Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-06-24

nau been Ill before them, were uIh"u pl
some force of attraction to the album Ia
BILE, where TIME faced frowning world
as represented by the matrons and maid'
of Otfport.
Murmurs very unhattering to his pro
tege began to reach the old clerg, man
ears, and he draggeda chair to her side
and took his seat behind the table 10 leno
her the shield and protection of his pres
ence, Just as the diplomatic first direct
ress sailed up to the floral temple. ant
seraphically suggested to her own mature
daughters and the other attendants. tina
as some peoples effrontery was disgust
ing to all decent people, it might be wei
for them to take pity on those who wer,
purposely detained at certain stand ant
carry them about.
So Flora's fair nymphs came ont o
their neglected bower, and fitted artless
ly hither and thither with au elaborately
studied who'll buy" expression on theil
various faces, and full baskets OF GOut0n
niers in their hands.
TIME thought her success Ill getting
names had melted the ice, and the glrl'
were gathering about to congratulate
her, but they did not even seem to see
her. so busily were they pinning the easI
ly sold GOut0Hnicrs to the coats OF hel
patrons.
The Commodore, as the rest Of his
party called one of their numhyr, was
easily ensnared. Not only did he submit
to be ornamental, but made anxious in
quiries for larger bouquets, and broks
off his gay little conversation with Time
to rush off to the floral temple with one
of its nymphs.
TIME was too unversed in the ways OF
the world to feel any resentment at his
detection, but she was sorry enough for
the abrupt break in the merry chat they
were having while he insisted upon her
turning the leaves of the big album for
his inspection.
She tried not to show any feeling. but
there was suspicious little drawing
down of the baby mouth, and a grieved
| look in her wide blue eyes that infuriated
him as he dashed back in n moment with
huge arrangement of flowers In his
hand, which he begged her to accept.
"He must be remarkably charitable
man," was her little remark aside to the
rector. as the commodore proceeded to
take unlimited shares Ill the autograph
album.
The rector had been watching the frank,
high bred face of the young fellow and,
! unworldly as he was, he knew enough to
trust him so he paid no heed to the mods
and winks from his wife across the hall,
who was being informed by the able first
directress Of the dangers girl III Time s
peculiar position ran from the over-famil-
iarity of the strange young man.
Bobby, the candidyoung brother, hover
ed about TIMES stall, hoping for recog-
milton from his friend of the day before ;
but much scrubbing, hair-cutting and
clothes brushing, had so transformed the
ingenious youth that he passed unrecog-
nized till he forced himself into notice by
| a whispered demand to know if his sister
wasn't Just as he had said, eleventy
thousand times handsomer than those old
cats who wouldn't speak to her because
her mother was washerwoman.
The commodore's bewilderment at the
question only lasted a moment; then he
saw it clearly This pretty, seft-eyed
girl, with her little wild-rose face, and
shy. bewitching ways, was the abused sis
ter he had already felt chivalrous pity
for when her brother told her story.
He remembered it all now-the old,
wornout dress, the pretty white apron
that was to cover it-and what fascina-
ting little apron it was, all covered with
rufiies and puffles and tlummery, as his
untutored masculine tongue would have
described it !
1t must be that very apron that was
playing the mischief with him, for he
had never been SO fascinated by any girl
before.
Suddenly a wild desire to possess the
irresistible bit Of property came over
him. Would she sell it for sweet charity
sake
Then the cruelty of securing it, and
leaving her to the modification OF expos
ing the rusty merino unprotected by Its
friendly shelter, rushed over him, and he
took Bob into n short consultation, which
resulted in an interview with the majestic
first directress, who was promenadlng the
hall with the bland manner of shop
walker, or of one who graciously holds
levee, but keeps an eye on the guests that
they escape not with the spoons.
The sauve lady, little guessing for
whom it was destined, assisted him to Sc
lect from one of the tables an apron Of
far more elegant character than the one
he coveted and he, with Bobby's assist
ance, began to negotiate an exchange of
aprons, with ten dollars to boot, to be
added to the fair receipts.
TIME tlushedup at the offer but the by
ISLANDERS urged her to accept it, and even
the clergyman whispered his approval.
She couldn't go to church without the
ribbon she had plucked from her hat to
adorn the apron, was the hesitating con-
fession she whispered back which wins
per being overheard by Bob was speedily
communicated TO his new friend who sur
prised him by being too stingy to surren-
der the ribbons, but begged to be allow
ed to add to the exchange a whole bolt of
bonnet ribbon to be procured i'll the
morning when the sun and the village
milliner uade their usual simultaneous
rising.
TIME, who had not courage to resist so
much opposing force. made the exchange,
and entirely overthrow the commodore's
theory that the apron did it by appearing
even more dazzling and radiant i'll the
new one but he was satisfied with his
bargain, and TIME added the ten dollars
to her little box of cash from subscfip-
tions.
The list was full now, and such NOR
ry excitement attended the drawing that
all the other parts of the hall were desert
ed, while the crowd tiocked around to
look and listen. One of the yacht com
panv drew tho winning number, and with
some dismay found himself the owner of
the album ; but with great presence of
mind he presented it to the rector, who,
with Just one momentary CLEAN of wag-
gishness in his blessed face, begged to be
allowed to give it to his esteemed friend,
the first directress, who was obliged to
hire n man to carry her white elephant
home
There was another fair in Ohport next
year, and the album was again put up to
be railled for, but the chances were not
registered by TIME, for sine WAS of on
her bridal trip with her most devoted
| husband, the gay young commodore,
who having neither mother nor sisters to
point out the immense social disgrace OF
marrying the daughter of washerwoman,
had followed his own sweet will in his
choice of IA wife, and made selection
that made him the envy of all his friends.
THE Rev. DIR. CROSBY AND THE SA-
LooNs.-The Chicago Bremey, i'll re-
cent issue rcpublishes Rev. DIR. Crosby's
Calm View" with the following heading
Rcu. Dr.. Crosbys Gredt Sermon, Oi,'
million copies to be circulated by BrcW-
crs." Then after stating that it has ster-
eotyped the sermon and can furnis h un.
limited copies, the paper adds to Its
patrons > You can afford to circulate this
sermon Its circulation il worth more t.
you than money i'll government bonds, and
will bear better interest" That is the sa-
loon keepers test of value, but perhaps IA
sermon bya Doctor Of Divinity was nevei
before regarded by them as n paying in
vestment. Certainly the spectacle is sug
gestiye, Rev. DIR. Crosby striving to close
saloons, the keepers Of which buy hit
sermon as an investment most admira.
bly, calculated to increase their patronage
BY the fruits of theory it may be mos
safely judged.
Temperance men are to be Boycotted
The brewers, Mt their National convention
in Chicago, on Thursday, May s, wer,
pledged to oppose every person seeking
public Office who is in any way identified