Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-06

could be found a pleasanter place for it
in all the city. Which house did Alice
say? Tn sure I don't know. If / walk
slowly past this club house n few more
times | shall create n sensation. That
will not do at ALL Let me try street"
But MS she turned the corner the north |
wind met her. and her feet slipped dan.
gerously on the icy p,vcments.
Cant stand this, in more senses thnn
one. Why doesn't that girl appear If
it was not for the snow, now, l might
walk in the common in the most unno-
tceablc way possible. will cross over
and study these roofs. What did Alice
say 4? What stupid not to ask her the
number But then shouldn't have heard
it if she had told me. Serves me right
for giving such carless attention to what
people are saying. declare / don't even
know her friends name. Mollie, Mol
lie--what? 1 onght to know. / have
heard her name times enough when |
have been here before. She wns one of
Alice's classmates, but she did not
mention her last name this morning.
This must he the house. Shall l try itY
Grace who had been carefully survey
ing the house that she was approaching,
suddenly looked very determined, mount
ed the steps and rang the bell. The door
was opened almost instantly by II digni-
fled old servant i'll livery.
II beg pardon If l am making mis-
take" she began, in her most winning
voice. "Indeed, 1 am quite at loss to
explain myself. Has young lady called
here within half hour to see friend, n
Miss Mollie-; my cousin did not men
ton her surname And shepaused with
an embarrassed, half smile. but the old
servant had already shaken his head.
| "No miss no one has called. l know,
because have been here all the time"
"Thcn have made n mistake. l am
sorry to have troubled you. But could
You possibly? "-she hesitated
81 think there is young lady next
door, indicating the house with his
hand eve have no young ladies in this
family"
"Thank you," aloud. To herself
"That accounts for slight trace OF crust
mess in your bearing, my good sir. How,
ever you treat me very well-fora tramp.
Should she dare again? Her blood was
up. The merry mood of the morning
had not passed 1t would be no worse
than this horrid promenading. and she
might find her.
This time the door was opened by q
pleasant-faced young mulatto, who seem
ed instantly to appreciate the situation,
for suppressed twinkle in his eye an
swered to the smile that, do what SHE
would. Grace knew was twitching at the
corners of her mouth.
81 beg pardon" she said, with an ail
of frankness that would have disarmed
the most suspicious mind ''My cousin
Miss Raymond, left me to call on n friend
while l made another i'll the near neigh
borhood. My cousin pointed out tho
house to me, but really l do not know
the house, the number, or her friend t
name. She called her only Mollie. Ii
there Miss Mollie-? Has a Miss Ray
mond called? You see, 1t is reall,
very absurd, and the young lady ende,
with little appealing gesture OF the
hands that would have done credit to {
French woman.
The young fellow smiled, yet very re
specially "There is Miss Mollie, he
said Grace looked relieved. But SHE
was not yet sure.
"a lady may have called" he continue
ed, although l did not see her Miss
Mollie is in New York"
ooh, then" began Grace, preparing tc
| retreat. But he went on.
"If you will step into the parlor, il
You please, miss, will go and inquire. y
II thank you. | am sorry to trouble
YOU"
"How utterly ridiculous this is she
said to herself, as she took the proifered
seat in n most elegant apartment. "To
think that /, Grace Carter, should be in
such scrape as this That man is Il
true gentleman. How does he know what
l may intend to carry off in my pocket
while he is gone. What would Alice"
The sound of n half suppressed cough
in another part of the room startled her.
She became conscious that she had been
thinking aloud. Throwing, for the first
time, rapid glance around the room, her
eyes met those of gentleman who was
almost hidden from her view by an angle
of the room and the deep chair III which
he was sitting. He rose from his seat,
seeing himself discovered. Grace arose
also, turning towards the door, for she
heard the sound of returning footsteps.
"The lady is not here Miss, | am sor-
ry."
All Grace thought of now was to get
out of her awkward position as soon as
possible. The gentleman advanced to
offer assistance, but Grace rapidly and
somewhat incoherently uttering her
thanks and apologies to the servant, fled,
and drew long breath of relief as she
reached the sidewalk once more.
81 feel MS if | had lived an age, and it
is rot fifteen minutes since / Numbered
into the first place. If that girl does not
appear before | reach the next corner !
shall go home without her. There she is
this very minute, blissfully unconscious
Of the mischief l have been into"
"How nice you are just in time,
Grace, | told Mollie You might call for
me and | have been listening for the bell
for some time. Did you have pleasant
call Mollie was looking very lovely
this morning she had on new wrapper
that is extremely becoming"
| Mrs. Benton was indisposed, so that /
did not see her at all, said Grace, rather
grimly.
Alice looked up and caught queer cx-
preston on her cousins face. "Why,
what did you do all this time ?" she ask
ed.
Grace hesitated. "Can you keep it to
yourself, if l tell you something's
Eyes, indeed ="
well, then, | have been making morn
ing calls. on New Years Day, upon the
elite Of Beacon street, Boston !"
| "Grnce Carter !"
| Precisely that is Just what | say"
And half laughing, half rueful, she told
the whole story.
Meanwhile, the gentleman who had
been so suddenly disturbed in his quiet
doze did not seem inclined to return to
his chair.
"You say she gave hercousin name as
| Miss RAYMOND, Alfred ?"