Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-04-17

"Your note will do, Mr.. Simmons" he
said. ri think you will pay me back. |
shan't worry about IT,"
But Il was some time before the Simmons
family could understand that loan of the
magnitude of $500 could be made so easily.
When the glorious possibility did dawn
upon them nothing would do but that Mr.
Brant should take another drink Of whisky.
1t was not for medicinal purposes this
time; it was for pure conviviality, and
Brant was expected, not being Il prohibit
zionist, to revel vicariously for the whole
family. He drank, wondering what he had
at home to take the taste out of his mouth.
Then he handed the baby to her mother
and started to go. But Simmons suddenly
and Unexpectedly turned into Iozo and
insisted on casting his benefactor's horo-
scope. His benefactor told him the day of
his birth, and guessed at the hour. Ho2o
figured on a slate, drawing astronomical
characters very neatly indeed, and at last
began to read off the meaning of his stel-
lar stenography in n hushed, important
voice.
He told Brant everything that had hap
pened to him (only none of it had hap
pened, but Brant did not say him nay).
Then he told him various things that were
to happen to him, and Zozo cheered up
greatly when his impressive and sleepy
guest sighed as he spoke of n blonde wom-
an who was troubling his heart, and who
would be his some day. There was Il
blonde woman troubling Brant's heart
but there was small probability of her be-
ing his some day or any day. And Xoao
went on to talk about dark woman who
would disturb the course of true love, but
only temporarily and as Il side issue, 50 to
speak
"Shc amt serious" he said. "She may
make muss; but she amt reel serious"
Good night" said Brant.
"You don't b'leve in the science" said
Zozo, in voice of genuine regret. "But
you jist see if it don't come true. Good
night Look out you don't trip over the
scraper."
The blonde woman in Mr.. Brant's case
/ was Madame la Comtesse de Renettc. No,
she was not a French woman; she was u
/ loyal American. She was the daughter Of
an American millionaire; she had lived for
many years in France, and her parents had
married her, at the age of eighteen, to Il
title. The title was owned by Il disagree
able and highly immoral old spendthrift
/ who had led her a wretched life for two
weary years, and then had had the unusual
4 courtesy and consideration to die. Then
She took what he had left of her millions,
went home to the town of her birth, bought
n fine estate on its outskirts, and settled
down to enjoy life wherein she could
awake each morning to feel that the DAYS
would never more bring her suffering and
humiliation.
Then Mr.. Richard Brant disturbed her
peace Of mind by falling in love with her,
and what was worse, asking her to marry
him. That, She said. she could not do. He
was her best. her dearest friend: she ad-
mired and esteemed him more than any
man in the world. If she ever could
marry man she would marry him. But
she never never could. lie must not ask
her
OF course he did ask her And asked
her more than once. And there matters
stood, aud there they seemed likely to
stay.
But Richard Brant was man who,
when he wanted Il thing wanted it with
his whole heart and his whole soul, and tC
the exclusion Of every other idea from his
mind. After eighteen months Of waiting
he began TO find the situation iutolerablc
He had no heart in his business-which
for the matter of that, took care of itself
and he found it, as he said to himself, "a
bore to exist" And what with dWcllin.
on the unattainable, and what with calling
on the unattaiuable once or twice every
week, he found that he was getting into
morbid state of mind that was the next
thing to mild mania.
This has rot to stop" said Richard
Brant. 81 will put an end to it. vii
at, ,,.,,, nv, -..,., ~,
will go AWAY somewhere where | can,
get bocl, untiI-uutl I'ye got over it,"
Onnortunitv is never lacking to a mar
in tLis mood some scientific idiot WA,
rattinr Aptartic expedition. to STAR
in the coming lime Brant apnlied for ;
berth
"Tbot settles II he said
OF course il didn't settle it. lie monec
nc much as ever and found il inst as bar,
osnverio occunv his mind If il had ma
haon for The oStrolooer he would bardl,
have known what to do.
II amused him 10 interest himself /,
Zozo and bis affoirs lie watched TN
o "''i' ,,.;th 1nDo te COLOR af ,be naint ~,
,I,,.'.+,la of.Lo .ir,,, yr,, +rioI 80 cl,,
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