The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-06-14

! SlSn, ! came 10 say gOO0-Dy.
She waited minute, chin raised
eyes questioning.
Where did you tell me your hom
was, Miss Phillips?" he asked, lear
ing over the top of the tall desk, an
lingering pink rose that was ueares
to him.
Vermont. It's only a little bit of
place where the trains stop If the
are tagged. We call it Phillips
Crossing"
Il suppose you'll be glad to &c
home"
Not so very" She spoke reluc
family. with little uplift Of he
shoulders. "You see. l have a stel
father, and am the only child from
the first marriage, and there are sever
little ones now besides They don
miss me bit, unless it's goo
| MISS
why did you come way down her
in the country"
Because l was in a hurry to go t,
work. The city schools won't taxi
you unless you've been through Nor
NAL, you know. I like it out here
The work was hard, but the victory
was SO much greater. and do thinl
the children love me-"
Russell caught the little wistfu
touch in her voice.
The old folks are peculiar, aren
they? Hard to get along with"
I'm afraid they don't like me very
well-do they?"
They say you're a good teacher
but"
Rose waited and looked up at him
quickly. Her brown hair was very
near, with its soft satiny braids. Be-
fore he really meant to, he had tucked
the PINK rose among them.
1T looks much better there" he
added, and wondered why his owr
pulses were racing suddenly. like
brooks in April.
But what? P.ease-please tel
me?' she pleaded. drawing back, but
not removing the rose. What dc
they say"
They say you're heart hunter"
She leaned bach her head and
sighed, her hands Elasped back Of the
rose, her eyes locking past him out
of the first open window.
They mean the boys. suppose,
Nate and the RESI-. Could help it?
Now, truly, coule. l, Mr.. Russell!
You know just what boys are. They'd
come here every day. and bring all
sorts OF things 10 NE that didn't
want Why. Lonnie even used to
bring me fox pelts for cloak. Of all
things. Boys are always boys. and
they get over 1t 50 quickly. was
just as nice to them as l could be-"
Il am not blaming you--nor them, "
sadi Russell bit unsteadily. "Only
agree with the deacon's wife that
you are a very dangerous and dis.
turbing influence to have around
these peaceful Darts.''
The tears giistened in her eyes.
"Oh, you don't really mean that?"
she said pleadingly. Are you try.
ing to tell me l cannot teach here
again."
Russell stared awkwardly down at
her head, as she leaned 1t on folded
arms, and her shoulders shook with
sobs.
i've tried so hard. and the children
all love me-" she said brokenly. Il
didn't want to go back home at all.
l was going to board here all sum.
mer, and rest
Then suddenly 1t dawned on Neil
Russell why he had driven ten miles
that afternoon to make all fit and
due explanations to the teacher In.
stead of writing. He knew just why
he had thought Of nothing but her
tender lips and dark eyes and low
contralto voice for weeks past. He
knew why he had saved every scrap
of writing she had ever sent him.
and why he carried in an inner peck.
1T little tan suede glove he had
found beside her chair after a board
meeting one day. Oh, yes, he knew
now, and he imprisoned both her
hands in his and raised them to bis
lips.
Rose" he said. stop crying
I've brought you another heart,
dear"
She stopped sobbing, but did not
raise her head.
Il haven't any one in the world
myself. I came up here from New
York and got along we'll. There's
enough saved in the bank to buy Us
good home in the fall. I think ]
could make you happy, Rose, If may
have you, dear"
What would you tell the deacon'a
wife and-and- the rest?" she
asked family.
THAT had to dismiss you becaus,
couldn't let my wife work." b
whispered. Wont that do for Z
good excuse?"