Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-15

Wi then dashing down that note, she
pulled open the Others, then looked up ex-
claiming, % Girls, what's this?''
Miss Blossom sprang to the table, and
stood for a moment as if petrifed, while
Miss Major leisurely walked over and read
ing the open notes, said - All three the
same name. Quite coincidence, isn't it?''
90 But" said little Blossom, her very lips
blanching, - it's such an uncommon name. "
"Yes," replied Miss Major, '' William
Earle Hambledon don't turn up every dav.
If it had only been JOIN Smith. now"
- But still it nngh. happen" returned
the poor little Blossom looping and examin-
ing the written names as if hoping to find
some flaw in the evidence.
q Oh, well, )" said Mrs Wylie, who had
quite recovered from her slight perturbation,
- can soon settle the question of identity,
as have photograph in my pocket" :" 50
saying she drew forth an envelope, from
which she took picture and placed it be-
side the notes, looking on with the utmost
coolness, while the other two earnestly scan
ned the unconscious tell-tale.
That's my Scotch missionary, traveller
and lecturer, and no mistake. Charming
fellow, YOU are. How do you find yourself.
my precious? All serene doubtless cried
Miss Major, then turned and looked at Miss
Blossom with an interrogation point in her
eyes The little one said nothing but it
was easy to see that words were needless
and that she had not yet gathered up the
shattered fragments of her castle-in-air
For few minutes silence reigned then
there was rap at the door and a waiter en-
tered, extending to Miss Major his tray,
whereOn was card.
- Gentleman waiting in drawing-room
No. 3, said the man, in piping voice.
What sent the blood mantling to the very
roots of the lady's hair as she replied with
visible agitation, . Tell the gentleman | am
coming" The next moment she recovered
herself; but seeing anxious glances directed
by her companions towards the card in her
hand, she held it up, saying in her old,
mocking tone, - Not William Earle Ham
bledon. but an earnest, honest man one
who could afford to wipe his shoes on
mountebank." and she swept out of the
room, form erect and nostrils quiyering,
a personifcation Of lofty disdain.
Miss Blossom looked after her for an in
stant, then, as if she too had found her
pride, she rose with a sudden jerk, tossed up
her head, and muttered, " Mean old scamp
Tom Hackett wouldn't do such mean things,
if he IS soft. Poor Tom III make up
friends with him, right Off, and with this
soliloquy, she retired, leaving Mrs. Wylie
in possession of the field.
This lady in spite of stolid determina-
ton stamped on her face, looked very much
like n large wilted cabbage, rs she stood
tearing up those sheets of note-Daper, with
the name written on them, and saying men
tally. d" What do | care, | shall marry him,
if he furnishes the proofs ! required. Is
for Miss Major, if the truth must be told
before she reached the drawing-room No. 5,
all her fire had vanished, the proud mien
had changed into a strange weakness and
she entered the room with her knees literal
" shifting each other \ man of medium
size, rather Sallow, not handsome. at least
not at first sight, and looking what might
be defined as old Of his years, rose to meet
her, and said with smile that suggested
stifed emotion, . Miss Major, You were not
expecting me to-night?'
= Mr. Coulson,I was not, replied the
lady striving to keep hand and voice steady,
"whe-when did You Gomez that is-l-l
thought You were in California.
Strange inconsistency of humanity the
woman's tremor seemed to reassure the man
for he closed his fingers firmly
over the trembling hand As he said,
reached your uncle's house at noon to-day,
and learned that You were here. After
eight years Of absence, | am come to say
that am not a needy adventurer, seeking
some womans purse, in order to save my
self from work. Ny worldly goods now
4
pelf in the Pacific Ocean or endOw an insti-
tuition with it. for aught | care if onlyyou
can tell me that your that your heart Is
open to me, and YOU did not, or do not now
mean to iuSult-to despise me.
She would have liked to tell him then,
that during all these years of his absence,
she had thought he scorned both her and
her money. that her soul had long been
filed with bitterness because she fancied that
he saw her preference for him and rejected
it. thinking She would fain buy him with
her gold. 81 under the influence of that
impression, and in accordance with the We
hemence Of hei nature, she had flung out
some defiant expression, and he had gone of
without word or sign. But while she long
ed thus to unburden her mind, her recreant
body bafiled her will; and shaking in every
limb, she eonld only gasp out, - Hugh
we've misunderstood one another 1t
was enough, the next moment strong arms
encircled her, and the cold, sarcastic, hard
headed girl was sobbing like baby, on the
weather-beaten stranger breast.
Six weeks later, the journals that take
note Of such events, recorded two marriages
among the bon-fon. One Of them, which
by the way, came of with great eelat, was
that Of the gay and fascinating Mrs. Wylie
to gallant and distinguished foreigner, &c,
&c The other with no flourish OF trumpets,
still bon-toa was that Of our friend Miss Ma
jor and the man OF her heart, the true and
brave Californian.
At the last mentioned wedding, little
Blossom, who looked very sweet as brides
maid, whispered to the bride that she and
that darling good Tom Sackett were engag-
ed. Then clasping her small hands with
eyes rolling up toward the ceiling she said
. Wasn't it a mercy escaped that horrid
man, and isn't Grandmama happy?"