The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-19
The Unit
By JENNIE Q. LOlZEAUX
1910. by Associated Literary Press

Over his draughting board Howard
Wiltsie leaned. quite absorbed in his
drawing. He worked rapidly and
correctly, his bright eye half closed
to get the general effect, his good
Jaw thrust out more than was actu-
ally necessary. It was almost closing
time, and he saw from the set of Har'
ris' shoulders, visible at the desk be-
yond, that their argument was not
closed. It meant some more words.
Well, all right-Harris, If he was his
superior, could have them, and there
would be no uncertain sound to his
tumpet, either.
And his expectation was correct.
While they were closing their desks
and getting ready for leaving, and
the stenographers and clerks were
chattering, dufing at their hair, pin
ming on their hats, Harris, junior
partner Of the firm, touched him On
the shoulder.
i want word with you. Wiltsie.
Going to walk? All right, I'll ride
Shank'e mare, too"
The young fellow put on his coat
and girded himself for the verbal
fray-he was quite as determined as
Wiltsie, and he was sure that, being a
married man, his own wisdom was
Infinite. They started out into the
fresh spring air, swinging along Joy
ously enough. Suddenly Harris be-
gan.
"Confound you, anyway, Howard,
for a Stubborn, unobliging fellow!
What good are you as a friend If you
won't help Madge and me out
little? What on earth are we to do
with Tessie Gray on our hands the
next two months If you don't be de-
cent! What's the use of you're being
Madge's second cousin If you can't
help entertain her guest? And what
on earth makes you think you can't
come to our house party for few
weeks? l don't see! It's Just as easy
to come to the Office from our house
as from your old boarding house."
Wiltsie shrugged his shoulders, and
stuck out his jaw again. II like you
and Madge and your charming
house-you know that. But I'm not
a sinner In the company of the
fair ones. l don't want to be too
plain, but you've pestered me till I'm
positively Ill tempered. You've &C
cused me of being a woman-hater-
I'm not. And of being a bachelor
which l plead guilty to. If you must
have 1t straight, I'm determined to
keep on being a bachelor for some
years. And I'm so dead easy, such a
girl-lover, that my only safety is in
hight and numbers. And another
thing, Madge was my cousin before
she was your wife, and l have the
right to state emphatically that she's
the most deadly matchmaker in my
large experience. I'm thirty, and
though she's three years my junior
she's been trying to get me in love
and married for ten solid years. And
you can't deny. blinded as you are
by her charms, that she has chosen
Tessie Gray as the final instrument
for my undoing. Not for me, thanks!"
Harris had to laugh outright. He
would tell Madge that her methods
were not as hidden and subtle as she
1magined-it would do her good!
You selfish old bachelor, don't you
know that you don't count? You're
nobody and noth1ng-just lost half
floating about and useless to tho
world. Don't yon know that the fam
lily, the two-in-one, Is the unit of So
ciety? Why, man, you're 4 cipher!"
"All right-but I'm pretty good at
hacking up units. l come after, to be
sure, but l at least create an inter-
est! I'll come and see your wonder.
but warn you now that won't marry
her. OF course she also is a victim in
your wifes hands, and probably un-
conscious Of the dire intention to get
her married. She won't like me. But
I'll be decent-take her about some.
and call AMI all that, but I'll be hanged
If Ill come into the mesmeric circle
of house party composed of a mar
ried couple, two engaged couples and
an extra girl! l know enough to
keep out of danger. This is my cor
ner and I'm off. So long, and tell
MdU6c L IL COluS " ucT uluQor. ana De
glad-but I'm on to her!"
A few evening later, groomed
within an inch of his life, his blue
eyes wary, and his jaw in evidence.
Mr.. Howard Wiltsie betook himself
to the house Of his employer and Sec
ond cousin by marriage. The pretty
house, it's pretty mistress, the couples
and the host were at their best. He
already knew them all but Miss Tes-
sic Gray, who fulfilled even the ex-
travagant promises which Madge had
made for her beauty and charm. The
bachelor was introduced-and galvan.
ICED with surprise. The lady was like
a piece of ice-to him.
OF course she fell to his lot at din
ner-and inSisted on talking to Coop
er, on tie other side, to that gentle
manc embarrassment. since his f.
ancee demanded his full attention.
Wiltsie then tried Mabel Strand, on