Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-24
I'M COAT POCKET.
4 Pleasant Little story about Pcopis
Now on Earth.


rsusan Coolidge in Youths Companion
Ashley Cowper. hat in hand, was Just
turning the handle of the strect-door
when II soft call from the stair-top made
him pause.
Are you going to the postoiiice, Asst
ley"
anything you want done 2
''Ouly this letter to post and girl
ish shape fitted down the stairs. Ashley
watched rs she descended, and with sud
denly sharpened recognition of the TACT,
said to himself "What pretty glrl
RosamOnd is y
Brothers are not always SO alive to their
sisters charms, but the fact was that rare
ly in her life had Rosamond Cowper been
SO near to perfect beauty rs at that mo.
ment, when she came down the old stair
case, letter in hand, her cheeks flushed
with deepest pink, her eyes shining, and
her red lips parted with | know not what
happy stir of emotion and expectancy.
Two long braids of pale brown hair,
thicl. and glossy rs those of German
Gretchen, hung down her back. On the
fair forehead clustered fringe of light,
waving rings, not cut and trained after
a happy freak Of nature and accident.
The slender figure, in its white dress,
Lad all the rounded grace of youth and
perfect health. Over all was an air OF
virginia. freshness, understandable but
charming.
But Rosamond was too much preoccu-
pied to be conscious of her looks, as she
handed the letter to her brother, with
fingers which trembled n little, and said,
anxiously, you won't lose it, will you,
Astley?"
"Ccrtainly not, +" with superior smile.
He stuffed it carelessly into n side pocket
of his coat, coat made, like the rest of
his suit, of that immaculate white duck,
in which our youthful swells delight to
array themselves in hot July weather.
Forth he went, clean, alert, handsome,
the very picture of u luxurious young
fellow enjoying IL summer holiday. No
thought OF betraying Rosamonds trust
was in his mind, and his steps had already
turned toward the postoffice, when a dog
cart Grew up suddenly and CHEEKY hail
reused his attention.
well met, old fellow. l was Just 60
ing round to ask if you would like game
of tennis. The Porters sent n note early
in the morning to ask me to drive down
to the Croft for luncheon and game,
and to bring you.
"All right | will" Ashley jumped
INTO the cart. and in another moment was
boy lug down the road toward Croft, a
pretty country place some three miles
distant Rosamond commission was
clean forgotten.
Tennis was followed by luncheon, then
by more tennis, ana conversation under
the shade OF the branching cedars which
fanked the ground Then pretty Mabel
Porter proposed Il walk, and led the way
through Grassy valley to the gorge be-
yond, whcro little brook tore its wild
way from higher levels to the water mead
ows below.
The rocks over which the party climbed
were slippery here and there, and in saw
ing Mabel from fall Ashley himself had
tumble, triiing i'll itself, but damaging
to the duck suit so damaging, i'll fact
that the suit went to the laundress next
day.
Before its return the weather had
changed to that odd, almost autumna
GOODNESS, which checkers and tempers
the heat Of our American summers. II
was sometime before Ashley had occasion
to wear it again. When it was taken fol
usp ny more accident. he was searching
snr 's' oS in The nocket when his ne
ton;shaJ fnpers encountered and drew
sortb . rothnp t,;cl, Hot hard snnore NJ
nnna, f", vrhinh Ia could in M vov no.
CONT
His frat sensation WINS one Of unmixef
how;l1nrment
..yVhv what ON eorthp A letter-ant
wnot Iefter ." and he proceeded to smooth
the rnmnIei mass ON fine table. A few
taintlv written characters we're discerna
hin ON what lind been AN enyelope
Mn. Dw-Epa-R.
20. Box &,
New Y
"Dwiobt Edoor, Wby. what does thi,
mean | have had no letter from him,