Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-21
The Widows LOdqer.
CHAPTER TX.
A RECONCILIATION.
CONTINUED from last weak \

illlNOuO Vi tOulo DC ~ tdllllOl
be, and perhaps | am going wrong.
had better read up Forbes Winslow's
treatise on soothing --symptomatc
mania, | mean l wonder " little
music would do me goodp"
Thinking that it might, he began to
tune his violin, and after an interval of
about Il minute something came thun-
dering down the stairs. lie did not
know whether it was a chest of drawers
or the piano, but his heart leaped up
into his throat, and when he ventured
to look ont he found It was only huge
armchair.
And if you do not hold chat internal
row. roared the dreadful voice, 81 will
jump through the ceiling and annihi-
late you"
Jump said Mr.. Parker, recklessly,
with al the -oice he could muster, and
opened his door about All extra inch and
a half. Jump he repeated, who
cares? You would not jumpif you had
the govt. don't believe you ever had
the govt; you left ii behind you when
you went upstairs for the baby You
leave it behind you when you please.
Your blue frauds are simply spectacles
I mean your blue spectacles are a
fraud. l will not stand it; sir, TN
go for walk, therem
lie carried out this heroic resolution
promptly, as the girl brought in his
tray, and he thought he heard the old
gentleman coming. BY the time he
reached the street door, Martha spoke
u llitit
Never mind HIS, aif;d she said, stiff
ling down laugh; "it is only his way
and you gave him as good as he sent.
Depend upon it, he won't do it when he
finds you have got a spirit in you.
Speak like you did just now. l was
glad TO hear it, and don't spoil your
breakfast. Mrs. Allenby cooked it forge
every bit, and made the coffee herself"
II will, Martha" said bt, Parker,
when he was in his own room again
why should not? If he were not such
very old man, would really speak to
him. | would tell him how bad it is for
him at his age"
Martina poured ont his coffee sooth-
ingly, and he began his breakfast, lis,
tening meanwhile for the dreadful
voice, but he only heard it in deep
bass laugh. 1t panied him rather, how
ever, to think he heard Mary's musical
voice laughing too.
1T is too bad " he said to himself. II
wish | had more command Of my nerves.
When people treat me like fool, feel
like one, I am only myself, or what
wish TO be, whe;i mn with Miss Allen.
byI'
And it was too bad. Mary told the
old gentleman so, and he admitted it,
But" he said, "how can one help it
when the fellow is so easily frightenedY
If he came up and demanded an apollo
gy, or told me that but for my age he
would throw me out Of the window.
should like him all the betterI How can
he hope to get along II tire world with
such a nerve system as his?'
The poor fellow may have inherited
it: | have heard Arthur say that is fire.
quently the case
Yes, that's true said Mr.. Barker.
Nervous people should not marry.
They never think what curse they en-
tail upon their children and PROSPERITY
men and women like our friend. They
may be morally and physically brave
when they have time for reflection, but
the sudden sound of loud voice or any
unexpected incident deprives them OF
all self-possession and gives them a
temporary paralysis of mind and body.
| do not think you are nervous, my
DEAR
Il went into the world very early, sir.
and learned it thoroughly before | had
time to be afraid of it,
II know" he said, kindly; your
father was rather helpless man. and
you had to take care Of him as we'll"
He had been very brave said Mary;
"but the trouble he endured SO patient
ly broke him down. No one but brave
man could have borne that trouble so
paticntly.'
Yes, that was him. he could endure,
but he could not fight, set stern and
savage front to the world, and beat or
wear down all that came before him.
yet that is what must be done in these
days by all who think life worth living;
the others can only turn their faces to
the wall and die. Have you he ask
ed, with one of his abrupt transitions,
"seen your Uncle Michael YETI"
Not yet, sir"
"IIow is that?'
''lIe has not been here"
'If you wait for that, am afraid you
will not see him, said Mr. Barker. do
not set your pretty mouth so hard. He
has been told that Arthur's mother
wrote to you, asking you to meet him
at her house"
That is quite true"
And you refused to go?"
Il could not go. After what l have
told you, Mr.. Barker, could you expect
me to? know it was out OF no regard
for me. She only wanted to let Uncle
Michael see Arthurs boy, and was an
unwelcome but indispensable accessory.
l could not and | will not, she added,
passionately. Can you. Mr.. Barker,
say that am wrong?'
My chid,' he said, very gently, lit
is not for me to say what is right or
wrong, for know what my own pride
and stubborn temper have done for me.
Sinking that question altogether, say
ing it is only the boy they want to see,
have some consideration for your Uncle
Michael"
"Why can he not come here?"
You see, dear, how difficult his posi-
ton is. He could not very we'll come
here since you have so distinctly de-
clined his sister-in-law's fully expressed
desire for reconciliation. Do you
see?'
IL did not think of that" said Mary,
in perpleXity: "hut do not feel as If /
could 60"
well, then, let him see the boy.
George Hyde could take him-or Mar
garet You would not mind that,
especially as ! should most probably be
there"
mo, | should not mind, much" said
Mary, reluctantly.
well, then, that is arranged, so far.
We will have day appointed. Uncle
Michael is rather erratic in his move
ments, and though he is supposed to be
staying in the house he has quarters of