Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-15

don's Orientally fringed eyes had flashed
one glance around the room and then
rested steadily upon the knot of bright
hair softly coiled low on the nape of
fully eager us if it had been her averted
face.
"Do you know" began Mrs. Hunting
don q little hesitantly.
1.-The two young men who have just
come" finished the Professor, hesitating
a trihe also and showing some signs of
momentary mental disturbance, Inlay
say door did. One of them shonld
scarcely have eXpected--are they friends
of yours p checking himself hastily.
mo" Mrs. Huntington answered.
my son knows Mr.. William Hamilton
1t was the Professors turn to flush now.
His elderly cheek warmed.
"IIe may be very thankful that he has
not the honor of knowing Mr.. Jack Ham
| ilton," he said. at is Il questionable one.
| have suffered from it myself. II should
not speak, but feel strongly on the sub
iect, and it startled me to see him here.
Other places less pleasant to him would
be more fitting his peculiarities."
Nell moved her head slightly. The
movement gave Mr.. Jack Hhmiton II
view of the side of her cheek-only IL mere
hint ola view, but enough to cause him
some speculation. He wondered if it
often wore SO deep and burning rose.
and if not, why an elderly scientist should
nave the power to cause it to glow and
bloom. Even as he talked to Marion and
Hester Beverly and was quite equal to
enCOunterng the VivaCltpS of those young
persons and others as vivacious, he did
not lose sight of the bright, small head
even though for some time he only saw
the back of it and now and then the curve
of the glowing cheek He observed that
the professor seemed to be telling Mrs
II
were interested, and he wondered what it
could be. If by some magic power he
might have been able to discover that
the conversation was not entirely un-
connected with himself he might have
borne himself with less composure. He
looked composed enough, but upon the
whole he was not quite as composed as
he looked. He had II restless and not at
all pleasant feeling that the one object he
specially desired to accomplish this even
ing might not be easily encompassed. He
did not know Why and his fine, vigorous
temper rose tritle when he reflected
upon the possibility. He had not been
accustomed to encountering obstacles,
and they did not please him. Why should
there be obstacles He would not submit
to them easily, at all events. Life had
been rather lucky affair for him so far:
he had usually obtained what he desired.
He bit has lips and knitted his black
brows and wore for a moment his pratt
cal aspect, but the next moment he turned
to Marion Beverly with jest and II most
unpratical laugh.
Mamma said Nell to her mother, as
they turned away from Prof ChattertOn,
"mamma.n Aud Mrs. Huntington felt
that She touched her dress and even held
ii Il second
"What is it. my dear" she asked "A
little surprised. How lovely the girl was
What Il brilliant color she had How her
eyes ShOne
Mamma" said Nell. Il wish to be
quite near you. DO not let us be separated -"
And there was actually thrill of eX
element in her low voice.
At least she would have the protection
Of her uearness against the glances of the
eyes which followed her. Even when she
did not see them she felt them and some
how it seemed almost impossible to look
up without meeting them. 1t WAS very
strange that she must see them when she
raised her glance. 1t was not likely that
he was watching her every moment: he
was talking; he was being presented to
different people. She knew the pretty
young women before whom he made his
bows and who seemed to find his remarks
well worth listening to and laughing at
and yet she felt as If she could not lift her
eyes without confronting his. They
might nave been the only TWO people III
the room.
to herself. How can | .be Perhaps
he scarcely sees me at all. If he We're
any one else,l should not notice it. And her
color rose and fell and rose again, and
whether he watched her or not there was
not IA change in her face lost upon one
man at least.
"COnfound it ~ he was saying restivey
to himself. What obstacle could there
be ? Pm not such an Objectionable fellow
as all that, hope"
He shared the public Decentralization
for and delight in Mrs. Maria Hunting
don, but there was one moment during
the evening when his sentiments for her
underwent sudden change and he rev
elled in her so to speak. This was when
she was placing her guests in position for
doing justice to the paper she was 60
ing to open thSintellectual feast with.
She was arrans them in chairs, and, as
he wavered NJ her uncertainty for a
moment, she turned upon him.
You may sit here, next to my niece"
she said. "Mr. Hamilton, Mrs. Hunting
ton-Mr. Hamilton, Miss Huntington.
1t was over in an instant. Two more
bows and he was sitting by her side 1t
seemen almost incredible The flowing
wilderness of her dress touched him: the
fragrance of the valley she
held filled the air about him. She had
bent her head slightly III recognition of
the introduction, but she did not speak,
He remembered afterwards that she
scarcely spoke AT all while he was near
her. He addressed himself to her mother
at first-he had ii manner which was con
sidered very attractive to mothers. His
wit and fine picturesqueness fascinated
them. He could always make the most
elderly and sedate laugh and enjoy all he
said and did. But Mrs. Huntington did
not laugh, and, indeed, he did not sustain
his reputation during the interview. He
was not brilliant at all.
81 have the pleasure of knowing your
SON. he said TO Mrs Huntingdon 1--WE
met in Paris,
She made Il tiny movement which might
almost have been called IL start, and there
was transitory expression of something
like surprise in the beautiful eyes. She
turned upon him:
Donald spoke of yourself and your
cousin in his last letter." she said.
Her manner and tone were very gentle
and graceful. but she was wondering at
the hardihood of his daring to speak with
compacency of the acquaintance-of
fnuraa ha EnaVy the placp he bal6 i'm Nan