Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-05-22

charitable for the rest, you must take |
him for what be appeared, and he was
taken for an uncommonly fine fellow.
But to return to the marriage ques-
ton. The opinion gained ground that
Harry Trent contemplated matrimony,
though no seer was found bold enough
to point out the particular woman who
was to enjoy the good fortune OF being
made his wife. Some fancied it might
be the handsome New Orleans widow,
Sally Matchin, who was known TO have
been on terms Of cordial friendship with
him for many years, and at whose house
in West Eighteenth street he was often
seen. But experienced critics objected
that, had she been the destined bride,
she would have become Mrs. Trent long
sgo-the acquaintance was now too old
to issue in that manner. A few enter
prising spirits threw out suggestions
looking toward Olympia Raven, beau
tiful girl of eighteen, and cousin of
/ HarIy's 10y marriage. But Olympia was
really too young, even for Harry, and
besides, he had quietly made known his
intention of inviting her and her mother
to come and live with hln-which, ii
was agreed, he would scarcely have done
had he meant to wed her; nor would he
have settled an income OF eight thousand
year on the mother and daughter had
he looked forward to becoming the
formers son-il-law. So one hypothesis
after another was advanced and rejected,
and at the end nobody was wiser than at
the beginning.
The house was completed in what
seemed, Judged by our standards, a won-
derfully short time, for it was ready to
be lived in before the end of the winter
season of 1610-say in carnival time.
But Harry Trent had himself superin-
tended the work in all its stages, and
had seen to it that the Workmeus hours
of rest did not exceed their hours of la
Dor. And yet, when all was done and
February was drawing to a closu, he
sill delayed moving in. 1t may have
been merely accident; it may have been
that he was waiting for Olympia Raven
and her mother to get ready, or, posi-
bly-for all men have their weak side
he was the least bit superstitious and
was haunted by recollection of that
Old proverb, "When the house is built
Ntdlu cutters Ill. ljllu HC was ElI'uS
and healthy, in the full enjoyment Of Il
life that had never met with Il serious
failure or disappointment. In every
thing he attempted he had been success
tul, and either prudence or a naturally
happy Temperament had kept him from
spelling his nerves and digestion by too
anxious and assiduous labor If ever
the afternoon slope of n mans life prom
ised to be sunny, easy and prolonged, it
promised 50 to him. He had built a
house perfectly adapted to his needs;
it Wa, ready to receive him; his many
frien&, impatient FOR the house warm
ing, We're counting the days that had to
clapse before Lent came and postponed
the celebration to a remote Easter-and
still Harry Trent made no sign. What
was the matter with him:
He had, in fact, visited the house al
most every day, letting himself III with
his passkey, and sauntering through the
beautiful rooms. where fires We're kept
burning in the open CRATES by the care
takers in charge. He contemplated the
interior from all points of view and in
all moods, sometimes tentatively max
Ing slight modification of arrange
ment, which he was d. likely rs not t.
restore the next day He seemed loath tt
persuade himself that all was really Just
as he would have it, ana yet he could
; devise no improvement, so might {
lover study the face of his mistress
: afraid to believe that her lovely features
= were absolutely without flaw, or Sc
might any mortal regard the most nearly
| perfect earthly achievement, unable tC
: suggest any lettering Of it, and YET
5 vaguely conscious that, in some way
= nothing Of this earth could be perfect
: indeed.
} The twenty-ffth Of tho month ar
r rived and found the situation unchanged
l Harry Trent had on that day gone t.
afternoon tea at Mrs. Matchin's, it bein,
her day at home, and had remained til
0 after six o'clock. \ dozen other peopl
3 were present, and the talk was lively
i Harry himself seemed III particular,
y fine spirits. When he took his leave Mrs
4 Matchin accompanied him to the ante
. room and stayed there a few moment
speaking with him in an undertone
!; They We're undoubtedly on confdentia
terms, and 0or every straw must count
y it sent up her stock as the possible Mrs
|, Trent several degrees. She came bacl
u with deepened color and a mysteriou
n smile and entertained her compan
more brilliantly than ever.
Il Harry Trent walked to his club, onl
J few blocks off, where he temperate
> had rooms, and took dinner there wit
- two or three friends, one of whom was hi
:, chief clerk. The latter afterward dram
coffee with him in the smoking room
u At about eight o'clock Trent left tn
Il club without saying where he was going
e and he did not come back that night.
i Let us follow him ourselves. A recen
u spell of warm weather has melted th
d snow from the streets, but now it ha
'e fallen clear and cold again. The dry
u bracing air tingles in the nostrils. Harr
10 Trent throws away his cigar and fill
le his lungs with the frosty distillation {
u the stars; then he buttons his coat aero,
his chest and steps out at a sturdy pac'
IA His white hair glistens like silver beneat