The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-05-09

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HI H@ which sun and wind and
I'D @ frost had offered their
kind offices, mellowing
glare of white. In sum.
"er trumpet-vine draped the
ugly little piazza which Emmy's
art-needle work. had helped to
build, and which she and her
mother admired with simple hearts.
Inc big burr oak and the ma
pies hid the house from the road,
out the grassy knoll in front of the
mousse was bare, and from this van
background one could see the shallow
curve OF whitish-brown where the vii
laee street climbed the hill, the Chin
neys OF the houses below, and afar Off
the trains roaring through the prai-
rles All the village was interested in
the railway, but Emmy had an es-
peclal and intimate interest because
ner sweetheart was the local agent
he had been her sweetheart during
nve years, in any one of which he
would have been proud and glad to
marry her; yet this was the fifth
year of their betrothal, and Emmy
was drearily rejecting that they were
no nearer the chance to spend their
lives together the fifth than the first.
Emmy was hanging out clothes. It
was four o'clock in the afternoon, but
sne had just brought out the large
basket and was pinning the garments
to the line, while Virginia. her sister,
little girl In short skirts and a blue
checked apron, helped with the less
cumbrous stockings and handker-
chiefs. The child was pretty. She
mad fresh color and curly yellow
hair. Emmy's hair was black, and
twisted in a braid about a shapely
head.
The widow Darter sat on the piazza
In large rocking-c chair. She rocked.
AS she rocked, she moaned piteously.
At Intervals she changed the sibilant
moan into hollow grooming sound.
"Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear, oh dear,
oh DEAR" walled the widow. "Um.m!
um-m! um-m-m-m!"
The little girl flung frown of i'm
patience over her shoulder. II don't
see why mamma makes such an awful
racket" she snapped
"She SUFFERS" said Emmy.
well, she needn't boiler so If she
does" cried Virginia, rebelliously. II
know she wouldn't let me holler when
I stubbed my toe. 1t hurt awful, too!"
Emmy said nothing.
Say, are you going to the picnic
with Bert tomorrow afternoon?" said
the child.
mo, jimmy, I don't see how I can.
Mothers so SICK
well, I told Bert I was willing to
take care of mamma; and he said he'd
buy me new doll if I would. I guess
he wants you to 60 awful"
"Oh-h dear! Oh-h dear" droned
the sufferer on the piazza
well, I can't" said Emmy. II
wish you'd run and ask mother If she
wants anything"
II s'pose she wants you to read to
her; she says I don't read with ex-
PRESTON" said the little girl But
were all read out; you put off the
washing to read the end of "A Ro-
nance Of Two Worlds and we've got
to wait until No. 9 comes in! Albert
said he'd sent for whooping big pile
OF books from Davenport; you can get
,'em at the dry-goods stores for five
cents a book. And Mrs. Conner'll
bring them up, won't she when she
comes? She's got to go for her board
er." Emmy nodded. Mrs. Barter
groaned more softly, sign that she
was distracted by something from her
chartered on. Miss Ann Bigelow told
me Mrs. Corners going to have girl
from the University of Chicago for a
boarder this time, but she's only COM
ing for a week. Sibyl Edmunds knows
her we'll. And, Emmy, she takes pic
lures. and she's going to bring her
camera"
Emmy! Emmy! there comes Mrs.
Conner:" screamed her mother.
Her words were accompanied by the
vision of white horse and an ancient
phaeton (Which had been newly wash
ed for the occasion) just beyond the
lilac-bushes at the gate. Mrs. Corners
comely presence filled the better part
of the seat, but the eyes of all the
Darters travelled at once to the slim
girl in gray covert-cloth who sat be-
side her. The girl looked like hun
dreds of rather pretty American girls,
with gray eyes and brown hair and
dimples in their cheeks.
Mrs. Conner had stopped the horse.
She responded to Emmy's greeting by
presenting her to the girl in gray
miss Doris Keith; she's going to the
Chicago University. She knows
Sibyl" Then she fished out a pack
age from the luggage heaped at their
feet. Here's the books. That your
ma on the piazza?"
As if in response, few hollow
means floated from the rocking-chair.
"She seems in great PAIN said Miss
Keith, alphabetically.
F.mmy's fair skin Redeemed painful
". mo, she-she isn't WE'LL" she
sta;nmered.
Mrs. Conner coughed a dry mex
pressive cough.
Il do wish you would step in and
see mother for minute" Emmy
begged, as much with her eyes as
with her voice. Il can hitch the
horse if Miss Keith minds"
But Miss Keith did not mind; she