Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-04-18

IT, -4 SE1
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Miss Vone stood CLOSE beside him, quite mo
tionieSs.
James Vogdes was noted among the
men who knew him best as an unusually
humble, unassuming fellow, a man who
would never assert himself enough to
push his way. But every nerve now
tngled with keen excitement and de-
light. "AIy life is worth little TO any
man. No one could be spared better
And he waited breathless to be contra
dicted. Not that the stout, brawny fell
low was in reality peculiarly vain or silly.
Mailed Antony himself, no doubt, blushed
with pleasure when the Egyptian women
patted, and petted, and cajoled him, and
put hm on a pedestal to abase them
selves before.
Charlotte 5 answer startled him. Your
life is worth little she said, for you
have not known its value"
DO yOu:"
The darkness was warm and still about
them; his breath came hot and quick.
She had reused fierce passionate thoughts
in him with her sudden sharp probe;
but they were of himself, not of her.
Old ambitions started into life: the dream
which came to him in his boyhood of
what he might be, the dream that had
SO slowly died, and left him dull, sen.
sible country squire, plodding with the
rest. what am |, Charlotte? God
knows I've sounded myself, bue | find
nothing lie waited as though the dark
figure had been priestess who had
spoken to the gods for him. She did
not answer at once. Il have lived very
much alone. No one ever cared to speak
to me as you have done now. But you
overrate me. | am sure you overrate
me-
IF you come back, she said, in the
same low. strained voice, there is no
place which strength and intellect can
conquer which may not be yours. Nir-
ginia needs leader. The way is open
and waiting for you. Let me speak
plainly, though l am a woman. The
time is short, and | am your friend" her
voice failing at the last.
He listened breathless. "Nes. Let us
be true and frank TO each other. If |
could believe what You tell me- He
was standing beside her. Unconsciously
they had gone down the path into the
tlick trees of the garden. \ strange
madness fired his blood. If this were
true: lie had dreamed it of himself long
ago. And Charlotte had subtly limited
il before. These words only gave sub
stance to her meaning and To their
friendship. If he were indeed to waken
when he came back to a new life of en-
ertiOn, victory, power. And she-this
friend who saw his true self when all
others were blind?
He turned sharply. She was close to
him, the rare brilliant woman whom so
many mon had sought in vain, with all
her wonderful beauty, ersubtle thought,
her feeling for him, whatever that might
be, laid bare, ready for his coming.
He did think of Alice. But she had
grown curiously petty and faded in his
mind a mere bit of ice. And ice he
remembered, when you pressed it too
warmly, sometimes rested in your hand
a dash of insipid water. But here
Could fate have meant him to win
this woman'5 love? She turned her face
slowly toward him. Charlotte had al
ways this advantage on her side, that
she never acted. For the time she loved
the man madly. 1t breathed in the very
atmosphere about her 1t had its power
over him without his knowledge. The
heavy coils of her black hair had fallen
and shook out delicate perfume; her
breast rose and fell with passionate
tremble and SILVER; her sultry eyes
cvaded his; her warm breath touched
him. Then she drew back; she was al
most lost in the shadows.
He sprang after her, caught her arm.
"Stay. If | come back alive
He paused; there was fierce struggle
at his heart \ bell sounded down in
the river fog. She waited a moment for
him to speak.
There is the boat" She said then,
quietly, I'VE will be friends-in life or
death The tone was cold enough. but
she touched his forehead with the tips of
her tingers-just touched it, no more:
but the next moment she was strained
to his breast and his burning lips were
pressed TO hers. Then he turned from
her and hurried down the hill.
At the parlor window Alices little
pale face had been watching all evening.
She saw him now cross the path that led
10 the house, and stop uncertainty. She
got up, putting her hand upon the pane.
Tom who was clinging half asleep to
her dress, slipped down neglected.
He Is coming" she whispered. Surely
he would not so TO meet death without
a word of good-by for her;
The boat bell rang impatiently. She