Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-12-24
ROSE JAFFREY'S LOVER,

Was there a madden little biz of beauty
in all the town than Rose IaIrevs WASP
Mad in her love of dancing, Of music, of
dress, of lovers, of lifel Not that she loved
the lovers nor one of them. She let them
love her and hover around her for want Of
better But the one she might, she could.
she would have loved only looked on while
She danced
"Why shouldn't I dance" she said to her
demure cousin Margaret, "because Gordon
penmore looks daggers ut the dancers?
You should see his Gordon 81 eyes us he
watches me lying in Hayden Roth's arms
in that new figure, and floating, floating,
floating And Pm not really lying in his
arms at all, you know, but taking care Of
myself like "A piece of cut steel. don't
know why Gordon PenmOre should make
it his affair at all. Oh, how | should hate to
be obedient to his whms - to any mans
whims"
And before she had well ceased speaking
the little sprites face was buried among
the sofa cushions, and she was shaking
with a gust of sobs. The idea" she cried,
springing to her feet the next moment.
Crying for all | am worth because Cor
don Penmore isis in existence! What
should care for the great arrow pointed
eyes? | will let him see tonightW
And she did, as she danced at Mrs Bad
don'a ball-danced rs the waves dance as
lightly, as gay.y, as tirelessly She stopped
suddeuly-stopped just where ne stood, at
the conservatory door.
ut makes one almost giddy," she said,
smiling family.
Quite" SAID he Eravely.
Thanks, Mr.. Roth. Now | am going
to remember my promise for the rest of
the waltz IN favor oil my cousin Margaret.
If you want to do me favor you will take
her out. And will stay beside Mr. Pen
more till you bring her here"
"Nou don't approve of all this, do your"
she said, looking up at Gordon.
"Dont approve, he repeated.
mo, you don't approve of it. And
wonder what you are here for. You know
you are Just as-as wicked in countenanc-
ing the wrong by looking on as am in do
ing it. On, what a lovely air! How can
you keep your feet stil9"
"You can't" he said, smiling.
"Oh, if Won only knew ANYTHING about
dancing" she exclaimed, ''you couldn't
either. 1t is like having wings. Ahlthat
air is simply delicious"
"Well, let us try it," said Gordon Pen
more, 81 can waltz on occasion. Let me
see if dancing is all you say it is-that is"
remembering himself, "if you will do me
the honor"
"Oh, honor" said Rose, laughing like p
mischirvous snrite. You know YOU don't
reglri it So atall. You look at it almost
H. b. degradation. All the same, You are
dancing! Ana will show you that you
have never danced before" And then
Gordon Pennore, with Rose in his arms,
her soft cheek flushing under his eye, her
sweet breath warm on his bending face,
her heart beating so that he could feel its
throbs, was whrling in the maddest
waltz of the night But waking from the
dream they were Just beside the conserva-
tory door once more, and, neither exactly
knowing how, they had wandered down
one of the dewy alleys, and had paused AS
if to breathe the bewildering odors in the
shadow of group of lemon trees. Nei-
Their of them spoke, till slowly, as if drawn
by an unwilling fate, their eyes met in a
long deep gaze, and his head bent, his
arms were around her, and their lips met
in the strong sweet kiss of passion that
belonged to the eternities.
When next morning Gordon Penmore
came Rose crept into the drawing room
like guilty child.
II thought-oh, l thought" she whis-
pered, after he had reas 3ured Ter, "tAat
ycu-you desplsed me-
Il shall never even despise dancing
again, now III 1t it has given Inc YOU" he
exclaimed How could | dream you
loved me?" he said.
When he left her that day he left on her
hand ring of a strange and fragile set
ting, that held an old mine stone of rare
brilliance. at is the most sacred thing
have" he said. at was my mothers be-
hal = -l,,1l Ia