Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-05-16

FORE she had induced him to promise
that he would never offer the young oil
GERS spirits in his house. She would not
prohibit wine at table, she said; but she
never thought of there coming a time
when he himself would seek consolation
in tho glass and mako up in quantity
what it lacked in alcoholic strength. He
was impatient Of all reproof now, and
would listen to no talk; but Nellie was
would admit except at such times IA
these, when she meant to admonish; and
Nellie had to take it,
Two weeks after their arrival al War
rener the burden of Mrs. Rayncr's song
morn, noon and night-was: "NVhat
would Mr.. Van Antwerp soy il he could
bat SEQ this or hear that"
Can any reader recall an instance
where the cause of an absent lover was
benefited by the ceaseless warning In
woman's ear, "Remember, you're on
Gaged?" The hero of antiquity who
caused himself to be attended by q shad-
owing slave whispering ever and only.
Remember, thou are mortal is 4 fine
figure to contemplate-at this remote
date He, we arc told, admitted the
need, submitted to the infiiction. Bat
lives there woman who will admit thai
che needs am instruction as to what her
conduct should be when the lord OF her
heart is away? Lives there 4 woman
who, submitting, because she cannot es-
cape, TO the constant reminder, Thou
art engaged" will not resent it in her
heart of hearts and possibly revenge her
self on the one alone whom she holds at
her mercy? Left to herself-to her gen
crosby, her conscience, her innate ten
derness-the cause of the absent one viii,
plead for itself. and, if it have even faint
foundation. hold its own. with tn"
best intentions in the world" many an
excellent cause has been ruined by the
injudiciou5 urgings Of mother; but to
talk an engaged girl into mutiny, rely
on the infallibility of two women-a
married sister or q maiden aunt.
just what Mr.. Van Antwerp would
have said could be have seen the situa-
ton at Warrener is perhaps impossible
to predict. Just what he did say with
out seeing was, perhaps, the most un-
wise thing he could have thought of: he
urged Mrs. Rayner to keep reminding
Nellie Of her promise. His had not been
a life of unmixed JOY. He was now
nearly 50, and desperately in love with q
pretty girl who had simply bewitched
him during the previous summer. 1t
was not easy to approach her, then. he
found, for her sister kept vigilant guard;
but, oncc satisfied of his high connec-
tions, his wealth and his social standing,
the door was opened, and he was some
thing more than welcomed. said the Cos
sips at the Surf house. What his past
history had been, where and how hi
life had been spent, were matters of less
consequence. apparently, than what he
was now. He had been wild at college,
as other boys had been, she learned; he
had tried the cattle business III the we st
she was told; but there had been a quar-
rel with his father, a reconciliation, a
devoted mother, q long sojourn abroad
Hcidelberg-a sudden summons to 70
turn, the death of the father, and then
the management Of q valuable estate fell
to the son.
There were other children, brother
and sisters, three in all, but Steven was
the first born and the mothers glory
She was with him at the seaside, and the
first thing that moved Nellie Travers tc
like him was his devotion TO that white
haired woman who seemed SO happy III
his care. Between that mother and Mrs
Rayner there had speedily sprung up an
acquaintance. She had vastly admired
Nellie, and during the first fortnight OF
their visit to the Surf house had shown
her many attentions. The illness of I;
daughter called her away, and Mrs. Ray
ncr announced that she, too, WAS going
elsewhere, when Mr. Van Antwerp
himself returned, and Mrs.. Raynci
decided it WAS 80 late il the seaso
that they had better reuw.iA until it wa
time to go to town. In October they
spent a fortnight in the city, staying a
the Westminster, and he was assiquou-
in his attentions, taking them every
where and lavishing flowers and bon
bons upon Nell. Then Mrs. Van Ant
wcrp invited them to visit her a. her owr
| comfortable, old fashioned house do%l
town, and Mrs. Rayner was eager to &c
| cent but Nellie said no. she would MOI
do il; she could not accept MIR. Van Ant
werp; she liked, admired and wa st
hacted by him, but she folt that love him
she did not He was devoted, but had
tact and patience, and Mrs. Rayner al
last yielded to her demand and took hsI
off in October to spend some time in tho
interior of the state with relations o.
their mother, and there frequently cam
Mr.. Van Antwerp to see her and TO urge
| his suit
They we're to have gone 20 Warene
Immediately after the holidays, but Jan
uary came and Nollie had not surren
dered. Another week III tbs city, loni
talk with the devoted old m1ther who's,
heart was so wrapped up in her son
happiness. and whose arms seemed yearn
ing to enfoid the lovely girl, and Nelli
was conquered. If not fully oonvince(
Of her love for Mr.. Van Antwerp, sh
was more than half in love with hi
mother. Her promise was given, AM
then she seemed eager to got bs.ck TO til
4