Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-29
THE CR6w>NE>Tc.soS1'.
An Interesting Warn all the Xyuy f-o
En- land.


Ii would he almost impossible to dis
cover amy one more entirely devoid of
superstition than myself Nevertheless
when | was seventeen years old an event
happened winch caused me to believe
mine a haunted life. l WAS Shaving in
PARIS, at the house of my guardian, Sir
Charles C, and dressing for my first
ball-a bail ut the English embassy. Nv
dress, triumph Of Partisan taste. had
been fastened, and l stood before the
glass while my maid arranged the flowers
IN my hair. a splendid bouquet lay be-
side my gloves and fan upon the toilet
table.
''Ah, row mademoiselle is beautiful -
exclaimed my maid Justine in French. as
she stepped back to survey her work ad-
miringly.
blushcd with pleasure. 1t was the
first compliment that had been paid mo
ut,l AiAJ Sl''So told me IL w.to Il t.
81 wonder who sent me these flowers ."
sad, taking up the bouquet preparatory
TO leaving the room.
"Mademolselle Will doubtless discover
her admlrer among her partners tonight"
was the girls reply.
At this moment there vas knocl, nj
the door. A telegram was handed to
me.
Mrs Northcote is dangerously i'll. and
wishes to see her stepdauehter before she
dies.
Startled, dismayed, but beyond all
measure vexed at receiving such an IN
timely message, dropped the paper upon
the moor. bring me railway guide
quick !" / said to Justine.
Mrs: Northcote was my stepmother, but
we had never met, Ny father had made
mesalllance out in India by taking n
ha!f-caste for his second wife, and when
he died lie left to his widow for her life
the family estate OF "Crowsnest N
which he had only just succeeded. I
found by the railway guide That If 7
changed my dress with speed there was
time to catch the last train thai niobt
from Paris. By noon next day I slonld
reach Dashire, in which county Grows.
nest is situated.
Justine" l cried, excitedly, .brinp
me my travelling dress. You mnst gn
with me tonight to England"
Mon Dieu, mademoiselle Wnnld
you take off that ravishing dress tbat
suits you to sucl marvel -? Would Won
give up the ball ?" '0'
once more looked at my reflection in
the lass Once more l took up the rail.
way timetable to study its contents At
o CLOCK next morning there was another
tram Medltatively | raised fine bon.
quet to my face. Who was it said "Tbe
weman who hesitates is lost ?" Tbeswpe,
perfume OF the flowers permeated nv
SENSES. Who had sent them Curiosity
prevailed. l would wait till the morrow
60 to the ball, and solve the mystery
pr Charles aud Lady C-were WAITING
Tor me when | descended the stairs,
dld not say anything about the telegram
we entered tie carriage and We're driven
to the Embassy.
The ball was brilliant in the extreme
ana 1 was completely intoxicated with
the adulatlon received. "La iolie Anp.
lalse The new debutante !" was on
everyhody's lips. The night was half
over before even remembered the ayowed
OBJECT OF my deferred departure for Eng.
iaha|hamely y, to discover the sender of
"Oi what were you thinking so pro.
louhdly,. Miss Northcote ?" asked n gen.
Hcnsh' III way that made me start. The
speaker was Mr.. Weston. He had been
introduced TO me few days before at nv
"' 'hihhlhS Ol the sender of this
lovely bouquet, and wondering who he is
pee, my name, Nina, is spelt ont in
white violets, l answered. bolding tha ~,
flowers toward him. S 'ie
Il hope you were thinking kindly If
the donor 2" A'H'''S Vi
Indeed was.
THANK you. Will you ALWAYS 50 think
OF him-of me?" . 'o 'iiinH
NY surprise was too great to frame nm
immediate reply Besides, his manner
embarrassed me, 1t inferred So mach
more than the mere words. danced with
him more frequently than with anv ono
eise' ana found new and strange aftrac.
tioh IN ms presence. On returning from
me pail told my kind host and hostess
OF lhe Telegram, and of my determination
10 start Tor England on the morrow
Lady O--looked grave when she read
the message. ''1e ioao
a. You {, might have saved few hours
,. only very few. And then sbopld
nave missed tho most delightful sIner1i
snce OF all my life," answered ferT pelt'
~, "Bqt it was case Of life and death INV
en'ld, she added gently. And I felt ~
MAJ given me a reproof. 'l' Sae
NY TRUNKS WeFes soon packed by Justine,