Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

Withrow felt himself rebulred, but only
for a minute "The old fellow has cockloft
over a ware house somewhere, where he cooks
for himself. How he lives, God knows. He
has nothing now but the odd jobs we give
him here in the Office He's had nothing from
us for two weeks"
as he alonel There was n little girl, or
woman, ratherW Proctor hesitated The
story of the old major and Madeline was
something which he could not drag out be-
fore this fellow.
"Niece or something's She lives in some
country town now, | believe, and colors pho
toCraphs. A great artist, the major says.
She's dull girl, fancy. Women without
brains have to scratch hard for living now
adays."
Mr.. Proctor did not care to enter into the
woman question. He stood whisting under
his breath, with some queer ideas in his ccr-
ical head, which Mr.. Wthrow would have
hardly thought befitted it. They grew out
or the remembrance OF those saturday after
moons when, for year after year, he used IA
escape from boarding school and repair &c
that same cockloft over the warehouse there
to feel himself Gypsy or CruSoe for few
delicious hours. What a vagabond, uncer
tain life it wasl the poverty, the shifts, the
fun, the inextinguishable jollity and tender
love under it all What prince the major
and Madeline made of him-saving all week
to COMPASS the SATURDAYS roast chicken and
cranberry tart! Proctor had never known
father or mother his ideas of love or home
were all drawn from poor Standish and his
crazy menage So strong was this boyish in
stnct in him Just now that he actually stood
breathless when anybody resembling the
10, in Il. al
not recognize him, or should meet him with
the formal Difference of other respectable
people why. then, good-bv to that old boy
hood, so horribly dear and di>rcputablr!
Now the maio was in a restaurant a few
doors down the street "Iry an advertise
ment in The Camera, Sam, he said to the
l. polikecper 81 swear it will pay you like
-.ikc"- His talk halted; the ideas seemed
TO stagger through his brain.
81 believe you've had a drop too much,
Standish,' said sam.
NO: I've had to stop drinking You
can get class of champagne fit for gen
/ ,le,I1n in this accused town. But about
the advertisement lThc Camera paid him
small percentage on this sort of business
ana few cents now would buy him his din
uerD
/ NO"
! The major loaned on the glass counter FOR
u Inep,. At was two days since he had
tasted food The steam Of savory dishes be-
low was too mu.h for him. a collapsed
( stomach in a powerful frame like his is a
deadly draE upon mans pluck. He looked
at Sam The fellow would give him his din
ucr if he asked it, he know.
! He gathered himself up with an effort
! 'l'd steal, but | can't beg" he said silently
/ He nodded affably to SAM and filliped to the
/ parrot as he went out. His high featured,
/ usually horid face, had turned cold and blue
under the mustache and whiSkers, but he
carried himself jauntily.
| John Proctor saw him as soon as he stepped
! on the street. There was the identical broad
cloth suit cut twenty years ago, and the vast
eXpanSe of shirt bosom, frayed in the plaitS,
but Immediately white. The ma jor was a
property of the town, well known as the city
/ clock With his bushy white name, his i'm
posing shoulders, his lofty bow, he radated
aud filled the pavement from wall to curb.
Proctor thought the old man would be glad
to see him, but he certainly had not expected
the strange effect which the sight of him pro-
duced. Standish stopped as though he had
been struck blow, holding him Off at arms
length. His pompoSity seemed to suddenly
drop from him.
"Why, Jack, jack he stammered, 81 did
not look to sce you. beg your pardon, Mr..
Proctor, | forget drawing back, yet still
holding the young mans coat sleeve with
what would have becn very like n caress in
a woman
"Forgoti You forget old friends l think
"Prnce Hal has changed his state said
the ma ior, smiling, with an effort to be him
elf * inn. bn .b,,l. off old Eu1uton
How i'll whit" hairs become fool and jester!
So suriet swelled, 50 old and So profaue.
touching his big breast with bitter laugh.
"You did not use to affect the cynicn
"No. 1t is the sight of you that reminds
me of what had better forget"
Proctor was ashamed, as one man always
is Of emotion in another. "You had always
an unreasonable liking for me- vicious young
dog that was" he said lightly. "You're
at the old place. supposed I'll come round
at dusk Wen broil a steak together, hey,
majorl My hand has not lost its cunning
The old man looked down at him steadily
with an ineXplicabe brightness in his keen
eyes. 81 did not think you would go SO far
as that, my boy" he said quietly.
Mr. McMurray's carriage drew up at the
door at that moment. 1t was plain but rich
the horses thoroughbred. An innocent look
ing, delicate little blonde dressed with
Quaker like plainness, looked out and blushed
crimson at the sight of John AT that the
blood mounted also into the fellows tell tale
face, and hc went down to the carriage, lean
ing ON the door to speak TO her.
"a handsome pair, major" Whispered
Withrow, who was still lettering near
Standish nodded "Sne looks like goot
religions woman. McMurray would raise hi'
daughter cleaner than other girls
"Shc's worth a cool half million; that's tn,
way in which iii think you would look a
herr
$50 do Mr. Wthrow. Proctor is lucky
very lucky. Talents and education and re
ligion, and now good wife with money
The boy could not ask for more"
There was something in the old mans un
usual quiet and the look which he fastene
or Proctor. that reused Withrow's curiosity
"Thcre used to be some connection he
, tween You and the young man, WASH
therel lie was under your guardanshi
J when he was "A boy, think I've heard"
, WNDt ot oil sir. - enupTlV ''uDt at all