Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-04-14

uNtCSS you gtDe IL 10 nc tOTCDCT.
Before had an opportunity to breach
the question of investments to Mr. Dale,
Aunt Agnes added her quota to my sense
of wrong. One evening when she came
to dinner | OWNED, from the intense
rigidity of her posture at table, that she
WAS offended with me- To tell the
truth, felt a trihe guilty. Ny visits to
her during the winter had been spas
modic and hurried What was worse,
so greatly was | carried away by my
social success that whenever we did
meet | prattled on about fashionable
frivolities regardless of her frown. But
though | was conscious of not standing
in her good graces, felt tolerablv secure
from comments on the score of Mr.. Dale.
for the reason that Us she never went
anywhere she would know nothing of
my intimacy with him unless Aunt
Helen or my father were to make her a
confdant and this did not think likely
Therefore, when she introduced the sub
ject while we were alone together in the
drawing room after dinner, was little
disconnected.
"Who Is this Mr.. Gale whose name |
zee connected with yours?' she asked
severely.
with miner"
Yes, with yours. Don't beat about
the bush! You know perfectly well
whom mean"
Excuse me, Aunt Agnes, there is no
Mr.. Gale among my acquaintance.
know Mr.. Dale"
She frowned, and began to tumble in
her pocket. THE principle is the same
whether it is Gale or Dale or Tompkins.
! never expected to learn of my niece S
engagement from the public press,
am confident the notice said Gale. Ali
/ thought so. Plain as the nose on your
face" she added, producing from her
portemonnaie newspaper cutting and
reading aloud: at is rumored that the
engagement of the beautiful and accom-
plished daughter of Augustus Harlan,
the railway magnate, to Nh Roger Gale,
oil this city, will soon be announced"
ut is not true, Aunt Agnes" | cried
Indignantly. Needless to say l was
startled at this bit of information, com
ing, too, as it dld from such an unex-
pected source. My aunt's knowledge OF
it seemed fully as remarkable to me as
the fact Of the publication.
81 trust not" she replied with en-
phasis. Il did not seriously suppose my
own niece so far lost to all sense of pro-
priety as to take such step unbrknOwn
to me. But 1t seems to me, Virginia.
You must have been behaving III a, 10
say the least, very peculiar manner to
get your name into the newspapers.
Where there Is So much smoke there Is
apt to be little fire, Who is this Nj.
Gale?"
His name is Dale, Aunt Agnes"
"Well, Dale then. You won't put me
off by quibblng. If you want your
father to know OF it you are taking Just
the course to make tue tell him"
MY father knows all there Is to know.
Mr.. Dale is d friend OF mine and coMcs
to the house by permission. There is no
possibility Of an engagement between
us"
IAN engagement should hope not.
Do you consider yourself qualified to en-
ter upon the cares aud RESPONSE bilities OF
married hfe"
Il have already said tha5 have no in
tention of getting mrIied.
Getting married! Why, the child il
crazy. You talk Of rnatgimouy rs if i
were as simple Il proceeding as changing
Your dress or going to party"
"Some people would appear to find il
So" ! answered, goaded to iIupertiuence
But Aunt Agnes apparently did no