Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-04-07

But we found a common ground of sym
pathy in our revolt against the subservi
ency in modern life f romance to mat
ter Of fact considerations. He harped
upon this string, and awoke a correspond
ing chord in my breast. His ideas were
a correlation of the dreams of my girl
hood | felt that | was understood
There was such thing as the love | had
imagined; Mr.. Dale had pondered over
it, fathoined it, and could talk about it.
Not that considered myself in love
with him. or him with me, We simply
We're friends-that was all. But exist
ence seemed nobler when illunined by
his theories.
He declared that the Puritan fathers
and their descendants lacked the power
of expression. People were afraid to ac-
knowledge they loved. The ardor that
distinguished the passion of other races
and made it beautiful was nowhere to be
found. for if it ever dared to manifest it.
self the breath of ridicule wilted its
growth. The expensive "eoral Offering"
was more priced than the single dewy
bud of the true lover, and the zeal and
sentiment of chivalry had yielded to the
blighting prose of a commercial age
My Aunt Helen was the first of the
family to comment on my intimacy with
him
"What does your friend Mr.. Dale do?"
she asked one day,
"Do?"
Eyes. I mean what is his business
down town.
Il don't know, Aunt Helen" / an
swered and l spoke the truth. had
never thought to inquire.
"The Dale blood is not the very best
in the world" she continued presently,
with her head bent over her work almost
as though soliloQuizing. AS regards
position they are well enough, but two
Of this young mans uncles We're ex-
tremely dissipated, and | fancy that the
father was not much to boast of. He
died early, just after | was grown up.
remember him though, He was
handsome creature"
| listened with glowing cheeks, but
made no response.
They have very little to live on,
imagine" she observed nearly five min
utes later
"Of whom are you spealing?" in
quired with dignity.
The Dales. child, Of course. 1t was
generally supposed that Mrs. Dale was
left very poorly off. believe her hus-
bands life was insured for something,
aud they own their house. Pussy al
WAYS looks we'll dressed, but they must
have to scrimp in other ways"
Pussy Dale was Rogers eldest sister
a girl of just my age They were a
family of five, four of whom were
daughters.
Il don't see that their being poor is
anything against Them" | said, little
hotly,
moo" replied Aunt Helen reflective
/ ly, perhaps not. But | don't know
what your father would say to him as a
son-in-law."
| "A son-in-law? You have no right to
make such insinuations, Aunt Helen,
protested. Mr., Dale and | are friends,
and nothing more"
II am glad to hear it, dear, for though
| should try to reconcile myself to
4
girl is the best judge of what will con-
tribute to her own happiness, | own
frankly that should be better pleased
with some one whose antecedents were
! little more credit8blc."
grated my teeth and sewed indus
triously in silence for the rest of the
evening. felt injured without scarcely
knowing why Aunt Helens accusa-
tons were vague at best. 1t was inn
possible tor me to doubt Mr.. Dale But
on the other hand the idea of our mar
riage WAS not serious consideration.
Still felt annoyed and troubled, and
could not help thinking of what my
father and Aunt Agnes had said by way
of warning, But though | lay awake
long that night, fell asleep at last con
WINGED that Roger Dale WAS the noblcst
and sincerest soul alive, and that tC
doubt him would he TO wrong the sacred
name of friendship
This conversation took place in March
but in the next two months Mr.. Dale
was so much ut our house that wa,
not surprised when my father asked one
evening the same question put to me by
Aunt Helen. Our intimacy had con
tiuued without further developments
except constantly increasing devotion
on his part and corresponding pleasur,
in his society on my own. did moi
make my infatuatlon Conspicuous by
walking with him in the streets, but
otherwise did not attempt to disguise
the partlality | felt for him. Had
mixed more with other girls before en-
tering society | might have been les,
guilclcss. But rs it was, never thought
of tempering by coquetry the satistac
tion visible III my face whenever Mr.
Dale appeared
This time | was prepared with an an
swcr to the question concerning his DC
cupation down town:
lie is in the wool business, and doing
very WELL
"A wool broker"
Il think So"
"Humph!"
My father walked up and down the
room a few times II have already can