The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-26
The Bayou Bridge and Cupid
BY NELLIE CRkVEY GILMORE
For heavens Sake!" he exclaimed

For heavens sake!" he exclaimed,
how under the sun"
''Or rather rain!" snapped Matilda,
| with defiant toss of her head that
made the brim of her hat flap ludic.
rously against her damp, and now
very hot, cheeks.
But Cheathams eyes were glued to
the letter she held in her hand, and
an exultant light flashed into them as
he espied his own name in blotted
characters on the back of it.
"Egotistical thing" thought NATL
da, reading his face like book. I'm
! glad l refused you"
: Il was beginning to grow impatient
of your answer, dear"
! do get me out of this!" she inter
! rupted petulantly, flinching with pain
as she gave her foot an impatient
i twist
Full of solicitude, Cheatham stopped
and with a few deft manipulations
! succeeded in loosening the imprisoned
heel.
And now" said he, rising and look
ng ardently down into Matilda's de-
| '>idedly cross face, don't I deserve
Something for that" He eyed the let
ter generously.
But the girl said nothing and she
| did not yield up the letter, either.
ITS addressed to me, isn't it,"
| urged Cheatham in crestfallen
tone
Eyes, but-Oh!" Just at that juno
tire an accommodating zephyr lifted
:: tne envelope from her fingers and
! tossed it out on the water. where a
Sill more accommodating current bore
1t swiftly into the eddies.
Cheatham thrust his hands into his
pockets and stood staring at her,
mingled curiosity and alarm showing
81 his good-looking face
'You-youve changed your mind
; Is said at last, vary gravely, after his
; recent exuberanIe.
; The guilty crimson flowed over Ma
i, t;da's face, ana without word she
I turned and began to retrace her steps
h.ick toward the camp
Cheatham matched his step with
]:srs and they walked along in silence
| }rr several minutes, needless of the
! :uud and slIsh, of rain-soaked gar
| Clients, of t:ae inquisitive pedestrians
| Hho turned to look at them every now
! and then
AS they came in sight of the camp
els tents, Cheatham paused and
If ,,Ro6 CT into tho fo0o If tho pir1
a. his side.
Look here, Matilda" he said in a
! v')ice that was different from any she
| had ever heard him use before, Il
want yIu to be frank with me. II
:n'u've made up your mind to turn me
down, . want you to tell me so, be-
'cre I've made any more fools Of my.
self" His lips shut with snap, and
The bulldog look came to his mouth.
'Mallory!" The exclamation was
sharp, indignant, but Matilda's eyes
lifted their sober curtains long enough
t. emit lambert little flash that was
n:thi.:g If not contradictory.
If you care to come into the camp
urtil l can change these rags" she
said 1emurely, Il think-I think we
cen talk BETTER
Chatham Invested himself of his
rein Goat and left 1t on bench in the
y5rd, Inside he roamed about the
E1tle reception parlor" of the tent
Nnitng, like Gagged lion, for the girl
t. rake her appearance.
SIZE came in at last, gowned in some
| diaphanous white thing that Cheat.
b1m thought made her look exactly
lie a star floating in a gauzy silver
c3rd
Cheatham reached forth eager arms
t.: 'lraw her into them, but the apollo
ee'tsc entrance Of an ebony-faced in
! civ1dual caused him to reconsider for
& .aoment.
II begs pardon, but somebody wish
tn speak to Miss Driscoll on de
Phone"
BE good enough" said Cheatham.
TO tell the gentleman that Miss Dris-
crll ISIS engaged
When the door had been closed.
lrmbly and obsequiously, he turned
t. Matilda for confederation.
The next minute he was holding the
White cloud against his breast, and
| tie star seemed to have no objection
| e, it's new armament.