Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08

to appear to be taking any undue advantage.
If we arc destined to pass our lives together
this temporary eStrangemCnt viii not matter
and if, on the other hand, we are doomed to
life long separation the sooner we begin
the better. 1t is Il cruel world, and some
times las it does now my heart sinks within
mo rs from year TO year | struggle on to-
ward happiness that ever vanishes when I
stretch out my hand to clasp it; but if feel
thus what must you feel who have so much
more to bear! My dearest love, what can
sayf can only say with you, God help us.n
This letter did not tend TO raise Idas
spirits. Evidently her lover saw that there
was another side to the question-the side Of
duty, and was too honest to hide it from her
She had said that sbo would have nothing to
do with Edward CosSey, but she was well
aware that tbs matter was still an open one
What should she do. What ought she to do1
Abandon her love, desecrate herself and save
her father and her house, or cling to her love
and leave the rest to chaucel 1t was a cruel
position, nor did the lapse of time tend to
make it less cruel. Her father went about
the place pale and melancholy-all his 1ovial
manner had vanished beneath the pressure
of impending ruin. He treated her with
studious and old fashioned courtesy but she
could see that he was bitterly aggricved by
her conduct, and that the anxiety of his posi-
ton was telling on his health. If this was
the case now, what, she wondered, would
happen III the spring, when proceedings wero
actslally taken to sell the place.
One bright, cold morning she was walking
with her father through the fields down the
footpath that led to the church, and it would
have been hard to say which of tho two
looked the paler or more miserable. On tho
previous day the squire had had an inter-
view with Mr.. Quest, and made Us much of
en- appeal ad misericordiam to him as his
pride would allow, only to find the lawyer
very courteous, very reGretful, but as hard
as adamnnt. Also that very morning q let
ter had reached him from London announc-
ing that the hast hope Of raising money to
meet the mortgages to Do paid of had failed
The path ran along toward the road past
aline of oaks. Half way down this line they
came across George, who, with his marking
instrument in his hand, was contemplating
some 81 the trees which it was proposed to
take down.
"What are you doing there.n said the
squire, in a melancholy voice.
Marking, squire"
"Then you may as well save yourself the
trouble, for the place will belong to some
body else before the sap is up in those oaksn
Now, squire, don't you begin 20 talk like
that for don't believe it. That amt a go
ing to happen"
Amt a-going to happen, You stupid fell
low, amt a-going to happenp answered the
squire, with dreary laugh. "Why, look
there'-he pointed to a dog cart which had
drawn up on the road in such a position that
they could see it without its occupants seeing
them--"they are taking notes already"
George looked and so did Ida Mr.. Quest !
was the driver of the dog cart, which he had |
pulled up Ill such a position as to command
view of the castle, and his companion, in
whom George recognized q well known Lon |
don auctioneer who sometimes did business
in these parts, was standing up an open |
notebook in his hand, alternately looking at
the noble towers of the gateway and jotting !
down memoranda.
"D-n him, and so he be- said George, !
utterly forgetting his manners.
Ida looked up and saw her fathers ewes |
fixed upon her with an expression that seemed |
to says "See, you willful young woman, seq
the ruin you have brought upon u.s."
Ida turned away; she could not bear it, |
and that very night she came to determine.
ton, which was in due course communicated |
TO Harold, and him alone. That determine. |
ton was to let things be for the present, upon |
the chance of something happening 10y means !
OF which the dilemma might be solved. But |
if nothing happened-and indeed it did not
seem probable to her that anything would |
happon-then she would sacrifice herself at
the last moment. She believed, indeed she !
knew, that she could always call Edward
CoSsey back to her if she liked 1t was
compromise, and, like all compromises, had
an element Of weakness; but it gave time,
and time TO her was like water to the dying
"Sir.n said GeorQe nresentlv. CTS Rnisinn.