Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-10-02

A week passed. and but for the occurrence
.. one OF two eniyening incidents, we doubt
the scenery of the mo0rlands would perhaps
haze been beginning to grow dull in Mrs.
Watkins eyes nor did she, on longer ac-
autauce find the work-pe0ple at the mill
., interesting as at the first. Their polite
ness aiated and upon her proceeding to
Visit at the cottages suggesting there this
and tile other domestic reform, there was
disclosed an obstinacv of another and more
active kind than the merely passive inatten-
a4Ql the agricultural laborers IN the south.
Mrs. Natkin, however, in part made amends
.r these disapp0nmonts BY successfully cul-
tsatius the acquaintance Of Mr. Watson,
t.e -srrgan already spoken Of. and Of his
wife and. what varied the course of things
.tIl more uleasinglv. she had accompanied
Caroline to the neighboring town on busi-
ness erraud to the local bank, where they
were received by the junior principal, Mr..
trcy. with a courtesy which certainly was in
excess IF what ordinary commercial trausac-
tilus required. Ever since, Mrs Natkin had
l.en slightly romantic on the subject The
illusions did not appear to be unwelcome To
'ar1line. Judging from the instant crimson
# her checks when the laIntest hint was CIV
I'D 0f IT, During this time. there was not
much that was noticeable in Stephens con-
duet occasionally, be had taciturn fits, but
his aunt made little Of that, for she confident
lv remarked to Caroline that men were
strange creatures. and needed deal of bu-
marinc Accordingly, at these times they
both hum1red stephen, each in her own
way Mrs.. Watkin way, after the first or
-e.ond occasion. seeming TO irritate him.
rather than the contrary. But on the after
noon ar the iay which completed the first
week after Mrs Watkins arrival at the mill.
an event occurred which was the hegiunn.-
of the singular train of circumstances which
CONSTITUTES the remainder Of this narrative.
u was late in the afternoon, fast nearing
tea-time. a. that meal was fixed in that rustic
asglharhlai, and Mrs. hatkin was in her
7.1m mp stairs, attending to some little mat
ler- Of her own. Rain was falling as it had
been doing all the day, ard when rain does
descend in that district 1t comes down in
sheets consequently, there had been DO
wandering away from home The window
0r the room In which Mr. Watkin was looked
towards the MILL and, on lifting her head,
moving fguro below attracted her attention:
i was Caroline crossing the mill yard in the
direction ut the house Her appearance
y
though it was raining heavily she was bare
headed. and she was walking slowly once
Ur twice She almost seemed o. stagger. As
she came through the gates and over the
road. Mr., Watkin could distinctly see an
unusual }lli1r upon her face. Hurrying IN
alarm from the room, the elder lady reached
the bottom of the staircase Just as Caroline
entered the hall by the outer door.
O.. Is,a4 4I.a.-.. I.g..s s.s.
accident at the mill Where is stephen ?''
IL one and tao same breath demanded Mrs.
Nathiu.
Accident No, there has not been any
accident, " answ cred Caroline, looking fixed
lvat her aunt, and then she went past her
into theTarlor,
But YOU are ill2'
My head aches % and Caroline, for just
d raa1ni, turned her white face full towards
her relative, her large blue eyes having q
strange wild look in them 50 I shall be
better: it comes on sometimes" She went
right ON into the bay of the window, giving
them a most cherries view Of the narrow
mist choked valley.
Mr. Watkin followed her. laying hand
upon her niece's shoulder, and slipping it
I5wnwards in search of her hand At the
was % quick rustling of some papers that
.e,re clutched between her right fingers.
They are mine she said and with @
aWl, halfGishteIe3 gesture, she crushed
tae manuscripts. whatever they were, into
the pocket of her dress Mrs. Watkin said
nothing she was completely bewildered BY
The sudden change Of behavior in Caroline,
and the expression with which she gazed into
Il =. 1sr~1.
silence. Caroline bluntlv said .' | and
stephen have had some words, aunt. Don't
ask me why She hesitated a second or
two before she added '' 1t is connected
with the business
thought last night there was some
.uiug between YOU and the aunt shrewdly
raised her eye br0ws. " You ought 70 be
angry, not he, about the business. But
~aad not let it put me about she mildly
s.i
Ne must get ont Of the business
l.t-l DO So 4t any sacrifice, emphatically re
leltei taroino, letting herself drop, every
limb utterly relaxed, into a chair.
Certainly. The sooner you are out Of 1t
the better and perhaps it Is a good job you
did take to the bookkeeping; You know
better how things are goin on.
What is our bit Of money? Let it 20 80
and Caroline's eyes flashed through tears.
We should live somehow even then
- Has hc been doing something you did not
luow 'l2 Il is very shameful Of him if he
las dIu'l quite understand about signing
bills and those matters. bat ! suppose it ruins
people. Surely that is not it?''
80" and Carolinc's hand went with 4
tWtch in the direction Of her pocket =.
different tone, " if he viii come in for tea
but now YOU are with us, he will for he
news / should not ombarrass him hv telling
au where / thought he was to blame.
Alrs. Watkin coughed slightly. She un-
is-stood this perfectly, and felt that she had
list her chance for the present. That is
uoll enough, Caroline, she said rather stiff
IN o. hut don't think it is wise to act with
Gus advice. Men believe they understand
business better than women, and don't like to
- openly guided There are more ways than
,n., If roing about thing, and quarrel is
tIe worst means Of all
g. send Mary across, aunt, to say tea Is
.ariy rs4ig ie; her say you %s9I 5r It ,oioJ TnJ
,aroiine, rising AMI go.aF % ;oe ooGf' eaLeu cane
3, the seryant-grl. v hen ths Linli S.t.iiiS
- stood aside for Mrs Watkin 70 give nsr
r,.s massage. 8. Take 10 notice ol hlih'
4nnt" -" added easeiiae reelosing the door
r. VeTy likely he viii be sait, but 1t soon
- Short interval. Alrs watkin ~
.,,-ne5 - Ibe attack. bat again she all Ao'
',ain ,n1cb by IL Caroline moved iestIesslf
IN her chair. answering only in monosylla-
lies ot last she started up, 4n4 began al
terinr the positions Of some china otnament.
upon kind Of hufiet there was II the room
The aunt. however kept Gn talking. II she
was in Caroline's place, she finally suggest
ed she should not hesitate TO lay all the mat
tiers confdentally before Mr.. Grey, y,-th'
Young banker,-for he must have an inkllnl
now. from the banking account. how thing
stood He might be pleased by such step
and The remarks were cut short by Caro-
line dropping one Of the vases, which had al
along been chinking in her unsteady hands
and Mrs. Watkin had to 60 and help her IL
picking up the fragments.
Stephen was somewhat tardy in respond
ing to the message about tea, but at lengt
he came Like Caroline, he was very pale
but. in addition to that, he had dogged
abashed look Mrs. Watkin affected to b
very laxative, assuming utter Ignorance
tie state of things between brother and si'
ter. Caroline on this occasion, strange
say. did not make any overtures to Stephen
he evidently avoided meeting her glance, b.
she did not give him much trouble In thi
respect. The few observations she made !
reply to her aunt's haphazard talk did not
any way involve him, and he DID not uttt
twoscore words during the meal, speskir
then only in answer to Mrs. sIkin are
appeals TO him. All seemed relieved "n'
tea was over, and, almost Immediately alp
it, Stephen left the room. But the "om'
dropped their headi to listen after hiiH' Al