Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-14

CuIUJ eno tOund III hdV@aple 10 come ana
60 In carriage.
"You say you 1.-Two in Remington" he
said one Wednesday; "why do you never
walk here? Kensington is not more than
mile off,"
She dared not walk lest he should
again propose to accompany her and she
not be able to prevent him, but she con-
tinued to go to the Varleys' rather fire.
quently, and he continued to appear at
the same time.
After some weeks of this, Mrs. Varley
said one night to her faithful spouse in
tho stiffness of her chamber, "My dear,
have you observed that Edward Carlton
always comes on our day now, and can
you guess whyY II you can't, can; he
is in love with Margaret. have fancied
he was ever since our last party, but
am sure Of it now, and have made up
my mind to take the first opportunity /
can find to speak to him about it."
"There you co." said Mr.. Varley;
"speak TO him indeed! You women are
all alike! You, my dear, fancy that you
have discovered sensitive spot and
can't be happy till you have thrust your
| finger down on it,"
"My finger won't hurt; am not going
to say anything that he will mind"
"Say nothing at ALL Selma; keep
| quiet. If Carlton does come here to see
Margaret, small blame to him, say l.
Why should you make him uncomfort-
able by showing that you notice it2
Leave him In peace. l hate the British
matron's method Of dealing with an in
cipient love affair; she almost always
brushes it out Of existence. In the east
the old ladies go about making mar
riages, here in England they seem to pre-
fer going about marring them"
"Old ladies, my DEAR / am not oldr'
"But you will be some day. let me in
still some good ideas into your mind be-
fore that day comes. Say nothing to
Carlton or to Margaret either; let them
go their own way"
'FThey don't go-they come" she said
snappishly.
"Let them come then. Don't you rag
about them, saying: 'Oh, don't for q mo-
ment suppose that I can't see how des-
perately you are in love with each other,
and don't think that every one else
doesn't see.' Let them be happy. The
match is suitable in every way; he is
certain to distinguish himself at the bar,
she is as good as she is pretty"
"Well, perhaps had better say moth
ing said Mrs. Marley drowsily, and
here for the moment the matter ended.
But the first Wednesday that came
after this found Miss Falkland SO dis
satisfied with the situation that she re-
solved to escape from the discomfort of
it by confessing the truth. She would
reveal to Mr.. Carlton that hers was
the hand that dealt the blow,
and trust to his generosity to forget it.
II he were unable to do so he would be
equally unable six months hence, and
the sooner she knew it the better. She
felt SO much happier when she had taken
this resolution that she carefully selected
her prettiest dress and bonnet and walked
in her brave attire to the Varleys', though
black clouds were grouping themselves
together ominously in the sky and a few
drops of rain were falling.
No carriage for her that day. He would
possibly be In the balcony; he often was
when she arrived there. Could he be
looking out for her? If he were there
today he would see her arrive on foot
and would doubtless propose to accom-
pany her home How far would he walk
with her? On the way she would tell
him what was on her mind, and if after
that he continued to walk with her and
was as friendly as before, surely all
would be well
She could see that he was in the bal
cony; she could even see how pleased he
looked when he caught sight of her.
Were it not for that confession how
happy she would now be, Suppose
after she had made it she saw
distinct change in his manner
say, for instance, cold politcness en-
phasized perhaps for the sake of making
person who had no good breeding of
her own apprehend that poiteness was
being shown her Full of these torment
ing thoughts and struggling with de-
sire to flee away to her own home and be
at rest, she slowly and doubtfully as
cended the stairs and reluctantly entered
the drawing room. He had studied her
face SO thoroughly that he could see she
was uneasy about something.
Something has distressed you," he
said, when he found AN opportunity of
speaking without being heard by all.
"Is distressing me, you mean," she an
swered. Il will tell you about it pres
emily"
Tell me now"
"No; there are so many people hero to-
day, l can't tell you without being over
heard"
"You walked here; are you going to
walk back?'
Eyes, am going to walk back" She
spoke as mournfully as if that walk
would conduct her to some gloomT
prison.
"Mayn't 60 part of the way with you
thenP You have never allowed me to
walk even the length of this street with
you"
"You shall walk with me today" she
answered, but there was nothing in her
voice to lead him to think that she looked
forward with any pleasure to this walk,
lg.ll J. Ia