Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-11-09


courtesy to the master, the ouly sugges-
ton of her equality with the others. she
took her place at one of the larger desks,
and resting her elbow on the lid began to
quietly remove her gloves. II was Grassy
MCkinstrv
Irritated and disturbed at the girls I'M
ceremonious entrance the master for the
moment recognized her salutation coldly
and affected to ignore her elaborate APP
pearance. The situation was embarrass-
ing. He could not decline to receive Der,
as she was no longer accompanied by her
lover, nor could he plead entire ignorance
of her broken engagement; while to
point out the 1laring lnappropratenesso of
costume would be "A fresh Interference he
knew Indian Spring would scarcely toler-
ate. he could only accept such eXplana-
ton as she might choos to give. He rang
his bell as much to avert the directed eyes
OF the children as to bring the scene to "A
climax.
She had removed her gloves and was
standing up.
II reckon can 90 on where left off ?"
she said la2ily pointing to the books She
had brought with her.
For the present." said the master,
drily.
The first class was called. Later, when
his duty brought HIM to her side, he was
surprised to iiud that she was evidently
already prepared with consecutive lessons,
as II she were sereuely unconscious of any
doubt of her return, and as coolly rs il she
had only left school the day before. Her
studies were still quite elementary, for
Greasy Mckustry had never been bril-
liant scholar, but he perceived, with a
cynical doubt OF its permanency, that she
had bestowed unusual care upon her pres
ent performance. There was moreover,
i CERT ain defiance in it, as If she had re-
solved to stop any objection to her return
on the score Of deficiencies He was OBJ.
| lged In self-defense TO take particular
note of some rings she wore, and a large
bracelet that ostentatiously gittered on
her white arm-which had already at
tracted the attention of her comDanions
and prompted the audible comment from
Johnny Filgee that it was truly gold !"
Without meeting her ewes he contented
himself with severely restraining the
glances of the children that wandered in
her direction She had never been quite
popular with the school in her preVious
role of fdncce, and only Octavia Dean and
one or two older girls appreciated its
mysterious fascination, while the beauti-
full Rupert, secure in his avowed predilec
ton for the middle-aged wife of the pro
prietor of the Indian Spring Hotel looked
upon her AS a precocious chit with more
than usual propensity to objectionable
"breathinR Nevertheless the master
was rritatinglv ,nscious of her presenca
"a presence which.now had all the sb.
surdity OF her ridiculous love experiences
superadded to it. He tried to reason with
himself that ii was ONLY a phase of from
tier life which ought to have amused him
But it did not. the intrusion of this nra.
posterous girl seemed to disarrapge the
discipline of his life as we'll az of his
school The usual vague, far-off dreams
in which he was in the habit of indulginR
during school hours. dreams that were
perhaps superinduced by the remoteness
of his retreat and A certain restful sym.
pathy in his little auditors. which had
made him-the grown up dreamer-ac-
ceptable to them in his gentle understand
ing of their needs and weaknesses-now
seemed to have vanished forever
At recess, Octavia Dean, who mad drawn
near Cressy and reached up to place her
arm round the older girls waist, glanced
at her with patronizing smile born of
some rapid Free Masonry and laughingly
retired with the others The master at
his desk and Cressy, who had halted In
the aisle, were left alone
81 have had no intimation yet from your
father or mother that you were coming
back to school again." he began. But
suppose they have decided upon your
return ~
An uneasy suspicion of some arrange
ment with her former lover had prompted
the emphasis.
The young girl looked at him with Ian
guild establishment 81 reckon paw and
nav amt no objection" she said with the
same easy ignoring OF parental authority
that characterized Rupert Flgee the day
before, and which seemed to be local pc
culiarity. "Maw did offer to come yer
and see you, but / told her she needn't
bother"
She rested her two hands behind her on
the edge of a desk, and leaned against it,
looking down upon the toe of her smart
little shoe which was describing a small
semi-circle beyond the hem of her gown.
Her attitude, which was half defiant, half
incident, brought out the pretty curves
of her waist and shoulders. The master
noticed it and became trille more aus
tere.
Then | am to understand that this is a
permanent thing ?" he asked codly.
Whats that ?" said Cressy interroga-
lively.
Am / to understand that You intend
coming regularly to school ~ repeated the
master CURLY, "or is this merely an ar
rangement for few days--until-"
"Oh, said Cressy COMPLEMENTARY, lift
ing her unabashed blue eyes to his, "you
mean that. Oh that's broke off. Yes -
she added contemptuously making a
larger semi-circle with her loot, that $
over-three weeks ago"
And Seth Davis-does he intend re-
turning, too ?"
He % She broke into a light girlish
/ So