Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15

then only WIZ. directly addressed,
whereas the rector seemed more talk
alive and jocular than usual But was
not his popularity forced2 Gascoigne
asked himself, Hardly was the meal al
an end when tho Rev. Dyke, declaring
that he had quite a round Of visits
among Pensioners to get through, went
his way. Mrs. Fermor was down stairs
today, for wonder, reclining on O
chaise Tongue in the drawing room.
Gascoigne, who had been introduced to
her ON previous occasion, went and
chatted with her whilo Margery was
getting ready to go out. Five minutes
later he saw Margery on the veranda,
drawing on her gloves. Then he shook
hands with Mrs. Fermoy, and taking
his sketching materials under his arm, he
went out and Joined her. The two went
forward, Margery leading the way till
clump of evergreens hid them from Mrs.
Fermor. Then the girl turned and faced
her companion.
80 Mr.. Gascoigne! am SO sorry" she
began, "but must really ask You to ex-
cuse me from going out sketching this
afternoon. II don't feel equal to it"
Her eyes were downcast, there was a
little quaver in her voice. and the deli.
cate curves of her lips had an eloquent
pathos of their own. Never had she
looked more dangerously beautiful in
Gascoigne's eyes than at this moment.
All the innate chivalry of the man was
instantly in arms. There was a seat close
by on which he now proceeded to place
sketching materials, Then he possessed
himself of one Of Margery's umesisting
hands.
You are suffering, you are in trouble,
|. Miss Fermor; I'm sure of he said very
earnestly. "Ihe moment you entered
| the room / saw that something was the
matter. viii you not grant me the privi-
lego of a friend, for | trust you will per-
NIT me to consider myself in the light OF
one, and tell me what it is that is trou-
bling you? 1t is just possible that it may
be i'll my power to help you, or, at any
rate, that 1 may be able, if only in
minor degree to alleviate the burden
from which you are suffering"
Margerv slowly shook her head. "No
one can help mo-" she said in low voice
! as she gently withdrew the hand he had
been holding while he spoke.
Pardon me- he rejoined, "but are
you quite sure Of that? OF course, with,
out a knowledge of the circumstances,
cannot speak with certainty. But III any
case if l can't help you-though do not
| despair on that point--you are sure Of
my sympathy. Itmav seem poor thing
10 offer, bat, such as it is, it viii be heart.
felt and genuine"
How good you are!' exclaimed Mar.
gerry in that naive, impulaive way which
was one of her special attributes. Then
! she turned and began to walk slowly
the gravcled pathway that led from the
| house. Her arms hung in front of her
with interlocked fingers; there was an
added mournfulncas in the taraway look
of her somber eyes.
| "Will you not tell me your trouble
Margery:" said Gascoigne presently in q
voice that was hardly above d whisper
| 1t was the first time he had called her by
! her Christian name but if she heard it
| she did not seem to heed.
After walking on in silence for mo-
ment or two longer she stopped, and
turning her eyes full upon him she said
! grayelv: "Mr. Ormsby is coming home
| Gascoigne gave gasp, and the same
! instant the demon of jealousy grDpad
| him by the heart. "GIr, Orm=by!" he
stammerod, Il don't remember to have
heard the name before
"Of course not; how stupid of me" re-
| turned Margery. But | have got 50
into the way Of looking upon YOU rs q
friend that for the moment forgot how
short a time we have known each Other"
For an instant the young mans heart
! thrilled beneath his waistcoat, and then
the demon had him in his grip again.
Drawing still closer to her, and looking
her straight in the face, he said between
| his teeth: "Wll you not tell me al about
this Mr.. Orms 81
By this time they had reached quaint
old summer house il a secluded part Of
the grounds. They had sat here on more
than one occasion already, and it seemed
only natural that they should do the same
today.
Margery's nerves shook a little as she
sat down. She was a girl who hated
having to tell lie; in the first place as
matter of principles was she not rec
tors daughter: and, in the second, be-
| cause she had an uncomfortable COnVlc-
ton that lies, like chickens, have =
habit OF coming homo to roost Still
occasions may now and then arise
when the truth is not all compelling,
when lie becomes not merely polite,
but compulsory. When such occasions
force themselves upon you, the only plan
is to tell your lie boldly and have done
| with If This U-ouI1 be Natperv'S mode
of procedure in tho present instance.
The pith of what she had to tel Mr..
Gascoigne was as follows;
Mr.. Ormsby was a civil engineer, and
was now on his way home from Peru.
Mr.. 0. 5 father, who had died some years
before, and tho rector had been bosom
friends, and there had been an under
standing between them that when the
boy of one and the girl Of the other should
have grown up they should lDeo volente)