Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-09-01

and go TO the train, Ms originally planned
but this Holden positively forbade. Ho
mad succeeded i'll stanchiag the aow OF
he blood from Jagged cut near the
| temple, and could suggest ready theory
as to the cause thereof-in falling shs
! had probably struck the edge OF the IN,
tie wooden post at the top of the bslus-
ters-but beyond this explanation thoye
was absolutely nothing. Mia GutaI.e
would only account for her sudden ter.
ror by the half nervous, half laughing
statement that she thought she saw
ghost, had played the coward and turned
b run.
| But to the t,aired pilysioiah II wsE
evident she had received Il severe shock.
Despite her pleadings DR.. Holden had re-
fused to allow her to attempt the jour-
ney until three days had elapsed, during
which time, though she laughed at him
and laughed ut herself. her condition
continued SO nervous and extitAbie that
he would not permit visitors to see ha'
This was pretty hard treatment, thought
her many lady friends at the post, but
ne was wise and they could only obey
When the evening came for the dcD2r-
tire large contingent, ladies and Off
Gers both, assembled TO say farewell, and
Mia, Mrs Holden, each Of the children
and even the nurse could have had two
or three escorts to the train. But no Ole
had opportunity to say much to the cen
tral figure of 9ll this sympathetic inter
est Only Mt the last moment did she
appear, end was rshcred almost instant
ly to the waiting carriage by Holden,
who had only summoned her when vigil
liant eyes had reported the headlight Of
the express visible far up the valley.
But then down at The dark platform of
the station faithful, sad faced koIfe was
waiting, and III the minute or two that
interviewed before che huge train came
glazing, Kissing and laundering along
side he meraged 20 have word or two
with her.
Mrs. Vance. had she beon present
might have vowed that Mia sllrank ana
chung TO Holden's arm, but others who
We're there saw her extend her glovel
hand cordially, saw that Roife clung to
it an lnstant-charitabl others who
could only wave Idieu, for tie party was
hurried aboard and away went tho ex-
press, the tail lights of the rear sleeper
disappearing IN the dripping gloom
around the bend, for, as though in sym
pathy with the mourning of the post, IA
drilling rain had begun to fall just
after retreat. Rolfe, gazing after them
to the last, wore that look seen on the
face of many another man many another
time. There can be few sensations moro
dismal than that of watching the disap-
, pearing lights of the train that bears
away ones best beloved, especially in
the eyes of him who stands rejected
Let me drive you home, Rolfe," said
Holden kindly. Two of kind" was
his mental addition. And Role turned
slowly away, neither man saying an.
other word until once more they stood
at the gate of the now deserted home.
Come in and have pipe"
Thanks, not-now, Doctor" A long
| wistful pause, then-'Well, good night.
Good night, old man. Come whe1
=. you will; I'll be lonely now" And tn,
| doctor stood and gazed after him lone
= and earnestly as the captain strobe int
' the darkness out over the parade.
g Within the days that followed, whe,
t he had leisure to think it all over, Holder
felt his perpleXities increase. Up to thu
l very last Mia had persisted in her state
ment that nothing had happened TO war
=. rant the absurd exhibition she had mad
b. of herself. Il was overweight, merry
a Gus, unstrung," she said. Il had no
= been feeling quite we'll | had run II,
! to the room for my gloves, which | hat
j left upon the table. had not rcache,
the door, and it was just the waving o
q those white curtains i'll the draft from
the side window. must have though
:, | saw a ghost, and, like fool, scream
!, ed and tripped, and-voila tout"
:. But Holden had known her for 81
g years and felt Wen assured she was no
: of the stuff that is easily stricken wit
y terror. With every confidence in he
8 veracity in general he did not in tn
least believe her How. The more II
studied the matter he relr That she MA
hiding something from Them one an
all, even from JENNIE, whom she dear!
loved and whom ordinarily she fIanll
trusted. 1t was evident that ,enni.
too, believed, a. did her husband, th
doctor, that there was something benin
it all. But Jennie was gcue, and, excel
possibly Rolfc, there was no one to Al
him in his search after the trGth Rolfo
heart was now So shl ouded ii its oy-
gloom that any phase Of tragedy SCENE
credible. Rolfe evidently wanted t
know Holden's cuspicions or sUrmise
and again and again led up TO TIE sal
ject; but Of all reu il the garrison
much as he esteemed him, Role SCENE
hardly the man to make conhdant {
now. Was ne not NiJ1s ayowcd thCug
rejected lover
OF course, no time had been lost
making investigation on The night {
tAc occurrence. even while the doct(
and others We're raising the unconscior
2, girl from. the floor, half "a dozen Office,
were securing the prepizcs Cor signs {
le intruders and had found &bsolgteI
Or nothing. The room Occrpied b. Mi
X Guthrie in the doctors house was imn
=