Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-28

WOnian's story About Love and
Things,

"What have you never heard the story
All, let me tell it to you, then, it is 50
pretty"
And sweet, lovely Madame King patted
her soft white hands together gleefully,
and laughed joyously into my eager face.
when she saw that / was as charmed to be
listener, MS she to take the part of story
teller.
Madame King, let me premise, il the
delight of our eyes and the gladness of
our hearts. though she Is grandmother to
bonny Kate and sturdy Charlie. and
though the lovely curls, So carefully
brushed away from the smooth forehead,
where she Will have no ugly care marks
lined by worry and frettiug. are rs snowy
and silvery as the whitest You ever saw
\ dear old lady, whokept hcrheart young,
and her temper sweet and sunny who is
rs much Il belle i'll our drawing room ms
her fairy granddaughter who helps our
social life to be bright and yiyacious, and
keeps us sweet and wholesome as breath
OF pure air. She sat herself comiOfta-
bly, III the armchair, and thrust those
daintlly 0ttlred feet, Of which her son is
SO proud, contentcdly upon the hassOck /
set Tor them, and commenced promptly.
10 be sure, | remember now, the
Willoughbys were little out of our set
when yon first came home from the acad-
envy. They had voluntarily retired from
a great deal of the town gayety. But
they were too charming to be readily
dropped by the sensible people, and we
did have good many Of that sort. |
always insisted upon that But after
that disastrous failure, and the paralytic
stroke OF Mr.. Willoughby's, good many
were delicate about intruding too per-
slstently and they were very sensitive
and proud, especially the mother But
what grand dame she was in the palmy
days of her husbands wealth What an
ar she had. | have never seen countess
or grand-duchcss since that could be half
so stately and gracious, both in one.
But, dear me, how | ramblc Stop me
when get out OF the path, dear, and
set me back.
"A proud, sensitive family suddenly
stranded III poverty from out the very
fullness OF prosperity That is the stu
atioh you arc to imagine. There were
three girls and one son. the helpless par.
alytic father, and the beautiful, stately
mother. The son was unfortunately the
youngest of the family, and lie was at
college when the crash came, just enter
ing upon his junior year. They kept
him there till he graduated Heaven
ouly knows by what heroic sacrifices it
was done But those brave women man
aged it somehow. Grace took pupils in
music. Nelly painted charmingly, and
must have found sale somewhere at the
shops, for she was always busily at work
on such lovely bits of satin and white
wool as the bric-a-bric shops have on the
Christmas counters. And Maude took
care Of little class of children very
much, | dare say, after the kindergarten
fashion of these days, only we never
heard the name then. ! want 20 much to
describe Maude to YOU, but I've no idea
how to do it,.
She paused, laughed low, melothous
gurgle, and clasped those still pretty
hands of hers enthusiastically.
well, there, | can only say she was
the loyeiiest creature | ever saw out of
canvas,-in real flesh and blood You've
vivid imagination, / know fill up the
outline I've given Just the best you can,
and then I'm sure the picture won equal
winsome MIaude Willoughby. was very
ford of the other girls but over Maude
was always as gushing MS a raw school
girl
81 think l was their most intimate ac-
quaintance after the dark days came.
You know | have been very fortunate
there, dear. really think would not
exchange our position of being Just on
the meridian grade of social rank for the
best advantages the highest aristocracy
can Offer. One can be friends below and
above, and have ready sympathyfor each,
and that is delightful. There are such
beautiful people in both places that it is
n JOY and benefit to know them ALL"
ave all know what an open sesame
you carry with you, dear Madame King"
! ventured. '1m sure no one can help
loving and trusting you"
eyes, everybody is good to me every
body always has been good. It's very
strange how blest have been !" muir
INJURED the dear old lady thoughtfully.
"But sometimes / think there is good
spirit 1uttering before me. Now that
day, I'm sure it wouldn't have been
strange, considering their pride, if they
had shut up their hearts to me entirely.
And the greatest marvel was Mr., Dilling-
ham. I'm sure he ought to have bitten