Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-06-26

, han, whore q clear fire was burning |
softly III the CRATE and where they were
alone. at is my impression" he went |
on "that you arc not as other women;
you have strength and elevation that
despise the common frivolities of your
sex; and though you arc too proud to
wish to appear eccentric, yet IN your
heart You think your own thoughts and
live your own life. You are rebel and
hereto in the garb of orthodoxy. You
are not oifended?' he added, smiling.
You please me immensely" she re-
piled al like to be told about myself,
and dare say you are quite right about
me. But ! never studied my own char
acter--I have no talent in that way-and
really don't know whether / am just
/ like other people or not If seeing very
/ few people can make me peculiar, l
ought to be So"
My own experience" observed the
count, after u pause, has made me pre-
! fer the realities of life to any shows.
When | asked you to come here and help
me | feared you would refuse. Most
women would have done so, because they
are either fools who do not think or cow
ards who dread critics. Your husband
was murdered in this house three years
ago tonight. Even to this day it is I'M
known who struck the blow"
mo. count, | must correct you there"
interposed she, slightly disturbed, for the
counts manner was strangely emphatic,
and the topic upon which he had fallen
was not, after all, an attractive one.
There was no doubt about who com
United the crime. There was no mys-
terry"
mo? And was the true criminal pun
ished:"
"Ycs; so far as the jury was con-
cerned. Bat he did not live to serve out
his But, really, my dear SIR she
broke Off, laughing, 1--WE must not spend
our valuable time discussing these
things. 1t will not help our guests to
enjoy themselves"
Il will say, however what was in my
mind, rejoined he, regarding her gravcly.
IL hope to have the honor of knowing
you better, madame; but no friendship
can he secure which is liable to the open
ing Of skeleton closets. | wish to have
Your assurance that you have no secret
horror of This place on account of what
was done here: You do not fear to see
specters? You do not scent blood in the
air? In q word, madame, you are not
superstitious-you do not believe that
the influences of an evil deed are to be
felt more in one place than another?
That the ghost of your husband, or Of
the man who was condemned as his
murderer is more likely to confront you
in this house than anywhere else;'
"Why do you say these things to me,
Count de Lisle;" she asked leaning back
in her chair and regarding him between
her narrowed eyelids. "Do you think it
is quite considerate: ] am not Of hys-
teric temperament, but If | have any
nerves, you are not taking the best
means to soothe them; and what has my
late husband to do with our acquaint-
ance or with this dinner: | am not SUI
perstitiOus; | don't believe in ghosts. lac
copied your invitation to come here be-
cause | wanted to come; | wanted to
greet the first guests who came to Harry
Trent's house. At the time Of his death
he was planning reception here and il
it had taken place l should have been
the hostess. Our marriage, as you may
have heard, was a secret one. had felt
for long time the injustice Of my posi-
ton, and looked forward very eagerly
to that reception in our own house as a
public recognition and acceptance, In
stead Of that / was forced to tell my
own story IN a courtroom.
1T was more Of disgrace than a vim
dicatiOn. Now, after years have passed,
and | have kept to myself, your request
appeared to me in the light Of a long de-
layed opportunity. Society here knows
that this house has just passed from my
hands to yours, and am glad to be able
to stand here beside you tonight and
say 1T was mine to give, and l gave itl
do not mind their criticisms. | have
the means and the power to take my
placein New York society, and tonight
my new life begins If l meet with
some antagonists, so much the better; il
will make life more interesting. | don't
wish to etagnate in success any more
than in failure. | have sometimes
thought that should value deadly
enemy more than the dearest friend
War is wholesome. Well" she added
in different voice, rising and standing
before him with smile, what do you
think Of mel?
II was not mistaken In YOU" said the
count, nOdding his head amusingly. 81
ask forgiveness for my discourtesy anc
brutality, but do not regret 1t, since il
has moved you to speak as you have
done. There is something akin In us
! madame we may perhaps find somt
means Of rendering life more interesting
for each other But am not going t.
bore you any further at present Come
!. and see what have done TO make the
house pretty"
The lower rooms Of the house were 81
arranged that when the sliding door
were Withdrawn they seemed to consti
tute single large hall, interrupted by
massive, irregular pillars rising from
= the polished floor to the ceiling. AS 20,
moved from one point Of view to an
other the scene took on new changes o
beauty, the tone Of the decorations in