Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-11-30


stlnct, but the young man had disappear.
ed. With this incident still in his mind
he came upon Uncle Ben and Hiram Nc
kiustry. standing among the spectators
in the doorway. Why might not Uncle
Ben be jealous too and If his single
waltz had really appeared SO compromis-
lug, why should not Cressy's father oh
ieCt But both men-albeit, Mckinstry
usually exhibited a vague uureasonlnR
contempt for Uncle Ben-were unanimous
in their congratulations and outspoken
admiration.
"When seed you sail in, Mr.. Ford"
said Uncle Ben, with abstract reflective
ness, II sen to the fellers, lie low boys,
and you'll see style" And when you put
on them first steps, / seH, that's French
the latest bgh-toned French style-outer
the best masters, aud--and outer the best
books. For why 2 SEE |. It's the same
long, sliding stroke you see in his copies.
There's that long UP sweep, and that easy
curve to the right with no hitch. Ihat 5
the sorter swing he he1 in readin' poetry
too That's why it's called the poetry of
NOTION sen !. And you ken bet your
boots, boys, it's all in the tralnin' o. edu-
cation "
"NIr. Ford" said Mr. McKnstry grave:
ly, slightly waving lavender-colored kid
glove with which he had elected to con
ceal his manned hand, and at the same
moment indicate IA festal occasion II
hev to thank We for the way you took out
that child o. mine, like ez she woz an on
tried FLY, and put her through her PAGES.
/ don't dance myself, pardkly IN that gait
which ! take to be suthin' betwiNU q
lupe and a canter and don't get to see
much daucu' nowadays on account o.
bein' Worried by stock, but SEEM you two
! together Just now, suthin' came over me,
aud don't think l ever felt so kan in my
life.
The blood rushed to the masters ch eek
with an unexpected consciousness of guilt
and shame. but" he stammered awk
wardly, your daughter dances beautiful
ly herself she has certainly had prac
ticen
That" said McKinstry, laying his
gloved hand impressiyely on the masters
shoulder, with the empty little finger still
more emphasized by being turned back
ward in the act that may be ez IL ez, but
l wanted TO say that it was the simple
easy, family touch that you gev 1t, that
took me. Toward the end, when you
kinder gathered her up and she sorter
dropped her head into your breast pocket,
and seemed to go to sleep, like ez eff she
! was still little girl, it so reminded me of
the times when | used to tote her myself
walkn' by the Vaughn at Platt river, that
it made me wish the old woman was here
to see it.
Still coloring, the master cast rapid,
sidelong glance at Mckinstry's dark red
face and beard. but in the slow satlstac.
that irony which the masters self-con-
| sciousness knew.
"Then your wife is not here ?" said Mr..
! Ford abstractedly.
She war at church. She reckoned that
I'd do to look arter Cressy-she bein', so
to speak. under conviction. Dye mind
walkin' this way bit | want to speak a
word with ye ?" He put his manned hand
through the masters arm, after his former
fashion, and led him to corner
Did We happen to see Seth Davis about
yer ?"
returned Mr.. Ford half -contemptuously.
Did he get off anythin' rough on
Certainly not" said the master haught-
| lily. "Why should he dare :"
That So" said Mcklnstry medita-
lively. "You had better keep right on in
that line. That's your gait remember.
Leave him-or his father--it's the same
thing-to me. Don't you let yourself be
roped in to this yer row betwiXt me and
the Davises You amt got no call to do
it, It's already been on my mind your
| bringin' that gun to me in the Harrison
row. The old woman hadn't ouShter let
| you--nor Cress either. Hank to me, Mr.
Ford | reckon to stand between you and
both the Davises till the cows come home
--only-mlnd you give him the go by
when he happens to meander along to-
wards you"
Pm very much obliged to YOU" said
Ford with disproportionately sudden
color "but | don't propose to alter my
habits for ridiculous schoolboy whom
have dismissed" The unjust and boyish
petulance of his speech instantly flashed
upon him, and he felt his cheek burn
again.
McIIinstry regarded him with dull, red
slumDrous eyes Don't you 90 to lose
your best holt, Mr.. Ford-and that's kan
Keep your kam-and you've allus got the
dead wood on Injin Springs. ! amt got
passlonleSs manner, land row more oil
less amt much account TO me-but yot
keep your KAN" He paused, stepped
back, and regarding the master, with {
slight wave Of his crippled hand over his
whole person, as If indicating some per
sonal adornment, said; 1T sets you
off ~
He nodded, turned, and re-entered thu
ballroom. Mr.. Ford without trusting
himself further to speech, elbowed hi;
way through the crowded staircase TO the
street. But even there his strange anger
as well as the equally strange remorse
which had seized him in Mcklnstry's pres
ence seemed to evaporate in the clea
moonlight and soft summer air. Their
was the river bank, with the tremulou:
river glancing through the dreamy mist
as they had seen 1t from the window to
| the lighted ballroom as If she might hav
been looking out too. But he knew n
should see her again tomorrow, and h
: hurredly put aside all reserve, all though
OF the future, all examination of his con
, duct, to walk home enwrapped in thu
, wagner pleasure of the past. Rupert Eli
| gee to whom he had never given secont
thought, now peacefully slumbering be
!, side his baby brother, had not gone HON
) in more foolish or more dangerous com
pauv.
) When he reached the hotel, he was sul
} prised to find it only II o'clock. No on
had returned the building was deserte
10y all but the bar-keeper and flirtiu
,, chambermaid, who regarded him with az
l grieved establishment. He began to fee
, very foolish. and half regretted that h
. had not stayed to dance with Mrs, Trlpp
g or, at least, remained az a quiet onlooke
apart from the others. With hasty e>
l cuse about returning 10 write letters fo
70 the mornings post, he took candle an
= slowly remounted the stairs to his room
! But on entering he found himself unpr,
t pared for that singular lack OF sympath
D which familiar haunts always greet on
3 new experiences he could hardly beliey
{ that he had left that room only two hour
I before it seemed so uncongenial an
I strange to the sensation that WAS still DO