Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-22

would say AS she stood at the window of
their hotel in PiCcadilly, and watched the
carriages passing to and fro beneath her,
lords may be bad enough, bu. you know
they're not half so bad as the mosquitoes
are at home, They don't worry one half as
much seems to me you might live in this
country a considerable time and never be
worried by one of them. Why, that's the
worst of it. When | left home, ] thought
the earls and marquises would just be
crowdng us and they don't seem tc come
along at all ] confess they are mean
lot. Don't they know well enough that
the first thing the fooist thing, she said,
of course but her accent sounded quite
quaint and pretty If you happened to he
looking at the pretty, soft, opaque, dark
eyesl-the first thing an American girl has
to do when she gets to Europe is to have a
lord propose to her, and to reject him.
But how can | ? They won't come along
It's just too horrid for anything for course
when / go back home they'll say It's
because you're not a Boston girl London s
full of lords, but it's only Boston girls
they run after, and, poor things they and
their coronets are always being rejected
The noble pride of a Republican country
wave the banner "
But here Mr.. Hodson met with no such
ill-timed and flippant opposition Ronald,
the keeper listened respectfully, and only
spoke when spoken to perhaps the abstract
question did not interest him. But when
It came to the downright inquiry as to
whether stang, considered his master,
Lord Ailine, to be in any way whatever
better man than himself. his answer was
prompt.
Yes sir he IS - he said as they walked
leisurelv along the road. He is n better
man than by two inches round the chest,
as | should guess. Why, sir, the time
that ! hurt my knee.cap, one night we
were coming down Ben Strua, our two
selves, nothing would hinder his lordship
but he must carry me on mis- back all the
way down the Kin and across the burn
till we reached the shepherds Dothy.
Ay, and the burn in spate and the night
as dark as pitch one wrong step on the
swing bridge and both OF us were gone
There's Peter McEachran at Tongue, that
some of them thinks the strongest man in
these parts, and Offered to bet him five
shiilings he wouldna carry me across that
bridge-let alone down the hilton a dark
night. Blu would he try Not bit, sir"
al should think Peter Mac--wEat's his
name was wiser man than to risk his
neck for five shillings" Mr. HOdSOn said,
And you-you would risk yours-tor
what"
oh, they were saying things about his
,ordsh!p. Ronald SAID care .ess.y
Then he is not worshirpet, as divinity
by everybody :" the american SAID,
shreWdly
But tie keeper answered. with much
nonshalance
| suppose he has his i,i-wiShcrs and his
weil-wishers like most other folk and |
suppose. ike most Other fox. re deesna
pay over great attention to what people
say OF him.
They did not pursue the bject further
at this moment, for turn o! the road
brought them suddenly within sight of
stranger. and the appearance Of u
stranger in these parts was an advent de-
manding silence and a concentration of
interest OF course, to Ronald Strang
Miss Meeuie Douglas was no stranger,
but she was obviously At source of some
embarrassment, the instant he caught
sight of her his face reddened aad as she
approached he kept his eve, fined on the
ground 1t was not that he was ashamed
She should see him an.lng the part of a
giilie. 70: that he did not care n the
least: it was as much a part OF his work
as ANYTHING else what NeXed him was
lest some signot recognition should show
the stranger gentleman that Mis-, Douglas
had formed the acquaintance Of the per
son VINO was at the moment carrying his
water proof and his fishing rods Ard he
hoped that Meenie would nave the sense
to 90 by without taking any notice of him {:
and he kept his eyes on the road. and
walked forward in silence
WHO is she - Mr. IIodson asked in an
undertoue. and with some establishment,
for he had no idea there was any such
neatly dressed and pretty young lady in
the ighbOrhOOd.
Ronald did not answer. and they drew
nearer Indeed Mecuie was looking
quite beautiful this morning tor the
cold air had bl;gntened ND The Co.or in
her cheeks ana me wiie-a,art, blue.
gray eye, were clear and tull OF light;
and her brown huir, If il was tightly
braided and bound behind had in front
been blown ABOUT !ittle by the wind,
and here and there . ; ray curl appeared
on the fair white forehead And then
again her winter clothing seemed to suit
the slight and graceful figure: she looked
altogether WARM and furry, and nice and
comfortable and there was a sensible air
about her dress-the blue serge skirt, the
tight-htting seal skin coat but this was a
present from the laird of Glenuask and
Orosayl. and the little brown velvet hat
with It's wing of ptarmigan ulumare this
was a present not from Gleuuhsk. and
probably wa, not of the value of three
halfpense. but She wore it. nevertheless.
when She was at her smartesu And if
Ronald thought she was going TO pass him
| bv without "A word. he was mistaken. 1t
was NOT her way. AS she met them. one