Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-10-17


man that he was, holding himself In such
modest estimate marvelng as he often did
over the fact that he could have really won
the love of being so radiant, 50 exquisite
"a Mabel, he lived in a ds,am that was all
bliss and beauty, except for the incessant
and all pervading longing to see her-to be
near her. He loved her with an intensity
that he had no means of expressing. Not
waking instant WAS she absent from his
thoughts, aud in his dreams she appeared
to him, crowned with halo such as never
angel knew. He used to lie awake at time,
in the dead hours Of the night, wondering
If the very newsboys and workmen realized
their blessed privilege that they could step
upon the ilagstones that her little foot had
pressed that they could see her face per
haps hear her voice, AZ she strolled i'm the
cool of evening along the gravclcd pathway
of the little park that adjoined her home
Loving her as he did, his heart went out to
any one who knew her, or was even famil-
lar with the city where she dwelt. He had
felt for years a contempt for Gordon Noel
that, at times, he had difficulty in DISCUS
ing. Now he was tempted to write to him,
TO shut out the past, TO open confidential
relations and have him write long letters
that should tell of her.
utIc we're IiTCe men IN MS troop IN
whom he felt vague, mysterious interest
simply because they had been enlisted at
the old rendezvous on Sycamore street.
only three squares from her home. He was
so full of hope and faith and love and graf
itude that the whole garrison seemed to
hold naught but cheer and friendliness
Ho never dreamed of the stories the men
were telling or the condolences women were
whispering about the post. Noel had writ
ten again to Mrs. Riggs, and Mrs. Riggs
had not spared her information. It was
now said in Queen City society that the
engagement was of Mr.. Nincent's makins
He had been associated with Lane in some
speculations that proved disastrous, but
the captain had shown such command of
money and had put up at such an OPP
perfume moment that they came out in
good shape after all, and as soon as the old
man found that Lane loved his daughter
he insisted on her accepting him The in
formation about Lanes coming to the
rescue with money he had heard from Mr..
Vincent himself-as indeed he had. One
evening when they were for the moment
alone, in a burst of confidence to the man
whom he believed to be devoted friend
of his prospective son-in-law, Vincent had
told the silent officer the story Of that peril
GUS crisis and Of Lanes prompt and gem
crous loan-but not as Noel told it to AIrs.
Riggs
"Do not distress yourself, my darling
one wrote Lane to his flancee, because
your letters are little less frequent Just
now. | know how occupied YOU must be
with preparation and how anxious you are
about the dear old father. Next week you
will be in the mountains; and then az you
say, people will give you time to write and
then, too, shall be happy in your regain
ing health and spirits, The papers tell me
how intense has been the heat; it almost
equals ours here in one way, and is much
worse in being moist and muggy. There
is prospect of my going on two weeks
scout with my whole troop early in the
month; but your letters will reach me
safely"
Why was It that she should experience
feeling almost Of relief in reading that be
was going to be absent from the garrison
awhile-goinc out on II two weeks scout
She had sent him, as she promised,
lovely cabinet photograph of herself that
had been taken expressly for him. 1t came
to the old frontier fort just as the men
were marching up from evening stables,
and the messenger, distributing tho mail
about the post, handed the packet to the
captain as he stood with little knot of
comrades on the walk. There was instant
demand that he should open it and show
the picture to them, but, blushing like
girl, he broke away and hid himself in his
room; and then, when sure of being uniu-
terrupted, he took it to the window and
Toasted his eyes upon the exquisite face and
form there portrayed. He kept it from
that time in "A silken case which he locked
in a bureau drawer whenever he left the
house, but in the evening or when writing
at his desk he brought it forth to light
again, and set 1t where every moment he
could look upon and almost worship it.
And then came her letters announcing
their safe arrival at Deer Park;
Our journey was most trying, for the
heat was intolerabe until we got well up
among the mountains. Papa came; but |
know he is simply fretting his heart out
with anxiety to get back to the Office. Mr..
Clark only returned from his vacation the
day we started Gordon Noel came down
to the train to see US off and brought
mother basket Of such luscious fruit. lie
says that he has no home to go to now that
we are gone Indeed he has been very
thoughtful and kind, and don't think he
is quite happy, despite his efforts to be al
ways gay and cheerful
do you really mean that you will be
gone fortnight How l shall miss
your dear letters, Fred. And now indeed
will try to write regularly. There's no
one here l care anything about, though the
hotel seems very full and there is much
dancing and gayety. You say that my let
tiers will reach you, but | wonder how"
Lane read this with a sigh of relief. lie
had persuaded himself that it was because
he dreaded the effect of the long continued
hot weather upon her that he so desired her
TO get to the mountains. Any other thought
would have been disloyalty TO his queen.
He wished-just little bit-that she had
not written of him Hs Gordon Noel; he
much preferred that she should call him
captain. She would not write sosully and
frankly of him il he were anything but
friendly, heargued, and she would not toll
erate his visits on any other grounds. Yet
she did not1ell him that they had walked
up and down the platform together for ten
minutes before the train started, and that
when 1t was time 10 part he had bent down
and said, almost in u whisper;
do you want TO send a message for me
to Fred Lane in your next letter."
II will do SO, if you wish" she muir
-nA4 H.. q II 1.,f