The Virginia enterprise., 1911-01-06

| today that existed year ago. Rich.
ard"
! You still stick to that?" There vas
note of anger in his voice.
YES"
He stood up. Then might as well
60. as ! went before"
Her hand went out to stay him. then
she said. drear1ly: ''Yes. you might as
| well co."
SO he went, heavily, as one who car
r1es a burden. but when he reached the
sands he called back to her. Tell me
where you i've" She shook her head.
emphatically. NO"
After he had gone she packed up her
book and her shawl and went home.
The brightness had gone out Of her
day. and she wanted to be where she
could weep alone. 1t was dark when
she reached her room, and there was
nothing to eat. for her midday meal
was all she could afford.
1t was very early in the next morn
ing when the slatternly chorewoman.
who looked after the halls. knocked at
Babbie's door.
"A basket left for you. MISS" she
said, and thrust it In.
mot for me" Babbie protested to
the echoes; then she slipped out OF
bed and knelt to open the tiny h2mp-
er. It's surely a mistake.
But 1t was not a mistake, for under
the oiled paper was bunch of white
violets, with a card: For Babies
breakfast table" scrawled on 1t. Then
there was grape fruit, six small
white rolls, a little jar Of marmelade
and another of pctted chicken. pat
of sweet butter and bottle of milk.
There was no name, but Babbie
knew the writing. She glanced hastily
from the window, but no one stood on
the doorstep. And though, when she
was dressed, she made many excur-
sions down the stairs. she did not
come upon him.
While her pride rebelled at these
gifts. she could never find the donor
to ask him to stop. Her timidity and
reserve made her shrink from going
to the shop keepers, and in the mean.
time she grew rosy and strong with
the good food and the knowledge that
she had friend.
The choreworlan, whose lot was
cheered somewhat by share in the
good things which came to Babbie, sof.
fered pertinent advice.
If you've got a man that thinks
enough of you to send you such things.
you'd better tie to him."
"Babbie shook her head. II
mustn't"
why not?"
A sudden impulse came over the girl
to cont1de In this shrewd woman.
do you think it is right for a woman
to marry when she thinks she inherits
an incurable malady? My father
died of one and l have always been
afraid. The man who sends these
things wanted to marry me then. but
was still afraid. One can't help think.
ing of what may happen, you know.
Sc came here and have sewed and
managed to exist"
The chorewoman's keen eyes met
hers. DO you know what think?"
she asked.
, NO"
you've been left to think about
yourself too much. Probably your pa
coddled you. and got your mind in the
| more sick than am"
But" Babbie began.
Look here" the good woman said.
you go down to the hospital with me
in the morning. They have big man
there who doesn't make mistakes about
such things, and he'll tell you the
truth"
Babbie promised, but the trip was
never made, for that night the big
man." who was a famous doctor,
tramped up the stairs with Richard
Dwight.
I'm not going to have any more fool.
ishness, Babbie," Richard said quietly.
as he came in. I've had to wait all
these days until the doctor came back
from trip. don't want the opinion
| of any one else."
There was a trained nurse with the
fdoctor, and Richard went away to talk
| in whisper to the chorewoman, who
was an eager listener on the stairs.
I The doctor, coming down. deliver
ed his opinion with a smile. "She is
as sound as a nut"
Richard went up three steps at
, time. AND now. Babbie!" he said ra-
diantly.
She held out her hands to him. And
now" but he did not let her finish
her sentence, for his arms were about
her.
At the wedding the chcrewoman was
the only spectator. Size was resplend-
ent in a new gown, which was the gift
of the groom, and happy in the prom
ise Of her new position as housekeeper
in Babbie's home.
SO perhaps the sum Of her prayers
fer the bride amounted to more than
thu usua! formal petition which at such
i frTct4ons go up from critical audi
| en:es.