The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-12-15

from the hotel porter that they were
going, and whittier he had already
purposed driving in his coach, which
had lately won honors in the coaching
meet at Naples.
These desperate reflections drove
the hitherto loquacious coachman
into an distracted silence. He an
swered vaguely the questions with
which Lesley did not cease to ply the
perfectly lovely coachman with the
bronze profile" He was actually re-
lieved when he stopped his horses at
the foot of thu long flight Of steps
that wound UP the cliff to the Hotel
Cappuccini.
His mind WAS in tumult. He, too,
was due at the Cappuccini, where his
room was ENGAGED; but now he hest
tated to go and claim it and to ap-
pear in his own person before the
American ladies'. The craven thought
came into his mind that he should
run away; teen he half resolved to
declare himself at once. He had been
unable to decide upon course of &C.
ton when tie ladies prepared to de-
scend from the coach. Then he over
heard Lesley whisper to her mother:
Hes been 20 nice and intelligent,
don't you think we might give him
couple of francs for himself?" Be-
fore he could speak, tho girl had
placed IL francs in his hand, wishing
him a smiling goodby.
Believer hesitated. To speak, or not
% speak-wnich was wiser in the
mind of man! But he found himself
maintaining his part by uttering a
deferential "Molte grazje, signorina."
Believer tuxned his smoking team,
and walked taem back to their stable
in the town, where he left coach and
horses in the hands OF his groom.
Strolling slowly back to the Cappuc-
cini steps, bis courage suddenly re-
turned to him. He would face the
music, brave out the situation and
trust to his t.wn tact and the ladies'
sense Of humDr to save the position.
One thing ouly was }mpossible-to
give up the adventure and see the
girl no more. He mounted the many
steps. received warm welcome
from the handsome and ELUSIVE 1tal-
ian landlord, AID in the visitors book
set firm, clesr Believer, England"
Immediately under the clever, charac-
teristic writing in which Lesley had
inscribed the names Of Mrs. and Miss
Fleetwood, New York. U. s. A.
Until the gonx clashed out the hour
of dinner Believer kept his room, writ
ing letters. slowly changing into his
evening clothes, stopping every now
and then to lean upon his window
ledge and gaze out upon the incom-
parable beauty Of Amalf. He was
among the EARLIEST persons in the
long, vaulted dining-room. once the
refectory of the Capuchins, and a
! word In the ear, and a coin in the
hand of the head-wuiter, procured him
a place next to Miss Fleetwood. This
arranged, he retired a little and
! mingled with the throng of Germans,
English, French and Americans who
were trooping in to dinner. In mo-
ment or two he saw Mrs. Fleetwood
and her daughter coming in from the
reading-room, Lesley In simple but
charming white evening dress, shin
ing, in his eyes, among the other wo
men, like flower among weeds.
When tho two ladies were seated
Believer grasped his courage in both
hards and, with a humping heart
took the vacant place by Lesley's
side. The girl looked up. Her eyes
widened with wonder as she gave hin