Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-14


She was undeniably handsome nnl
charming in her manners.
She could sing and play and read aloud
most exquisitely, where is little Genevicv'
was no elocutionist whatever, and only
played simple little pieces and sang the
easiest ballads
Yet Otis Vernon fell desperately in love
with her, and before one week had gone
by had made up his mind that he would
marry her if she would have him, and the
two hundred thousand be lost rs far rs he
was concerned
1t was not without struggle though
Otis Vernon would have been more or
less than human had he been placidly Will
ing for such fortune to pass nm even
for the sake of such n darling as Gene
We've was, with her truthful, wistful blne
eyes that lighted so at the sight OF HIM.
And Augusta Carlyon, who could have
lowered him 30 royalty, was no ordinary
insignificant woman, who would nave
palled upon the man she favored.
She was proud and reserved and ele-
CANT and she did not in the least inter
fere in the very pronounced devotion be-
tween the lovers, and SO everything went
quietly along until
| Out btOEuly Uuly hiBue, Ni'h =" '"
der shower that threatened for hours,
burst over Royal Oaks in fury, and then
settled into pouring rain storm. 49,,
Mr.. Vernon had spent the evening with
Genevieve in the library, and had told
her in n lovers frank confidence Just what
was before him, according to his grand
fathers will, and took her in his arms and
told her how infinitely he preferred her
and her sweet love to all the goods the
gods could give him.
He asked her if she would be his wife,
and told her how he loved her i'll all OF
loves most eloquent words.
And Genevieve, with little happy
smile on her babysweet mouth, and an
upward rapturous look of her innocent
blue eyes, did not say him nay.
81 almost believe | loved you that very
first day, Otis" she said.
"And I know l did, my darling, when L
saw you standing there i'll the fiicSering
sunlight, looking like saint throned on
her shrine.
That was at 8 o'clock Of that wet July
night. and Mt II servant raped on
Vernon's door-would he please go ,at
once to Mr.. Bascom, Miss Carlyon beg
ged-he was very much worse, and she
was alarmed at his symptoms.
Vernon found Augusta dismayed and
anxious but the thought that first flash
ed over him as he opened the door, and
saw her leaning over the sufferer, was how
beautiful she was the next, how marvel
ously well she playedher cards to have be
come so great favorite with this rich old
man.
81 do not understand his symptoms, p"
she said dismally. "Dr. Fortune told
me what to expect, but there was nothing
said of such terrible agony as this. See .
Oh, it is terrible Do send Davis at
once for DIR. Fortune, Mr.. Vernon.
That the old man was in mortal agony
was apparent, and Vernon instantly dis
patched carriage for the doctor and then
returned to the bedside.
81 have done all could, Augusta said
pitifully, "but l cannot endure to see
him suffer SO.
Vernon looked straight at her.
Are you so very much attached to my
grandfather?"
A very faint little flush went into her
cheeks.
HE has been very good to me- she
said, simply. HE heard me sing and
volunteered to cultivate my voice, and it
ended in my coming to this beautiful
home"
"And completely running Gene vieve's
chances" he said, so sternly that he felt
chagrined as he saw the look on her face.
A look that instantly changed to one OF
naughty GOODNESS.
"Genevieve has rot chosen to devote
herself to her best friend. have"
A little sneeripg smile was on his hand
some mouth ne almost answered her
that she had played for high stakes and
played them we'll.
He was surprised at her next words
abrupt eager.
"You do not like me, Mr.. Vernon why,
l cannot tell but at risk of offending
you beyond hope, I shall say this to you
| Genevieve -"
He stopped her by an imperative ges-
ture.
81 shall hear nothing unkind against
the charming girl who has honored me
by promising to be my wife"
Their eyes met in II glance almost de-
| FAINT
Then Miss Canyons lips relaxed slow
ly into almost smile.
"You are right. We will not speak of
her. Mr.. Vernon, do you think Mr.. Bas-
| com is easier?"
81 should say he was"
"Can You leave him to me until the
doctor gets here? You must be worn out.
You look very tired"
His sudden kindness of speech made
her cheeks flush.
"Thank you. am tired, and have
done all that any one could do. If you
will be so good as to watch by him ten
minutes or so, while gain n little rest
-"
She went away, and Vernon, seeing the
quiet into which the old man was rclaps-
ing, laid himself down on the lounge at
the head of the bed to wait until the doc
tor should come and to think over the in
tense happiness that had come to him
that night.
| Then silently, softly, stealthily, with
glance around the apparently unguarded
room, Genevieve came in, went up to the
little marble-top medicine table, and has
tily, but firmly, poured half dozen drops
OF some liquid, from vial in her hand,
into the goblet of medicine, and then
glided away as she had come, leaving
Vernon paralyzed with horror and fear,
scarcely able to speak to DR.. Fortune as
he came into the room moment later.
"You look as if you'd seen ghost, "
he said, and then stepped up to the bed
side and gave an exclamation of surprise.
"Mr. Bascom is dead" he said, then
Miss Carlyon coming in, related all the
strange symptoms.
ut looks like case of poisoning" DIR.
Fortune said gravely, and all Vernon's
pulses seemed stopping MS he walked to
the table and took up the goblet of medi-
cine and examined it closely, with n face
graver and graver.
Somebody has done it," he said SOL
EMMY. "There will have to be an in
| yesti0ation hora ~