Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-11-02

wen, III so happened tnaJ MISS WINDOW
saw the article, and, being an amateur Of
painting and having skctched on the
Jersey coast herself, she came up to see
my pictures. What's more, she bought
some of tlirm," added Kitty, looking over
to where Miss Window was just then
making pretty picture of herself, bend
ing over the easel with the winter sun
light falling on her blonde head, turning
the masses of her hair into gold.
"What have you got on the easel over
there qucricd.
Its a portrait of her-Laura," Kitty
replied. "Shc liked my method so well
that she insisted on my painting her por-
trait. You know she IS very rich, and she
pays me quito handsomely for it, She is
dear, good girl, and I'm very fond of
her" looking affcctionately at the subject
of her encomiums. "She comes up nearly
every day for sitting We were at it
when You came in. l was just finishing
one of her eyes and told her to keep quiet
for moment. Then the conversation
out here became SO personal that we
couldn't announce ourselves" And Kitty
relapsed into an amused giggle.
kitty" | said severely, that joke is
getting to be n chestnut"
AT this moment the other two joined us,
fireplace and prepared to spend pleasant
afternoon together.
Kitty made tea. ! ordinarily hate tea,
but as Kitty makes it RUSSIAN fashion,
she says, and served with slice of
lemon, it is far from bpd. BY and by she
got down her banjo and played us two or
three soft, plaintive melodies, which had
the effect of stepping us in a sort of ten
der melancholy. Raeburne, indeed. be-
came so maudlin that nothing would do
him but that Miss Window should sing
That is always the way. Whenever | sec
q lovely face which quite satisfies me,
some idiot insists on the statue opening
its mouth to disenchant me. l settled
back in my chair and prepared to hear
"White Wings or 1.-THE Lost Chord"
with what fortitude might Miss Win
dom took the banjo, struck few soft
notes, and then In a low, sweet voice, full
of expression, sang the verses which fol-
low. | got copy Of them afterward
from Raebume. it seems he wrote them
one moonlight night during an especially
desperate crisis of the tender passion.
Miss Window composed the air. ! was
surprised on reading them to find so little
of the dreamy pathos that seemed to per.
wade them, when Miss Window sang
them.
Sweetheart Of mine, Tapped in the gloom lie
Mid bitter thoughts, Yet, dear, will rejoice
If it be so, that must make the choice,
To take my love and let the world go by,
Sweetheart Of mine
Sweetheart of mine, far through the silent night
Ny heart turns toward my darling where she
lies,
To breathe kiss upon her fast shut eyes.
And fill her sleep with happy dreams and
bright
Sweetheart Of mine.
Sweetheart Of mine whatever may befall;
Come veal, come woe; come pleasure or come
pain;
Sorrows shall beat upon my heart in vain;
Your perfect love is recompensc for all
Sweetheart of mine.
When the last notes had died away
there was an "ioGG.n: Silence. mentally
followed 'iph!>ri.tLo example and handed
the young lady my hat. But the ire
pressible Racburne could not long be
muzzled
Thanks awfully Laura, " he said Il
could sit here forever to listen to you.
Could not you Miss Clyde?'
Hardly forever, unless I was 'dcuced-
~ fond of her, - replied Kitty, merrily.
l joiu"d kitty's laugh this time though
in tru ! he joke was getting shop worn,
But it F.. IT, It as well to have Fred squelch-
ed once ia ~ while. Ii not he's apt to be,
come SO dreadtully universal.
| Miss Windon, with little sigh, put
| down the banjo, and, rising, said with an
expressive glance at Racbulnc: Il really
me- 70. Thank you very much for my
plea. afternoon, Miss Clyde May /
may ! ~ Kitty
III, !ou may, responded our little
| hostess heartily, Il shall be only too
pleased to have you"
Miss Window stroled over to the win
dow and began drawing on hor gloves.
| How strangely few simple notes can
affect one, said l. assuming my favorte
| Colossus of Rhodes attitude before the
fire. / remember in Paris once being
awakened by a hand organ playing Home,
Sweet Homo beneath nay "i'u!pw, and do
! you know -
There is somrbot. tpur to play
Home. Sweet Horr beneath this win
dow, cried Miss Niudom starting back
from the easement, ont of which she had
been pensively -i2inE us She buttoned
her glove
What the natter cr"d Kitty. hast
ening toward the eviirit.y disturbed
damsel
Mrs ENtledgc carriage l. at tho
door, exclaimed the latter. She prom
iscd to call tor me. Oh, dear, what shall
| DO? She viii be simply furious if she
finds Fred here"
"Oh, mover mind her, said Kitty rcas
suringly. She won't come up Shell
send the footman."
ooh, yes, she will. - said Miss Window
See. - she exclaimed peeping cautiously
from the window, there she is getting
out-and-yes-shes coming right into
the house
There was no doubt about it. In {
moment We heard the elevator boy out
side.
THAT door ma am, No. g.
THANK you. Yes" a harsh voice re
Sponded, II sec the name on the door
And then there came loud. authorita
tive knock Luckily the door was moi
open, as it had been when we came up
There was a moment for deliberation.
looked around.
"Thc scrcen" l whispered to'Kitty.
"The very thing" she murmurcd back
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