Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-11

she had secured an engagement re r',n' !
panion to q maiden lady, and ;tn' size
left London next day. renewed my
pleadings-still in vain. ] asked 10Y
souvenir, some little tlihe by which to
remember her, and she gave me a photo
graph. / have never seen her since.
There was silence for q moment, broken
only by the twttcr of the leaves in her
garden without.
"a woman worth loving said Amy
when she could trust her voice.
He heard the words, and knew nothing
but what they had told him. Filled with
his own thoughts, he had not to read the
heart of the woman who spoke-and
speech is surely in many ways the weak
est dialect of human language.
"Have you the photograph with YOU?
she asked, presently.
He took it from his pocket and gave
it into her hand, which trembled little
as she took it, She walked to tho win
dow to examine it by the faint light that
filtered through the leaves.
"What is her name 2 she asked.
II shall never speak her name nShlh,
Amy. Do not ask me-
'.Cm elaine trop pour que je dis
Gu lose almer,
FIT 1c veux MOURN pour ma ine
| Sans Ia nommer.''
quoted Amy, with an attempt at laugh
which was hardly success. but sup
pose l know it?'
"How could you know it ?" ask d
Jack.
"Becausc am a witch, ans ered Amy,
"and know everything. Come. will Sou
tell Inc or shall tell You p
| "Tell me"
"What do you say to Ada Stanley
jack rose to his feet thunderstruck, but
before he could speak light step was
heard advancing along the gravel of the
garden path and female form darkened
the window.
"The lady herself" continued Amy,
''just in the nick of time. Miss Ada
Stanley, Mr.. John Jackson"
A light knock came at the door, and a
neat and rosy-cheeked country lass enter
ed the room, bearing in her hand lamp.
She was followed by mildle-aged man,
tall and strongly built, and dressed in
dark gray broadcloth. A noticeable man
with n peculiar set expression on his
face.
Good evening, Mr.. Tescam," said
Amy. "yon know my cousin, think. "
Mr.. Tescam bowed and extended his
hand toward John, who took it mechani'
cally, without removing his eyes from
Ada, who stood trembling just within the
window.
81 was just thinking OF taking a stroll
in the garden, Mr.. Tescam," went on
Amy, ''if you would favor me with youi
arm, I've no doubt my cousin and Miss
Stanley will be able to amuse themselves
for little time without our help"
The stranger offered his arm with q
formal and rather old-fashioned eouftesy,
and they left the room together and pass
ed up the garden walk in silence. They
reached the rustic bench beneath the
dropping brancher OF an aspen, and here
Amy quilted her companions arm and
took her seat.
"You have something to say to Inc.
she said, YEARLY. All the sprightliness
of moment ago had vanished.
Yes said Mr.. Tescam slowly, 81
have something to say to yo;l which Is
soon said; have come to say good.
bye"
She conld see that the set expression OF
his face, dimiy discerning through the
evening gloom, had deepened, and the
hand which held the lepei of his coat
clutched it hard.
"Why goodbye q she asked.
at is best. lie said, simply, struggling
with some invaded passion which he could
scarce repress $50 long as remain here,
so long as / see you, must speak, and
know that there Is no hope l must get
away from you and fight it down. l am
trembling now, only at the pressure OF
your hand upon Ty arm and the sound
of your voice"
The clutching tingers tightenedin their
grasp rs if they would have stilled the
beating of the heart below.
when ] think, he went OH, with his
gathering passion battling with the strong
restraint lie put upon himself ''when |
think that another suitor might appear
who should become more fortunate, aud
who should become to you all that |
dream, day and night, of being to you ;
when l think that 1 should stand by and
see you happy in love. nursing his child
rem, feel as il ] should go mad. | am
mad now, at this moment, when | think
of it..
Had his successful rival, whom his
heated imagination had coniure1up, stood
before him in yertable flesh aud blood,
as he stood there with extended hands
clenched before him, hiG life would not
have been worth pins purpose. With
n strong effort he controlled himself and
went on, after vain attempt to moisten
his dry lips with his dryer tongue;
"You see," he said, 'if the mere
thought of such Things has such an effect
upon me what would their reality be?
must go away and leave you. 1t is the
only thing to be done. | have no right
to persecute you with my protestation,
and so long ms remain here | must
speak"
He paused, perhaps expecting some an
swer, but she was silent.
"Good-by," he said, extending his
hand.
"What il will not say good-by 2"
He Withdrew his hand with quick
catch of his breath.
"What if ask You not to go, but to
remain ?"
Again he made no answer, but stood
looking at her through the dusk, breath
ing heavily.
II do ask you to remain" she sal d
rising, "and to forget the answer | have
given You.
. She had expected some wild outbreal
of passion in answer to these words. Blu
all he aid WIS To throw one arm about he
and press her to the heart whose quicl
throb was audible to the utter stiffness o
the night, and SO for a moment the.
stood.
There is one thing Of which | mus
warn you, Amy continued IF l com
| to you it is with no more than the clothe
| wear. do not do you the injustice t.
think that You love me for what yol
think / shall bring you but must il
, justice 10 myself and you, tell you this
l This property II mine ~ long II" romai'
/ single. When | marry ii passes 10 iu
l next of kin, john Jackson. ion bn,
my uncle. and how etran9e his idens Mrr