ms TO mar
ry you and you know perfectly we'll
She turned toward him smiling, ra-
diant; but with a soft hint of tears
back Of her brightness. The foolish
bit of paper f1uttered to the floor be-
tween them, as he took her In his