The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-03-24

night, anyway? The boys will be
playing pranks that may be unpleas-
ant for you.''
Miss Brejetta smiled serenely and
exasperatingly into his pleading face
1.-THE boys will do nothing to annoy
me, am sure, Mr.. Dayton" she re-
marked, pressing on to her own gate.
But when her own front door had
been closed with quiet precision, Miss
Brejetta's calmness vanished and she
flung herself with angry and undig.
nifled haste into an easy chair.
Il wish he would stop It," she cried
stormily. II will not have him pity
ing me and looking after me all the
time! Now shall have to gather
those horrid beans or he will never
cease Fostering me about them! I
can just imagine the remarks that
would be made in this town II I al
lowed him to make my garden!"
And Miss Brejetta, having eaten a
hasty supper. pinned up her spotless
linen skirt, put on her stoutest gar
den gloves and. inwardly consumed
with wrath, sought her diminutive
bean patch.
Il had better get it done WITH" she
whispered to herself after the fashion
of lonely people, because it will be
too wet in the morning and too warm
during the day. But it just makes me
furious to be breaking my back out
here when l haven't even cut the
leaves of that new magazine yet"
The sunbaked earth seemed loath
to part with the vines it had so care
fully nurtured through long months,
and Miss Brejetta's strength waa not
great. Her own coy piazza @eck-
oned enticingly, but the CLEAN Of q
cigar end on the neighboring porch
held her to her task.
In the welcome dusk she stole into
the house, barring doors and win.
dows carefully.
You are tired" she cried defiantly
at her reflection in the hall mirror,
and you just hate gardening. You
are lonely, too, and you know you
nearly die of fright every night OF
your life. Why don't you own up to
it and let people help you when they
want to-"
The nearest neighbor had watched
Miss Brejetta at her bean-pulling
with almost angry Impotence.
II wonder why she does it-certain-
~ not because she enjoys it. And
she splits her kindlings in the shed so
cannot see her-as If could not
hear! And she locks the doors and
windows and nearly smothers herself
these sultry nights!
For long time he sat quietly
thinking. Then Richard Dayton, one
of the most respected and highly
honored man Of his town, did a
strange thing
Up in the close, clustered attic he
stole with tiny Pickering candle for
light, and when he came down noise
less garments over his arm.
Long After Miss Brejetta had re-
tired she lay awake thinking miser-
ably. Scarcely discernible footsteps
seemed haunting the darkness, but
she comforted herself thinking it was
boys on their midnight Halloween
pranks.
Suddenly she sat up, every sense
alert. The vibration of the old brass
knocker still echoed through the hall.
For a moment she covered among
the pillows, then the thought of some
one in trouble nerved her to action.
Tremblingly she lighted a lamp,
slipped on some clothing and hurried
to the door. Without waiting for her
courage to fail, she slipped the bolt.
swung back the door, and let the light
shine across-a vacant porch! But
down by the gate stood slouching
figure with hat pulled low.
"Mr. Dayton-Richard" called Miss
Brejetta family, almost dumb with
terror.
"Here!" called a familiar voice re-
assuringly, and the nearest ne1ghbor
sprang over the end Of the porch rail
and took the lamp from her trembling
hand. Drawing her out to the shad'
owed piazza and into his arms. he
held her breathlessly.
Il heard the bell," he explained,
land feared you would be frightened!
See, dear, it is that strawman-
just a Halloween joke! But you do
need me, don't you, Brejetta?"
obi" she sobbed, her face against
his coat. Then with intoxicating
sweetness she surrendered com
pletely.
Dick, l want you to hoe the gar
den, and split the kindling, and do
the whole miserable business! And
perfectly hate living alone, and !
have been lonely and afraid, and I'm
glad I've been scared into my
senses!"
And do you love me little, Bre
jetta?" anx}ously.
do you suppose" she cried in ex.
asperated tenderness, that should
have used you so shamefully If ]
hadn't loved you? Oh, you dear, stu.
pid man."