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


arm of the chair in unison with the nut
sic. And Mr.. Hayne, seated in the
shadow, bent slightly over the key
board, absorbed in his pleasant task and
playing as though all his soul were thrill
ing in his finger tips Mrs. Wrldron
stood in silence at the doorway, watch
ing the unconscious pair with ,an odd
yet Comforted expression in her eyes.
At last, in one long, sweet, signing
chord, the melody softly died away, and
Mr.. Hayne slowly turned and looked
upon the girl. She seemed to have wan
dered off into drcamlt,ld. For a mo-
ment there was no sound; then, with a
little shivering sigh, she reused herself.
at is simply exquisite" she said. you
have given me such q treat!"
I'm glad. l owe you a great deal
more pleasure, Miss Travers."
Mrs Waldron hereat elevated her eye
brows. She would have slipped away
if she could. but she was a woman of
substance, and as solid in flesh as she
was warm of heart. She did the only
thing left to her-came cordially forward
to welcome her two visitors and express
an opportunity OF hearing Mr.. Havne
play. She soon succeeded in starting
him again, and shortly thereafter man
aged to slip out unnoticed. When he
turned around a few minutes afterwards
she had vanished.
"Whv, | had no idea she was gone"
exclaimed Miss Travers; and then the
color mounted to her brow. He must
think her extremely absorbed in his play
ing; and 50 indeed she was.
"You are very fond of music, l see"
he said, at a venture.
Eyes, very; but 1 play very little and
very badly. Pardon me, Mr.. Hayne,
but You have played many years, have
you not?'
"Not so very many; but-there have
been many in which l had little else to
do but practice.
She reddcned again. 1t was so IN
like him, she thought, to refer to that
matter in speaking to her. He seemed
to read her:
81 speak of it only that may say to
you again what began just before Mrs
Waldron came. You gave me no oppor-
tunity to thank you the other night, and
may not have another. You do not
know what an event in my life that
meeting with you was; and you cannot
know how have gone over your words
again and again. Forgive me the en-
barrassment l see l cause you, Miss
Travers. We are SO unlikely to meet at
all that you can afford to indulge me
this once lie was smiling SO Gravely,
sadly, now, and had risen and was stand
ing by her as she sat there in the big
easy chair, still gazing into the fire, but
listening for his every word. I'm five
long years | have heard no words from a
woman's lips that gave me such joy and
comfort as those you spoke so hurriedly
and without generalization. Only those
who know anything of what my past
has been could form any idea of the
emotion with which l heard you. If
could not have seen you to say how
how 1 thanked you, would have had to
write. This explains what l said while
ago; lowe you more pleasure than l can
ever give. But one thing was certain:
could not bear the idea that you should
not be told, and by me, how grateful
was to you. Again, may God bless you!
And now he turned abruptly away
awaiting no answer, re5Catcd himself al
the piano and retouched the keys. But
though she sat motiOnless and speech
less, she knew that he had been trem.
bling so violently and that his hands
were still so tremulous he could play nc
more. 1t was some minutes that they
sat thus, neither speaking; and as he re-
gained his self control and began to at
tempt some simple little melodies, Mrs
WaldrOn returned;
How very domestic you look, young
people! Shall we light the Lamps
"Tve stayed too long already" sale
Miss Travers, springing to her feet
"Kate does not know I'm out, and vii
be wondering what has become of he
sister" She laughed nervously. "Thanl
you so much for the music, Mr.. Hayne
Forgive my running off SO suddenly
: won't you, Mrs. WaldronE' she asked
pleadingly, as she put her hand in hers
and as her hostess rcassured her she ben
and kissed the girls flushed check. Mr.
Hayne was still standing patiently b,
the center table. Once more she turned
and caught his eye, flushed, half hest
tated. then held out her hand with quicl
impulse:
Good evening, Mr.. Hoyne. I shall
= hope to hear you play again
= And, with pulses throbbing and cheek
that still burned, she ran quickly dow
the line to Capt. Rayner's quarters, an,
3 was upstairs and in her room in anotne
minute.
! This was an interview she would fin,
I it hard to tell to Kate, But told it was
partially, and she was sitting now, lat
at night hearing through her close,
= door her sisters unmusical lamentation
=. hearing still ringing in her ears the re
1 proachGs heapod upon her when tina
sister was quietly told that she and Mr.
Ilayne had met twice. And now sh
4 was sitting there, true to herself and he
resolution, telling Dir, Van Antwerp al
about it. Can one conjecture the sensa
+ tions with which he received and rea
that letter?