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

others now
Winter came usain-tha second winter
q Mabel 5 viuovL1 uA--Hnd She was urg,J
10 visit the NvQl, at their distant home
bui size seemed reluctant until hCr motlV;
babe her 20. cuo was still wearing Aci
vitav's veed,,aud her lovely face was
never sNeetcr in her RirlEood days than
now in That iramo Of Grape. OF Che br.ci
1uu.. lus If her mGr.ed !i'a they nc,,
spoke, buU the Noe,s loved her because cd
her devotion 10 him when hot q friend WE
Icu. In early Mar.n the news from home
began to give her uueasiness. "mGinma
diG not seem wei, 80 was the explanation,
aud il Vas dtcil cd eJat Jhcy would 20 On
"a, lar "a, Washington with her, and spend
day or two there, when Reginald would
meet and escort her home
And so one bright morning in that most
uncertain Of months, Mabel Noel With her
sistor-in-law and that lady's husband
stood at The elevator landing waiting to he
taken down 20 the hallway of their hotel
Presently the lighted cage came sliding
from aloft. Mrs Lauicr entered, followed
by the others. Two gentlemen seated Oh.
one side removed their hats, and toe uesi
instant, before she could take hcr scat, ,.t
lady saw one of them rise bow and O..ttul
his hand 80 Mabel. a3yi0G with no LITTLE
embarrassment and much excess OF colon
something TO the effect That this was
great sur1rise--a statement which her fait
sister in law evidently could find no words
to contradict, even had She desired to dc
So Neither Of ihe two seemed to think OF
any others who were present. Indeed,
there was hardly time to ask or answer
questions before they had to step out and
give place to people desiring to ascend, and
L., RI mn d
chair in the awkwardness Of his adieu.
Mrs. Noels face was averted as they Lett
the hall. but all the more was Mrs Lanict
DESTROYS Of questioning.
"Who was your friend, Mabel"
And Mabel had TO turn or be ungracious.
Her face was glowing as she answered,
simply;
Capt Lane"
An hour later Mrs Lanier said to he1
husbands
THAT was the man to whom she was
said to be engaged before Gordon; and did
you see her face"
Once again they net-this time ut the
entrance to the dining room; and there
Capt Lane bowed gravely to ''Nly sister,
Mrs. Lanicr-Mr. Lanier," when he was
presented. The lady seemed distant and
chilling. The man held out his hand and
said, I'm glad to know you, captain.
wish you could dine with us But Lane
had dined and was going out
The third day came and no Reginald.
Expecting him every moment, Mabel de
Clined to 70 with her friends on shopping
tour, and was seated in her room think
ing, when there came tap a. the door; a
card for Mrs. Noel, aAd the gentleman
begged to see her il the parlor Her color
heightened MS she read the meme. Her
LtHrG beat tlutteTin6ly as she descended
the stairs. He was standing close by the
door, but he took her hand and led her to
the window at their right
You have news from mammal she
cried. "lell me-instantly!"
SLr Woodrow thinks IL best that YOU
sGcuA come, Mrs. Nocl; and sic has sent
iormc. hoSln"! Id went directly west last
Lis, t. VIII you trust yourself to my cara'
ard CON you be ready for the next tram
IL two hop:a.
itcld. She could g instantly. Was
,a.:" no train sooner? she implored him
nt"i if her mothers illness WAS fatal
u "aid only say That Mrs. vincent mad
.'" cutie suddenly 9elledi ana yet they
she would rally -dGbcl Wept IN
t..aingdly, upbr4ldin4 herself bitterly for
h,r dIa-1"y journey; tut sne WAS ready
"a Id L"i ;-Iued composure when 1t was
time To s.art. Mrs. JaEier's farewell Wa
somewhat s'r~.aed, bat the captain seeulcc
h notice nothleS.
Jnohtruaiye,y, yet caretd ally, be watcAeG
over her on The Lomewa.d way Tenderly
be lAted her toS4e pavement % the 4lIhillal
old depot, whe4e Itegy met them. Mamma
was better but very feeble. She wanted
to see them both.
Three days the gentle spirit fingered
Thrice did tho loving woman send for
Lane, and, holding his hand IN hers, whis
per blessing and prayerfuI charge as to th'
future. Re8y wondered what it could al
mean. Mabel, Oh her knees in her owl
Ntt.e room, pleading for her deyotet
mothers life, knew well how TO the very
last that mother chung to him, but onl!
vaguely did she reason why.
At last the solemn moment came, anC
the hush Of twilight, the placid, painless
close Of pure and gracious life wer
broken only by the sobn.ns Of her kneeliut
children sud Of the little knot Of friend
who. deasly loving, weTo with her at tn
gate into the new aud radiant world be
yond.
One soft spring evening a few week