The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-20

to the Blue Pencil club, some cort Of
excuse to stop at the suffrage rooms:
below. The result Of 1t all was that
within two months it was quite OBJ;
yious, though neither Dorothy nor,
Robert had spoken of it to the other.l
that there was really remarkable;
bond of sympathy between them, and
except for the question of woman's
suffrage. which they never discussed,
Robert was sure they were two of the
most agreeable and companionable
people in the world.
Then suddenly Robert Bayne's Wis.,
its to the Blue Pencil club stopped.
and. poor Dorothy. without really
knowing why, found herself very
weary Of the long hours she spent at
the Suffrage club rooms.
One day Robert did come back to
the Blue Pencil club and. just as he
was trying to pass by the rooms on
the second floor without going in, he
encountered Dorothy on the stairs.
Il suppose" he began, when he had
followed her into her office. that It
did seem rather abrupt for me to
leave without saying anything about
It." He looked at Dorothy's gentle
eyes and caught the CULVER that
passed over the pretty lips. you did
miss me a little. Dorothy. didn't you.
for all your suffrage and mass meet
ings and tea parties?"
Dorothy, I'm in love with you," he
said rather dejectedly. "There's no
use talking about 1t, sup
pose. I should have confessed it from
the first. 1t wasn't that wasn't
willing. I simply thought that
couldn't. I'm not cut out for that
sort Of thing. That's all. And even
If could manage" he went on with
excitement, 1T would seem positively
Weak-minded for man with my pros-
pects"
Dorothy's face was flush and her
voice was trembling. Il don't SEQ
why it would be weak-minded. never
heard any one speak that way be-
fore. 1t wasn't weak-minded for you
to spend hours Of the day here. vast
ing your time and mine"
"Oh, but that was different, Doro-
thy" said the young man impatiently.
Don't you understand? I'd do almost
anything for you-anything but that :"
Robert sat for few minutes in de-
lection at Dorothy's side, watching
her fingers as they tried nervously to
address pile OF envelopes that lay
before her. Then he rose and came
to her. i've got to do It," he said
very solemnly. Il don't know how /
can, but I'll manage somehow. I'll
make any sort of fool of myself you
want me to. so long as you will marry
me. Dorothy, we were made for each;
other from the beginning of time and
there's no use trying to get away from
it,
Dorothy had given little gasp and
now turned to look at the unhappy'
man beside her. II don't see why you,
need make fool of yourself, Robert
or why it is any disgrace to want to-
TO marry me-
"Oh, 1t isn't just marrying a suf-;
fragist, it's the other part-having to-
give up my career, and go into poll
tics, and fight for a cause l don't care
about. It's that, Dorothy. 1t seems as
If I simply couldn't: but l suppose
that's the penalty l have got to pay.
If you'll let me
why, don't see what you mean y:
said Dorothy, with tears in her eyes.
Il think you are making fun of me-"
Robert had taken a well-worn pam
phlet from his pocket and handed it
to the girl. Here it u.s." he said,
pointing to a clause in heavy print,
Its that blessed pledge Of yours. It
has kept me awake nights for the
last month. It's the pamphlet you
gave me the first time I ever came
into this room.''
Dorothy read with tears still shin
ing in her eyes: THE members Of
this society. in order to bring about
the achievement of woman suffrage in
this generation. pledge themselves not
to marry any man unless he promises
to devote his life to the cause Of
woman suffrage in politics.
I'll give you my solemn promise
any time you want It," said the young
man, as he watched her read the
clause.
why, Robert" said Dorothy, with
the sweetest smile Robert had ever
seen, II never even read that para
graph before. I'm not a really, truly
suffragist, you know-if you'll marry
me-