Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-12-19

under a spell Of enchautmnnt to misrnato
herself in the most grotesque man
ner conceivable. Mr.. Starcher was
so 1nuch in earnest, and so ludicrously
sure, apparently, that tho success OF his
suit was among the eternal ceriainties,
that a vision of long welded life with
him, amid an atmosphere of meal tubs,
ealt cod and pickles. interspersod with
psalm tunes and solemn walks to and
from church on Sundays-this desperate
panorama of inaniInate existence rose up
before her in such vivid imaginative
vraisemblance that she was impelled to
protest against il with more than ade-
quate vehcmcnce. She g&sped for breath,
rose from her chair and said: "Mr.
Starcher, it is terrible; l would
rather diet" Then, porceiving, com
passion2toly, that he would feel
cruelty wounded as soon as his
astonished senses enabled him to
comprehend the significance of her
words, she added, at would be wicked
for me ever to think Of being married;
YOU must sec that r. Here she paused,
partly from emotion, and partly because
she was unable at the moment to be-
/ think herself Of any conclusive argu-
mont in support of her assertion that,
/ for her. marriage would ever be a crime.
| One certainly would not have drawn
| that inference from the superficial indi-
| cations \ silence ensucl, prickly with
spiritual discomfort. MIR. Starcher was
| the first to fud his tongue, and he car
ricd off the hOnors Of the encounter by
observing with fearful gcntleness that
he should claim the privilege, just the
same, of not presenting the little ac-
count for settlement. This magnanim-
ity was mono the less genuine because
the materials for it were slender, and
BcatriE long aftorward found comfort
in recalling it to mind.
But there was yet another adversary
for her to engage, and he was in some
respects more formidable than Mr.
Starcner, because his position and edu-
cation rendered his prctensions less mon
srous-nay, there even seemed to be a
sncaldng disposition On Mr.. Bandolph's
part to accord him at least negative
support Mr.. Ninal, the Unitarian cler-
gy1uan, was in fact, from IN unworthy
point of view, . toiecably inoiTensive
match. He was studiCus. dccorous and
endowed with grave and uuobTusiye
manners lie was not handsome, but
there was n certain masculine concentra-
tion in his close set gray eyes and long
narrow chin which was not in itself un-
pleasing.
His voice, If somewhat harsh, was
did from a chest apparently SO incapa
CiOus, produced Il sensation Of agreeable
eur4siae. Ii y Guild have been unreason.
able not to respect the man, and churl
ish not to feel annually disposed toward
him; bit for Beatrix it was impossible
to love him. lie lived in little white
wooden house with green blinds, close
to the white, green blinded church. II,
possessed an imposing library, in which
was not q single book that ByatriX coulc
have brought herself to red, and The
, main object Of his endeavors was, appar
entity TO make all the rest Of the world
think and live like himself, Moreover
, though no approved Of music, ne neiJhe
: knew nor cared anything about it,
q llr, Ninal began his operations Try
private interview with .dr. Randolph
) from which he came forth with a coun
; tcnance whose serenity made BeatriX'
7 heart sink. The dialogue which folloWeD
= w&s of extreme interest TO both of thon
, Have YOU made any plans regarding
r your immediate futaro>' the ministe
g began, in an mcmDarrassed and busi
O ncsslike tone. 1--WE cannot doubt, vo
e know, that providence, in bringing thi
t affection upon you, has had some wis
- and mercitul end in view. You nav
1 talents; perhaps but for this you righ
o have kept them folded in the napkin
f Adversely forces Us out Of our natura
?, idleness. and stimulates us to use wha
n means we have to win our own way /
T the world. Have You thought Of any
3, thing to do?''
d Be3triX's spirits rose again; he was ne
7 thinking of marrying her after all. Nv
/ been thinking | might give lessons o
i the piano" She said. She happened t
z be seated at that instrument, and as ST
Il spoke she let her white fingers driftdow
= the keyboard from bass to treble, frol
70 depression to hope, from gloom to ligh
1t winding up with u sort OF interrogatiy
st accent, rs much as to why shouldn
f, be good for something"
p VERY right" said Mr.. Yinol; 81 hay
nothing to object to in that; indeed
or had intended to propose it. You coul
r, also. unless the instructions of tho la
n Professor Dorimar were wholly vatu
l. lest
Y What" interrupted Beatrix, in
G. voice which. supported Us it was by
Of chord sharply struck, made the minist'
So start in his chair. After moment
or pause she said, her eyes still bright wit
a. indignation: Professor Dorimar, who
e now in heaven, taught me more ar
er better things than you have ever dreame
he Of! He showed me that have a soul
s, "SGrely | have done as much as that
ID faltered Mr.. Ninal, who was confuse
f. by this sudden outburst.
" mo, for you know nothing about it
20 said Deatrix loftily. "You have on
n been told that it is so-you have read
| l-.. 4, L.,