Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-17

actually going to have dance one might
rs well dance in a Chapter House, or in
the sol r'u clOisters of "A Cathedral, or in
the aVtd, alls of Bishops palace.
In t." I'D times-now a week old--when
the II Ouse, purged of the evil and mock
ing spirits brought by Chick, was still
haunted with solemn whispers and sacred
messages, a dance would have been i'm
possible. How could Sages come from
Abyssinia to teach wisdom, save fortunes,
sign cheques, transfer shares in the most
supernatural manner, while the young
people danced? With what heart could
the Nestal of the Cause, while she was still
Nestal. spin round to the tinkling of Il
piano But the Message had been deliver
ed, the book was closed. there would be no
more mirecles, :he spirits and the Sages
had gone, the house was cleared and ready
IT need be for secular purpose. And there
was going to be dance
81 must give up trying" said Paul 81
am too old to learn. Do you know | have
never been to dance and have never even
seen one ~
Never seen dance ?" said Sibyl.
"Well, | have seen the Germans dance
on Sunday evenings, and have seen dane
ing on the tight rope at circus. But |
have never been present at dancing par
ty of Society"
us it possible ~ Sibyl's voice conveyed
another question, which it was not man
ners to ask. The question was where
in the world were you brought up ?" Paul
perceived that question.
Since" he said, 81 have lost my powers
have recovered the memory of the past
now remember the whole of my own
history and | find myself forgetting the
la'er periods. What is the use of remem-
bering things which have left no trace be
hind s'
And now said Tom, "you have got
so far as to remember never to have been
to Il dance"
"Would you like to hear something
about myself! Perhaps it would be more
amusing than trying to make me waltz "
Iell Us alllthat you please" said Cicely,
"about Yourself"
They all gathered round him, as atten-
tive as if he were about to narrate the eX-
PLOTS of Prince Menelek.
IL was born he began, sin q little New
England town, not far from Boston. 1t
would be no use telling you the name, 1t
was very little place the principal PEG.
pie were the minister, the doctor the law
yer the school teachers, the general store
keeper, and the hotel keeper We were
taught religion at the Sunday school, and
1t was hoped that we should get convic
ton and become church members. The
creed of the New England ministry town
is narrow, you know. As for dancing it
is considered impossible for those young
people who take any thought of their flu
ture state. You do not know, perhaps-I
am sure you do not understand-how mar
row my people were"
What were your amusements, then ~
There was sleighing in the winter, and
there were gatherings connected with the
chapel. Sometimes lecturer, or a circus,
or show of some kind came along. AS
for myself | read all the books could get,
and | tried to write. Yes-I wrote-I
dream all day long that should become
great and famous" Here Tom and Slbyl's
aup M hat 4 ia foil
conveyed in Toms glance. 81 thought |
would be great poet. Oh no one knows
the yearnlng that was in my heart for dis
tinctiou. 1t was not that | longed to do
great work so much as to obtain distiuc
ton
"And now" said Sibyl, softly, sis that
yearning gone -
Yes" he replied, frankly "it is wholly
gone. l want nothing now beyond the
common lot, with corner in the village
churchyard when | have had my life and
the joys of life" Hetty blushed Was
she not going to be the chief joy of his
life
ut has quite left me. But, then-Oh!
it was madness. took my manuscripts
to New York when | was seventeen, and
set up business az distinguished poet in
a cheap boarding house.
"Well ?"
well the same idea had occurred to
same moment. | believe came at an I'M
lucky time. Perhaps the editors and pub
fishers are not always pelted with so many
poems written by the distinguished poets
of the future. No one would have my pc
ems. | got rejection from everybody,
sometimes with the intimation that |
might have my MSS. if chose to call for
it, and sometimes without even so much
grace"
And what did you do then ?" asked
Sibyl.
Il stayed at my boarding house till all
my money was gone. Even the rejection
of my poems gave me less humiliation
than the thought that | should have to
creep home and acknowledge my failure
and try something prosaic and undistin-
gulshed. Then an accident happened.
Tell IN with certain learned gentleman
of the kind not studied by most people"
The Ancient Way" Tom suggested
He made me his pupil. 1t was he who
Introduced me to the Friends-you know
who | mean Only week ago Paul
would have referred to these sages with
confident air, ms cad of the hesitation
with which he now spoke of them.
4" Yes, we know, Paul said Sibyl.
But they have thrown you aside now,
you know. They belong Ito the part OF
the past which is to be forgotten, do they
not ?'
Yes" said Paul. quickly 'let them be
forgotten"
"Bnt why did they throw you aside >"
asked CiCely. They were so wise and
great. Why did they throw you aside ?" q
Because disobeyed them. They warn
ed me against one thing-to keep the Pow
ers with Which | was entrusted 1t was
above al, necessary that | should keep
my mind clear and calm Therefore
when | allowed my mind to be entirely
absorbed with certain Thought l lost
Gould YOU" asked Cicely, the only one
who could not observe Hetty's self-con-
scious blush-she knew what that
Thought was, you see-"cou!d you not
regain your Powers p
'4es-perhaps-I do not know.
might again after many days, aud when
had torn the Thought ont of my heart"
Don't do that" said Cicelv, quickly. ~
love TO think of the old Paul. But
could not have him back again at such a
sacrifice. Do not make a girl unhappy
by ceasing to love her"
meant :"
"Your words could have but one mean
ing You will tell me some day more
about her"