Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-27

"rhcy are the prettiest things | have
seen for an age hc said.
81 hope you may have no occasion to use
them, Allan answered his wife, averting
her eyes with look of fear.
you don't like to see them in my handyn
81 have a horror of all firearms"
"Ny dearest, / forgot" he cried putting
the revolver which he had been examing
back into its case.
He felt angry with himself for talking
of the wretched thing remembering that
dark chapter in Clare's life in which a gun
had done such dreadful work
His cigarette was finished by this time
He bent down to kiss his wife as she sat
at the writing-table.
"You will not stay up too late, dear he
said
40; have only couple of letters to
writc-one to the dear old vicar, to tell
him Of our change Of plan. He was to
have come to us for a week before Christ
mas, don't you know"
"Of course. He must come to us next
May instead
He went to the bedroom, which opened
out of this sanctum of Lady Oar.
nel's, and EFT his wife bending over
her desk, in the light of he reading lamp.
There was a large fire in the old-fashioncd
basket CRATE, such fire as well-tranej
servant always makes on mild evening,
ms if it were required to roast an OK, or, at
least a baron of beef. On coming into the
room just now Lady Darnel's first impulse
had been to open one of the windows.
/ They were French easement windows
/ opening on to n broad wooden balcony,
which was always well furnished with
| flowers summer and winter At this sea
son there were boxes Of mignonette among
/ the autumn flowers, and the perfume
| Heated into the room on the cool night air.
Sir Allan left the pistol case open upon
the centertable, amongst litter of maya
zines and newspapers. He had been too
well waited on all his life ever to have &C
quired the habit of putting things away.
He left everything to be cared for by that
inferior race whose duty it is to follow in
the footsteps of grand seigneur, and To
protect his property from the consequence
. of his own carelessness.
When her husband was gone Glare Oar
mel looked up at the clock on the mantel-
piece 1t was five minutes past II. She
could hear doors being shut upon the
ground floor; all the sounds Of household
retiring for the night
81 can take an hour before midnight
she said to herself, and she began the let
ter to the friend OF her childhood that
one trusted friend from whom She had no
secrets
She had not been writing ten minutes
when the window which had been left ajar
was slowly pushed open, and man
stepped noiseessly into the room. She
heard no football on the velvet pile, but
went on writing, calm. beautiful in the
lamplght, an image of domestic peace,
the freight shining on the dark folds of
her satin gown. For some moments she
wrote on, while the man stood watching
her, holding his breath. Then she heard
his breathing, short and quick. like a
dogs. She looked up in sudden fear, and
saw a tall, wasted figure in a WORKOUT
velveteen coat a haggard face looking
down at her
1t was her husbands face as she had
seen it many a time after dssSipated hab-
its had ruined his health. 1t was her sons
faGe, aged by seven years apprenticeship
1t was the face of the man whfnGrnn tnreS
Stukely and Grace had seen on the - oi'
mon.
whisper, wringing her hands. How can
You come here-like a thief in the night;'
How else can | come 1t is the only
fashion in which am allowed to enter my
mothers house
1T is not my house 1t is Sir Allan's
house, and you have no right to enter it
without his permission Oh, my God,
what has come to YOU How have you
fallen into this despicahle state, after the
, sums of money that have sent YOU
Tens and tweuties drbbled out at odd
: times and seasons answered her SON
: sulkily. Money given in that fashion
never does a man much good. | wanted
: capital to start in new line. had all
, manner of golden opportunities ii You
would have helped me, as wanted you to
r help me, at the right moment But ii was
. always the same story. You feared To
= trust me with a large sum IF money. You,
n Lady Darnel, mistress of this house,
a talked of $500 as if 1t We're tjOO,oO0 lou
@ knew my disposition too well The usual
preachment You would send me E2o a
, month. and must contrve to live re
specially on it, DO you think in this 20
:, ahead age man can get fair start in
life upon capital of 60
Il have sent you fifties and hundreds fol
:. your debts
;, Yes. when was on the brink of dan
:, gers that would have brought disgraC,
upon you and your sell husband.
valentine. how have YOU come 10 Suc'
=, a pass asked his mother waving asld,
his reproaches, which were not new To her
!, You look like "a beggar
" ~ look like what | am he answered
. sullenly. Il have had a run of bad luck
- cards horses, everything has gone wron.
=. with me. Other men-cads, with half m.
" brains-can win fortunes. |, with tire
= times their education, only risk m
- wretched pttance 10 lose it. Do yo'
~ think a man of my temper could he con
=. tent to live upon * a week while Their
Al. a ruIa