Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-22

the bridal flowers; TINT is no dolusion com
pared with the passions Of men, and yet in
choosing freedom rather than binding ones
self to delusion you need not tell me that |
choose what is only negative 1t is so dis
couiagng. You have such hopeless faults,
and | shall never like any other man better
tban you, Jacob, know, and so shall never
marry"
eyes, but am not like that; know that
] shall marry" he said, watching the girls
face closely at seems to me now as if |
should not, but I am only a man, masculine,
as you say. As long as | am very busy
may keep up, but sometimes they say it is
not quite wholesome in those ranches, and
one is exposed to wind and weather. | might
he i'll, and then when | am homesick and
lonely some good western girl will take care
of me, perhaps like Inc, even love me- For
her | might not have so many faults She
would not be SO clever as you, or have got
things down so fine, and she wouldn't know,
poor thing, what tissue of faults is covered
by my unfortunate name, that sounds SC
homely, and simple, and good. So, being
sick, and lonely, and wretched. and grateful
to her, | know that should be weak enough
to marry her | know that / should"
Eyes, said Millcent, throwing down be-
passionate gesture. that's just what n mans
lave means. l shall be SO glad that / didn't
marry you when | hear of you throwing
yourself on some wild western girl that any
man of refinement would shudder to think of
Is bis wife didn't believe II Of your and
she ran down the steps Of the porch into the
garden.
Jacob was up in an instant and followed
her, but she ran from him swiftly, leaping
over the hower-bcdS and speeding across the
grass, slim and active as Il nymph, her pink
dress telling white in the soft light Of the
summer night. lie had almost caught up
with her when he stumbled and fell over the
protrudiug roots OF an old tree. She fleeing
breathless, came suddenly upon her father
and mother, who. having returned from
thpir drive, had aiiChted from the carriage Mt
the gnte and walked across the lawn. They
now stood hand IN hand looking up at the
sky and al the new crescent inopn--a charm
ing picture of the sweet conpanionship Of
loving souls who find their own youth III all
the promises OF nature.
Ahlliccnt stood and looked at them, with
sudden tears yelling up into her eyes. They
turned and saw her just as Jacob came up,
somewhat confused ut the now situation.
Mrs Fuller spoke first "Whv, Milicent,
IS Mr. Raus herei | thought lie bad gone. .
why, yes, Jacob, we thought You had
cone" said Mr.. Fuller, with an unexpected
,ynpathy III his heart for his old friends son,
awakened by Mrs. Fulier's treating him as a
stranger in calling him Mr.. kaus. The good
Gentleman had fet no sympathy for him
whatever on account Of Mjllicents refusal
It had appeared to him great inipertnence
,hat he should propose to take his daughter
50 far away.
jacob stood silent Mllicent took her
fnthers hand, and throwing one arm round
his neck, kissed him. This action, which con
vryed nothing hut his daughter affection for
hjms,fto the old gentlemau's mind. explained
tine whole situation 10 Mrs. Fuller. who was
not unprapared when her daughter, turning
to her, clasped her in her arms and said:
YES. dear mamma jacob is here, and
when he zoe, 20 with him. | have prom
i,ed to be his wife, and you. who know what
it is, viii be the last 10 deny me that com
partnership which makes you forget even the
parting from your children"
Jacob was more surprised than any one
He never knew exactly how it had come
| about: he only knew that he must have beer
very much improved by marriage, or his
wife grown very leneut, for no man ever suf
! fer,i ie,s from fault finding than he, and the
west was to him a wilderness that blossomed
| like a rose.-Francis Doveridge in ScriDner.
| Magazine.