Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-23


fit state to present himself before Meenie.
And yet he never thought of sinking
away. Meenie desired to see him. and
that was enough. Always and ever he
J. ad been submissive to her slightest wish.
And If it were merely to reproach him, to
taunt him with his weakness and folly,
that she had now sent for him, he would
go all the same. He deserved that and
more. If only 1t had been some one else
not Meenie-whose resolute clear eyes he
had to meet
That brief interview over, and then for
the Queens shilling this was what was
before him now, and the way seemed
clear enough. But so unnerved was he,
that the mere idea of having to face this
tmid girl made him more and more rest
less and anxious; and at last, toward
three O'Clock in the morning, he, not hav-
ing been to bed at all, opened the door and
stole down the stair and went out into
the night. The black heavens were pull
sating from time to time with lurid red
sent over from the iron-works in the
south ; somewhere there was the football
Of "a policeman unseen; the rest was dark
ness and a terrible silence. He wandered
away through the lonely streets, he scarce
~ knew whittier. He was longing that
the morning should come, and yet dread
ing its approach. He reached the little
thoroughfare that leads into Queens
Crescent but he held on his way without
turning aside it was not for this poor
trembling ghost and coward to pass under
her window, with, "Sleep dwell upon
thine eyes, peace in thy breast" as his
unspoIen benediction. lie held on his
way toward the open country. wandering
quite aimlessly, and busy only with
guesses, and forebodings and hopeless
desires that he might suddenly find be-
fore him the dark rolling waters of Lethe.
and plunge into them. and wash away
from MIN all knowledge and recollection
Of the past. When at length he turned
toward the city. the gray dawn was break
ing in the dismal skies the first of the
milk carts came slowly crawling into the
town; and large wagons laden with vege-
tables and the like. He got back to his
lodgings; threw himself on the bed and
there had an hour or two of broken and
restless sleep.
When he awoke he went quickly to the
window. The skies were heavy; there
was a duh drihzle in the thick atmos-
phere the pavementS were wet 1t was
with a sudden sense of relief that he saw
what kind of a day it was. OF course
Meenie would never think of coming out
on so wet and miserable a morning. He
would keep the appointment. doubtless;
she would not appear taking 1T for
granted he would not expect her; and
then, then for the recruiting sergeant and
final settlement of ali these ills and
shames. Nevertheless he dressed himself
with Scrupulous neatness; and brushed
and re brushed his clothes: and put on
his deer-stalker's cap-for the sake of old
days. And then, just as he was leaving,
he took little bit of the white heather
and placed it in his waistcoat pocket; if
the talsman had any subtle power what
ever, all the good luck that he could wish
for was to find Meenie not too bitter in
her scorn.
He made his way to the corner of Sau-
chiehall Street some little time before the
appointed hour. But it was actually rain
ing now of course Meenie would not
come. 50 he idly paced up and down {;
staring absently at the shop windows; oc-
Casionally looking along the street, but
with no great expectation; and thinking
how well content and satisfied with them
selves these people seemed to be who were
now hurrying by under their streaming
umbrellas. His thoughts went far aiield.
Nimeira-SalHma Rodrigo
Observation-Disclosures lucknow bagh
these were the names and memories
that were in his head. An old school
companion of his own had got the Y. G.
for n CONSPICUOUS act of daring at the
storming of the Redan And if that were
not likely to be his proud fate. at least in
this step he was resolved upon he would
find safety and ii severance from dpgrad-
ing bonds, and a final remuneration OF
futile ambitions and foolish and idle
dreams.
He was looking into a book >eller's win
Ronald
And. oh, the sudden wonder and the
thrill of finding before hi'u those beau
tiful, friendly, glad eyes, so trve, so frank
so full of al! womanly tenderness and so
| lcltude End abundant and obvious kind
ness Where was the reproach of them
| They were full of a Kind of half-hdden
! joy-timid and reluctant, perhaps, little
but honest and clear and unmistakahle
and as for him. well, his breath was clean
/ taken away by he surprise. and the sud
den revulson of feeling from listless de
Spair to the consciousness that Mcenie was
still his friend and all he could do was
to rale the tmid hand in both of his and
hold it fast
"I-I heard that you We're uot-not very
| well, Ronald she managed to say.
And then the sound of her voce-that
brought with it associations of years
seemed to break the spell that was or
him
:" less me. Miss Douglas" he said. "yor
will get quite wet Will yOu not put VI
your umhrela-or-or take shelter some
where -
ooh, ! do not mind The rain she said
and there was II kind Of tremulorS laugf
about her lips, as if she were trying to APP
pear very happy indeed. 81 do not mind thu
rain We did not heed the rain much Al
Inver- Mudal, Ronald, when there w9s any
thing TO he done. And-aud so glad an
to see you II seems so long a time sine,
you left the Highlands
GAY: and it has been a bad time fol-
me. - he said and now he was beginnina
to get his wits together again. lie coulC
not keep Miss Douglas thus standing il
the wet He would ask her why she hao
sent for him: and then he would bid he
goodbye and be off, but with a glad, glaC
heart that he mad seen her even for thes'
few seconds.
And there are so many things to b.
talked over after so long time, said she
81 hope you have IA little while to spare
Ronald"
"But to keep You in the rain, Miss
Douglas"
"Oh, but this will do" said she (ant
whatever her inward thoughts were, hel
speech was blithe enough. "See, | will
put up the umbrella, and you will carry i
for me it is not the first time, Ronald
that you and have had to walk in thu
rain together, and without any umbrella
And do you know why do not care TO
the rain ~ she added, glancug at hin
again with the frank. etfectionate eyes
Cts because ! am so glad to find you
look i'm not 81 i'll nfter all Ronald ~