The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-02-21


hat; "eet ees mine! See! bring
heem from France; zee nom ees mine
Via! And 1 nevaire look in zee uzzer
hat! T am pair-fckly .dumfound'!"
And his establishment was genuine.
where is the other hat, the one 1
gave your I was in great hurry.
Il have heem here" reaching to the
vacant chair at his side, while the
French consul eyed US both with some
suspicion. We might be lunatics.
Beausire handed me tn benevolent
old gentleman's hat, and the burden
dropped from my shoulders. "Eet ees
such meestake! I laugh; eh?" He
shook with merriment. Il wear two
hats and not know zee meestake!"
I thanked him and made OF as
gracefully as could. The girl rose
as she saw me returning. When l
reached her side she was standing
with her slender body inclined to-
ward me. She stretched forth hand
and solemnly gave her Mr.. Chitten-
denis hat. i wondered vaguely If any
one was looking at us. and, if so, what
he thought of us.
The girl pulled the hat literally in
side out in her eagerness; but her
gloved fingers trembled SO that the
precious letter fluttered to the floor.
We both stopped, but 1 was quicker.
It was no attempt on my part to see
the address; my act was one Of COM
mon politeness. But I could not help
seeing the name. 1t was my own!
Give it to met she cried breath
lessly.
did so. I was not, at that particu-
lar moment, capable of doing anything
else. l was too bewildered. My own
name! She turned, hugging the hat.
the legal documents and the letter.
and hurried down the main stairs, I at
her heels.
"Tell the driver my address; can
return alone
Il can not permit that" objected
decidedly. "The driver is stranger
to US both. insist on seeing you to
the door; after that you may rest as
sured that l shall no longer infict
upon you my presence, odious as 1t
doubtless is to YOU
AS she was already in the cab and
could not get out without aid, l
climbed in beside her and called the
street and number to the driver.
Legally the letter Is mine: 1t IS
addressed to me. and has passed out
of your keeping"
you shall never, never have IT.
vehemently.
1T is not necessary that I should"
I replied, "for I vaguely understand"
saw that it was all over. There
was now no reason why I should not
speak my mind fully.
II can understand without reading.
and unlike anything you had done,
and your good heart compelled you to
write an apology; but your pride got
the better Of you, and upon second
thought you concluded to let the un-
merited hurt so on
will you kindly stop the driver. or
shall ~
Does truth annoy your
Il decline to discuss truth with you.
Will you stop the driver"
mot until We reach Seventy-frst
street west"
''By what right"
THE right of a man who loves you
There, it is out, and my pride has
gone down the wind. After tonight
shall trouble you no further But ev-
cry man has the right to tell one wom-
an that he loves her and love you.
| loved you the moment l first laid
eyes on you. I couldn't help it. I say
this to you now because perceive
how futile it is. What dreams l have
conjured up about you! Poor fool!
When was at work your face was al
ways crossing the page or peering up
from the margins. never saw fine
painting that l did not think of YOU
or heard a fine piece of music that
did not think Of your voice."
There was a long interval Of 81
lence; block after block went by.
never once looked at Ter.
IF l had been rich 1 should have
put it to the touch some time ago;
but my poverty seems to have been
fortunate; it has saved me refusal.
In some way l have MORALLY offended
you; how, can not imagine. It can
not be simply because l innocently
broke an engagement"
Then she spoke.
You dined after the theater that
night with q comic-opera singer. You
We're quite at liberty to do so, only
you might have done me the honor to
notify me that you had made your
choice of entertainment"
So it was out! Decidedly it was all
over now. I never could explain away
the mistake.
Il have already explained to you my
unfortunate mistake. There was and
is no harm that l can see in dining
with a woman OF her attainments.
But shall put up no defense. You
have convicted me- I retract nothing
I have said. l do love YOU"
was very sorry for myself.
Cabby drew up. I alighted, and she
silently permitted me to assist her
down. l expected her Immediately to
mount the steps. Instead, she hest
tated, the knuckle Of a forefnge-
against her lips, and assumed the
thoughtful pose of one who con-
templates two courses.
Have you a stamp" she asked
finally.
"A stanp?''-blank;y