Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-17

Ine blucS' as frequently was i never
could understand why he was 30 good a
friend to me, unless, perhaps, because
there may be a force of attraction be-
| tween two extremes"
Eyes, | should not fancy you at all
| like him." Mabel said trying to impress
him with her intimate knowledge Of
Dudley's nature.
mo, not at all In the first place, he
has been 50 differently brought up. he
has Travelled, seen great deal of the
world and profted by this experience.
and don't believe has ever had to take
| thought of dollars and cents. thus he
is naturally liberal both in his ideas and
with his money. | am not-not because
| don't wish to be, but because cannot
| be. Secondly he is another animal
| physically-an athlete born; while have
never engaged in any sport, know moth
ing OF such matters, nor could learn
| them. And then there is such q vast
difference mentally between us; his
mind is as quick and nimble as his mus
Giles, while mine is much like muddy
stream, I'm afraid-opaque and slug
| glsh. Yes, have often wondered over
his friendship for me"
81 think you are detracting from your
own virtues in order to hatter his" said
Mabel, smiling, but rejoicing inwardly
over the happy selection she had made
in the college catalogue.
Manton protested that he had said no
more than the truth, and continued to
sound the praises of his friend until the
| hour for MabePs luncheon arrived, when
he departed for his solitary stroll upon
the beach, delighted, though by no means
as much so as Mabel was, at having
found a friend Of Dudley's.
After this it happened, il not By act
ual design, at any rate with suspicious
| frequency, that Manton took the short
| cut to the beach and that Mabel read
her books and wrote her letters in the
pine wood One day when they met
thus, and after their acquaintance had
| grown to be some three works old Man
ton found the young lady (whom he had
| never regarded in any other light than
that of Dudley's betrothed) very ab-
stracted and apparently little inclined 70
lend the customary willing ear to his
tales oftheir mutual friend. This troubled
him sorely. That there had been some
lovers quarrel he could not doubt. and it
panied him to think that any cloud should
have arisen to darken the brightness Of
his friends existence.
Have YOU heard from Mort today?'
he asked suddenly, in his blunt fashion.
After moments hesitation, Mabel &C
knowledged that she had, but further
than that she vouchsafed him nc infor-
nation, and he soon concluded to con-
tinue his journey to the beach, his pres
ence seeming only to add to Miss More
ley's nervousness and evident irritation.
What was she to do? How could she
save herself now? Why indeed had she
done this foolish thing? She took the
letter from her pocket to read it once
more, hoping that some suggestion might
spring from it, some possible meang for
her escape be brought to light.
miraculous as it may appear to YOU"
he wrote, dating his letter from New.
port, Il have met the image of my early
playmate! 1t was at garden party,
yesterday. At first il seemed impossible
that two such faces could exist. was
on the point of rushing to her, clasping
her in my arms, and mailing her with all
the warmth that would only be natural
upon discovering my long lost Jennie,
but some prudent voice suggested asking
for an introduction first. | did so. To
my astonishment, the name was not Jen-
ning5 at all, but Bathersea, and her &C
acknowledgement of my impressive bow
and more expressive smile was as chilly
as winter morning. l took occasion to
introduce my name into the converse
ton, fearing that she might nave mis-
understood it, No light Of Intelligence
beamed from her lovely eyes. referred
TO my college days (and | suspect she
took me for a freshman), | limited at
Stillton, | even suggested chat we had
met as babies; but she only said that
her recollection did not extend to that
early period, and lett me-for what:
It is humiliating, but | will acknowl-
edge it-for another fellow. This at
last convinced me that she could not
be my Jennie, Her rescm blance to the
photograph, however, was perfect-real-
ly startling. In justice must add that
she was lovely. 1t is the face that has
captivated me, not the girl; she rather
snubbed me-but that face! never saw
half SO much beauty in one face before"
TWAS bad enough that he should have
actually met the girl whose picture she
had been cowardly enough to send il
place of her own, but hat followed lit
orally chilled the blood in her veins. He
was coming Coming to StilltOn! Com
ing to find her! Was actually on the
way at that moment to claim her ac-
quaintance; perhaps to show her letters
and reveal all her deceit to that inexora-
bic papa of hers should she disclaim all
knowledge of him, OF, to make matters
even more difficult to explain, should
she confess the truth Of their relations.
"Heavensl" she exclaimed in fright,
"What shall l do? what shall | do'"
Her time for action was fast growing
short, The afternoon was rapidly adj
vancing. All, might not Manton be her
savior? But how explain TO Nlanton her
deceit toward him during all this time
of their acquaintance? No she cOuld