Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-12

sight of it, and speaking with a rising in
Election of tone ; 'is that also II gift from
the same liberal hand ?"
at is"
Then with sudden impulse she went to
his side, and putting her arms about his
neck, said
Dear, don't be cross How can you
misjudge me so? Surely, it is natural that
my own cousin, who as II boy was my
playmate, should pay me some attention
on my birthday ~
But the demon of n naturally violent
temper, aggravated by insane jealousy
was reused i'll the man, ana lie thrust her
from him almost roughly. She drew
back to the other side of the room; there
was a dangerous light in her eyes, Il dan
gerous red spot on either cheek. In the
window the unregarding bird shrilled
on, then ceased and Reginald spoke:
will you fling those flowers out of the
window, send that man back his gifts, and
swear to see him never more? VIII you
do this 7"
"No, | will not do it =" and her voice was
firm.
You will not do that to please me ?"
81 will not do that to please you will
be your wife will not be your slave -
The man answered, swept away in Il
storm of rage: Then, by Heaven, we
part now and forever! ! thought love
might have tanned the tlirt in you, but |
see my love is powerless to do that
Marry you and have my life rendered
a hell by that long, lank sentimental
brainless fool I've seen how he would
look at you with those sawney, school
girl eyes of his when he thought mine
away Here she Interrupted HIM.
please vent your stream of abuse else
where You are growing offensive to
me-
Then that is because you love him /!
I've seen how things have been going !
Had you respected either of us"
There she interrupted him again
wait | must speak here | know
should have said before what | am going
to say now she went on, her voice soft
ening as she continued. "Our engage
ment, Reginald, has not been a happy
one, though there have been hours in it
which | shall always love to remember.
There has hardly been man TO whom |
have spoken of whom you have not been
jealous, till the feeling has eliminated in
this insane idea about my cousin. You
say am fiirt, and that you had hoped
your love might tame me | am no flirt
but hopcd-and now see how vainly-
that tenderness and forbearance might
cure you of your jealousy. The last time
there was painful scene between us be-
cause OF 1t you were penitent, and swore
1t should not happen again. | thought
you meant your WOrdS-and see what has
come of them Another woman might
have concealed both these gifts; but
could not respect man from whom
| had to conceal things to win his favor
and will marry no man whom | cannot
respect. You have said more than once
before that it was better we should part.
and when you pleaded for forgiveness [
forgave YOU but the words you have said
today take as final Don't think that
misjudge you | believe in spite of your
words that you love me still and, dear"
A hnr fol
you shall love no one else But, as |
nave said, | can consent to be no mans
slave. You would be always suspecting
evil where none existed, and the frequent
of such scenes as we have had
to-day would in time wear out the strong
est love; and love worn out might even
urn to hate There are qualities in you,
about you, infinitely dear to
my heart. | shall pray for your success.
There are plenty of women meeker less
sensitive than myself, whom you might
make happy, and who in their turn would
make you happier than ever could have
lone! 1t is better to be lonely apart than
desperately miserable together Remem-
Der, it was you who said chat we should
)art-but do not let us part in bitter
less!n
She moved toward him. but he turned
rom her, saying bitterly:
~ on could bear with my moods we'll |
7iouSlI VII llllS llCl lODl Vi Il cousin came !
back from his travels ~
That is unworthy of YOU" she said ;
Jut he went on:
III you marry him, may you be as mis- |
,rable as would have made you happy - |
There was pause. Beauty in his cage
his seed for hemp. Reginald |
gazed at the woman he loved with hot. |
'ewildered eyes then he said brokenly (:
Good-bye-andg goodbye for ever -
And no more ?" she asked her voice |
trembling.
"No more" he answered, tearing his |
yes away from her and moving to the |
ioor. He opened ii, and then turning
'acK quicKly' dashed something violently |
IN the table. The next moment, not only |
he room door but the street door closed |
upon him. He was gone indeed
Miss BellWard opened the small case he |
lad flung with such violence upon the |
able, and saw there reposing on bed OF |
White satin cross to wear at the neck
| cross of roses carved in ivory. About |
t was a strip of paper on which was |
written Roses to the Rose 7" She knew |
hat he was sklllful in carving, and that |
his gilt had been the loving labor of his |
lands, taken out of time that he could i'll |
'fford to spare and as she gazed the hot |
ears crowded into her eyes, and life to
'ome looked gray and empty as Il win
er sea, without sail upon it or gull above |
t. The BIRDS song seemed to lacerate |
Ter brain; and she did what every woman
II trouble does Ishe went to her bedroom
;ast herself upon her bed, and cried as if |
her heart would break.
1t is acurious habit that women have, of |
aking their troubles at once to bed. 1t !
seems to be their one and only resource. |
A woman takes her trouble lying. while IA
man, If he can, always takes it walking. |
But take 1t how we may, that is a bitter
lour when we seem to be closing, to open |
t never again, the thrilling book of ro-
nance-for, after all, youth means only |
he power to enjoy Economically.
That YOUTH sweet-scented manuscript |
should close ~
Reginald strobe away through the glo-
'ious May sunshine. 1t is what may be |
called theltrivialities of grief which makes |
he pathos of it. The heart of the trouble |
5 tragic, and tragedy is never pathetic.
AS Reginald was storming on through |
he London streets, toward the quarter
Of the town in which he had his rooms, he |
was encountered by Bohemian acquain- |
ance, pipe in mouth-a clever fellow, des- |
lined one day to make his mark, though |
low clad in clothes decidedly the worse |
or wear. He gripped Reginald by the |
hand, and thus accosted him;