Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-22

CONTINUED from last Saturday.
PART III
"He does not like to speak of him, poor
fellow" said Mrs. Huntington once. "He
feels too deeply that silence is better.
How few men there are who would not
feel tempted to cOntide III us and tell the
whole story. 1t is most delicate and gen
erous. One is forced to admire and re-
spect him.
1t was impossible to keep intact the
rule of not referring to Mr.. Jack Hamil-
ton. 1t was impossible to ignore him
to rid the atmosphere of him, as it were.
They could not drive without meeting him
driving also, using his cousins SUI
perb horses with an air of entire proprie
torshp. They could not go to church
without finding themselves either before,
behind or beside him. He seemed to be
invited to occupya seat in every pew with
in few yards of them They could not
accept an invitation without being sure of
seeing him loom up above the guests of
ordinary size and make himself IA sort of
focus for all wandering eyes.
81 suppose" Mrs. Huntingdon said
"people receive him for his cousins sake
And it is more than probable that they do
not know all. "
She did not herself "know all" Nell
did not tell her "all." since there seemed
no help for it, why should she tell her
that she was thrown with Mr. Jack Ham
ilton continually and that she had grad
ually learned to understand that his APP
parently accidental nearness to her on all
occasions was the result of deliberate inten
ton on his part and that he manuuvered
with as much forethought, dexterity and
determination as if he had been general
advancing upon Il citadel. 1t was this de
termined air which had first startled her
into realizing the situation. He was so
daring and so clever and showed such an
unfailng resource that it was impossible
not to recognize his power, She had new
er seen man so bold and so ready, and
yet so capable of concealing his tactics
from all but the one they were meant to
reach. Scarcely Il day passed in which
she did not find that in spite of herself he
had managed to perform some tritlng
service for her. If she dropped her glove
or fan it was he VINO bent to pick it up.
If she played tennis 1t was he, twice out of
thrice, who played with her, and when he
was within twenty yards of her she knew
that his eyes watched her, and that if she
looked up she should meet them and that
they would have the half pathetic, half
angry appeal or question in their depths,
which always 50 disturbed and amazed
her. There was one habit of his which
affected her more strongly than anything
else. Sometimes she would find him
standing within a few feet of her, neither
speaking nor looking at her. He would
stand So knitting his black brows and
bending his eyes on the ground until she
felt sure he was about to turn on her
with some fierce question, and the very
air about him was full of silent speech.
She expected this question daily, and yet
when at length 1t came she was as much
perturbed as if she had not anticipated it
at all.
She had been playing tennis on the Bev-
erly grounds one day and he had joined
them with his cousin, and i'll pause of
the game he stood near her for some sec
onds in this manner. He looked down at
the grass and frowned and pulled his mus
tache, and then suddenly turned and
looked at her.
"Will you tell me why YOU hate me -
he asked, and flushed with excitement as
he asked it, Nell could not steady her
voice as she answered him. She could
not steady her eyes or lips. She felt a
tremor of quick agitation pass over her
and felt that he must see it,
NO. she said.
She knew that he had seen the tremor
and was for the moment thoroughly un-
happy His glance as it rested upon her
the next two seconds was at once Won
dering and reflective.
But you do hate me- he said.
She did not speak.
Yes, he said, his temper manifesty
rising, you hate me just a. much as if
as if had done something to you. And
what have done You won't tell me
but you will hate me You may call that
justice, if you like, but /"
He ended abruptly. For II few seconds
he was silent. He dragged at his mus
tache and looked away with his great
eyes shining. She saw his big chest rise
the awful feeling that he had been Oblig
ed 10 stop speaking to gain time to con
troll himself.
Presently he turned to her again
''If you think will let it rest there, ~
he said, you are wrong. If you won't
tell me, some one else will
81 never speak of you, said Nell, warm
ing herself, ITO anyone"
'Am | such IA fellow as that !" he eX
claimed, that you won't even condescend
to utter my name p
Nell turned rather pale.
eyes" she said
1t cost her a tremendous effort to say it
but she said it bravely. 1t cost her more
courage still to face him after she had SAID
it. lie looked quite white. He met hel
eyes an instant as if he had been struck
dumb.
81 don't think-I believed-it was quite
so bad as that" he said, and walked away
with his head dropping.
AS she watched him 90 she felt utter
misery. He looked 80 unhappy so crush
ed, somehow, as If she had given him /
blow too cruel to be believed in. He wa,
so big there was so much of him to he
wretched that it seemed as if he must bt
more unhappy than smaller Ll1A. Ii
was like seeing giant tremble.
And yet" she said what right had ht
to resent anything-to feel anything
He is a coward to speak to me of it. How
dare he -
But he dared a great deal All the rest
of the afternoon there was II look of deadl,
determination on his face. She saw i
when he plunged into the game again ant
1t did nOtdie out. She knew that he mus
have made some desperate resolve. Sh,
found out what 1t was when she left tn,
party to 20 home. After she had bidder
Marion and Hester good afternoon anC
passed through the gate She heard quicl
footsteps behind the hedge and the mex
moment Mr., Jack Hamilton cleared i
with a bound and was at her side.
81 know what you think" he said oh
stinMtelY. "Non think that n man Mhl