Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-29

Jean Marie stood dumfounded. He had
pictured to himself different scene-a more
immediate protest, and his hope began to
dwinde on the spot
The doctor was every where, little doubt
full on his legs, perhaps and now and then
taking the wall with his shoulder; for il was
long since he had tustcd absinthc, and he was
even then rejecting that the absinthe had
been a niseouCeptipH. Not that he regretted
excess on such a gloriou, day, but ne made a
mental memorandum to bcwdre; he must
not, second time. become the victim of a
dalctcrious habit H. had his wine out of
the cellar in n twlukling. he ARRANGED the
sacriiic!al vessels, some on the white table
cloth. some on the silobourd. ,till crusted
with historic earth. lie was in and out of
the kitchen, plying Auu>ts,ie with veimouth
heating her with glnnp,,s of the future
estimating their new wealth ut ever larger
figures; and before they sat down to supper,
the lady's virtue had melted in the fire of his
enthusiasm, her timidity had disappeared:
she, too, had began to speak di,parugngly of
the life at Gr"tz; and rs ,A" took her place
and helped the soup, her eyes ~hOne with the
glitter of prospective diamonds,
All through the meal, she and the doctor
made and unmade fairy plans. They bobbcd
faces ran over with smiles their ewes scat
tered sparbles, as they projected the doctors
political honors and the lady's drawing room
ovatons.
But you will not be a Rei!" cried Ana
stasie.
~ am Left Center to the core" replied the
doctor.
"Mme. Gastein will present us--we shall
find ,lNya.s tt.,,, - 1 +.
Never" protested the doctor. Beauty
and talent leave a mark"
81 have positively forgotten how to dress, {"
she sighed
Darling, you make mo blush" said he
Yours has been tragic marrage!'
But your successful See YOU appreciated
honored, your name in all the papers. that
will be more than pleasure 80 it will be
heavenn she cried
"And once a week. said the doctor. archlv
scanning the syllabes, "onc, a week-one
good little game of baccarat!"
"Only once week. She questioned. threat
ening him with finger
81 swear it by my political honor" cried
be-
81 spoil you" she said, and gave him her
hand
lie covered it with kisses.
Jean-Marie escaped into the night The
moon swung high over GretA He went
down to the galde4 end and sat on the irttv.
The river ran by with eddies of oily silver.
and low, mOnutOuouN song. Faint wells of
mist moved among the poplals ON the further
side The r"cds were qui fly nodling. A
hundred times already had the boy sat. on
such night, and watched the streaming
river with untroublcd fancy And this per
hap- wa, to Ice the last He was to leave this
fa"illar hamlet, this green rustling country,
this bright and quiet stream. he was to pass
into the great city. his dear lady mistress
was to move bcdzened into saloons: his good
garlulous, kind hearted master to become a
brawling deputy: and both he lost forever to
Jean-Aare and their better selves He knew
his own defects: he knew he must sink into
less and less consideration in the turmoil of a
city life; sink more and more from the child
into the servant, And he began dimly to be
lieve the doctors prophecies of evil He
could see Il change in both His generous
incrcdulitv failed him for this once: IA child
must have perceived that the Hermitage had
completed what the absnthc had begun If
this were the first day, what would he the
last; IF necessary, wreck the train, - thought
he. remembering the doctors parable He
looked round ON the delightful scene: he
drank deep of the charmed night air, laden
with the scent of hay 'If necessary, wreck
the train" he repeated. And he rose and re-
turned to the house.