Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-11-02


and supernatural warnings thrilled the
good spinster into Il state of goosefesh,
but she finally gasped, "What is that
and Wngomes voice replied; ut is l.
Cousin Penelope | am nervous. Let
me lie beside you for awhile. Hug me
up as you used to when | was a little or
phan and you took me in and were SO
good to me-"
"Why, my blessing, was good to my
SELF" Miss Penelope said. You're like
daughter TO me"
Cousin Pen, said Winsome, creeping
close to her and putting her head on her
shoulder, chow much could you forgive
me? If | had deceived you, lied to you,
could you forgive me them"
Il guess So" said Miss Penelope, with
a frightened gasp.
There was pause; then Winsome
went on:
Cousin Pen, do you remember how
curious you thought it that Cousin Susy
Hayland should say that hadn't been to
see her for year when you knew I'd
staid there the night of the accident to
the Butterfly? You thought she was los
ing her memory"
"Yes," whispered Penelope.
MY memory was all right" Winsome
went on. IL did not 90 there. was
with some one else all day. 1--we kept
it from you, but | must tell now; oh,
Cousin Pen, must"
In the silence, in the darkness, the
pure, proud, virgin spirit that inhabited
the plain little person of Miss Penelope
Douglass endured an experience for
which there are no words Suspicious
that she had driven from her as though
suggested by the evil one returned. She
no longer caressed Winsome, though she
did not Withdraw from her.
$50 on, she said in faint voice, and
in silence she listened until the girl had
told her truthfully the story Of that day
which had altered her whole life.
when | left you, really and truly
only meant to go about with him lit
tie. He begged me 50 hard, ana did
mean to go to Cousin Susan's to tea" she
said. 1T all happened, and then miss
ing the boat, and Cousin Susan being
away, and he was my husband had
to do as he said, and losing my certii-
cate and my wedding ring--oh, it WIS
like fate, Cousin Pen"
"Winsome Douglass, said Miss Pencil
ope, remember God is listening TO you.
Swear to me as if you We're before him
that you are telling the truth.
II swear it in the sight of heaven, by
my dear mothers memory said Win
some, why, Cousin Pen, you couldn't
think -
Il believe you, child" said Penelope
its hard very hard, but so that you
are married it might be worse. We can
go to that old minister anyway. He'll
tell us what to 60 He'll give you copy
of the certificate. There's record of
your marriage, according to law, and
,lacl; Archer can be made to do what he
ought by his wife as TO providing"
If he wanted to leave me, would
not call him back if | could Cousin Pc
nelope," said Winsomo, sobbing "But
Jack must be dead. Oh, he must be,
Penelope"
That can be found out, too, and your
rights can be maintained" said Pencil
ope. a wish you'd told me long ago"
But though the two women went to
New York next day they found no rec
ord Of the marriage, None had been
made ana When inc ola pastor dled ms
servants TOOK what he had lelt them ana
Went 10 I'VE III lNclr hatlNe place l lie
congregation called fashionable preach
er ana bult liner churcn up town and
sold their down town lots, upon which
bank had since been built.
lhere was no possibility that " lnsome
should discover the parsonage since 1t
no longer existed. JACK Archer seemed
to have disappeared as we'll Inc tact
was that Nlnsome rad really known
nothing OF mm' save that he was at col
lege' that he graduated and that he ex-
pected to inherit fortune from an I'M
Gle whom he spoke Of us Uncle Tom.
At the college where she went to IN
qure they knew nothing save that he
was to mako the European tour He
had paid his own bills promptly and