Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-04-18
CHAPTER w.

w ncn all was uOne he maze an excuse
to go all over the old house, to say a
cheerful word or two to each of the peo-
pie. Their old black faces had been IA
miliar and friendly to him since he was
boy. Then he lifted Tom up into the
buggy, holding him on his knee, joking
him about his baseball. He had a dim
idea that he ought to give the boy some
great truth to guide him through his
life. to tell him of God. But somehow
he only held him closer and talked base
ball. "NNhat am that l should speak
OF God to him;' he cried. He made a
circuit of a mile or two. They passed
shady little graveyard Close by the
fence there was a marble monument so
heavy and costly that there was no room
for grass and flowers. They stopped be-
side it.
II never was here before" said Tom.
"Nor was t. said his father. Now
that he was, perhaps, done forever with
! life and its business, he wished to come
to say above this grave that he forgave
his dead wife lying there the wrong she
had done him. IN sat a moment in ST.
| lcnce. He would have been glad if the
marble had not been so heavy and broad
above her. lie would have liked to lay
! his hand on the warm earth that covered
her breast to bid her kinder farewell.
1 Half an hour aftcrward he drove into
( the Enclosure about the cottage. The
windows were all closed but one. 1t
opened into the breakfast room the
bright light shone ont and showed the
flowers in the middle, and Alice sitting by
the urn alone, waiting for the others to
come She never had seemed so pure to
him. so tender. The soft light brought
into relief her womanly little figure, her
shy. sensitive face. with its dark blue
ewes set in heavy shadows and the peach
bloom ON her checks. 1t was minia-
tllre picture of home-the home that
James Nogdes had never known.
80 you're here at last, said Joe Page,
coming down the yard with suly face.
Il doubted if you knew your own mind
this morning"
Nogdes understood him. Eyes, knew
it, composedly going with him into the
house.
lie was quite sure he knew it. Why,
for months the idea of that sweet, pure
little girl as his wife and the mother of
his boy had been as a glimpse into an
unknown heaven for him.
He would make it sure tonight. If he
lived to come back he would know if
she would he his wife or no. OF course
he knew his mind. Miss Nane had a
certain charm that no one could deny.
But he was no fool-no Joe Page to be
won by it. If Alice-but here his heart
failed him.
In the little hall he met Mrs. Mcintyre
and caught her hand, with a sense of
having reached half way house of pres
cnt security. But he would not tell her
his secret. No other hand than his own
must capture this white dove and fold it
to his bosom.
Il have a favor TO ask of you. madam"
Offering her his arm and leading her into
the parlor. Now James Nogdes had
certain soldicrly courtesy and protect
ing, deferential manner to all women,
even to his laundrcss which had queer,
subduing effect on them.
Mrs. McIntyres heart instantly soft
encd.
You may be sure it is granted,
James, cordially.
IL am going away tonight for a few
days. May leave Tom and his nurse
with you:"
"Assuredly. That would be certain
without your asking. But do not I'M
dcratand,' looking at him keenlv.
There is something beneath this What
is it,
Nothing. am going to the mines.
You know what is wrong there"
Yes, in a whisper. Il have not told
Alice"
There is no danger for me, of course.
Still | might not return. If do not.
have made arrangement at school for
Tom. But there is no woman-will
Keep watch over him? Yes, as God
hears me l will, James But. my dear
boy, this ought not to be- Her eyes
werefull of tears; she laid her hand ON
his arm.
Tut, tut. there is no danger. Only l
am over anxious about my boy
You will not speak of it to Alice? She
is so easily frightened"
mo, no, ] will wait here until tea is
over, aud then bid her good-by, f you
will allow me- lie sat down on the
dark end Of the porch, where he could
look into the room at her sitting there.
There was soft rustic in the bushes
near, and n warm breath. lie turned
quickly Miss Nane stood close beside
him, quite motionless, looking at him.
lie could not distinguish her figure with
its drapery Of dark gauze from the
shadows about her. lie could discern
only glimpse of 1.-the, bending limbs; Il
CLINT of starlight fell across the mellow,
olive cheek, the slow heaving bosom: he
could feel rather than see her magnetic,
absorbing eyes. He had an odd, mo-
mentary fancy that she silently had
grown ont of and belonged to the warm
tinted autumnal dusk, full of drowsy
harvest smells, darkness and passion.
Strange as it may seem, Nogdes turned
to this woman from Alice with a thrill
of pleasure, almost relief His brain had