Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-11-30
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
THE FIRST STEP.
1--WE must think about clothes next,
Aura" said Taras when | had agreed to
accept the strange name he proposed.
You will want quite II lot of things-some
to wear indoors, some to 90 out in, Others
to change and so on"
why, amt got no money" said I, tax
en- aback by the very first condition Of liv-
ing in a new and civilized world.
Luckily I have-somewhere," said he
feeling in his pockets. "Ah, here it is"
"a lot o. things'll cost a lot o. money!
remarked, as he looked at his purse.
That's true. If there's not enough here
to pay for all you buy, give one of these
cards and have the things sent home, to be
paid for on delivery"
looked in the purse and saw gold, more
than had ever before seen at one time.
My utmost possession had never amounted
to more than a shilling, and no one had
thought fit to trust me with larger sum.
/ laid the purse down with a vague feeling
that I might be taking undo advantage of
Taras generosity. When he spoke, stop
ped him.
Hold on" said /, I'm tryin to think
this ont. l amt sure whether | oughter
take all this money or didn't oughter.'
Good. Puzzle it out and take it or re-
fuse it as it seems to you right or wrong
! stuck my knucllles in my hips, drew
long breath and taxed my sluggish power
of reasoning to its utmost, while Taras
smoked on in grave silence too considerate
to suffer any sign to appear in his face of
the amusement my perplcXity must have
given him.
"Taras," said at length. "Im a-goin to
take that money, cause if you was in want
| and l had money should like you to take
it off me-"
Bravo, little friend" said he ioyfully.
You have grasped the meaning of the
golden rule already. Now you had better
20 out and buy what you want. Do you
know the neighborhood2"
40, but if you tell me where the shops
| is I'll find em. ain't afraid Of asting my
ways"
Either of the streets that pass the church
will lead you into the Westminster Bridge
road, where there are plenty of shops"
! nodded, but made no movement, for the
| question what sort of things would he suit
able to my new state threw me into another
| spell of cogitation.
Would you like Mere Lucas to 90 with
YOU" Taras asked.
"If you think she knows better IAN me
what oughter wear"
II would rather you exercised your own
| judgment. | want you to walk alone as
| soon as possible
/ understood what he meant by that
phrase. 1t was really rs if / were born
again ard learning to walk.
You amt got any fancy, like? 1t don t
matter 20 you what | wear do it,
10 ;oJ ,.,;,l !,
laugh. II should he sorry 20 see you in
rags or Ugly clothes"
well, look here, y said |, after scrat ching
my head in troubled meditation for "A min
ute or two, IN do the best ken"
With that left him, but before reached
the Westminster Bridge road had 10 stop
| two or three times to do think over the
problem before me, and the question was not
satisfactorily solved when | found myself
in the street of shops. \ milliner's gay dis
play attracted me first, and bearing in mind
that Taras objected to anything ugly fixed
my attention on hat with "a high crown
and turned up rim of crushed strawberry
plush, with two ostrich feathers one emcr
aid and the other magenta, dropping grace
fully down the back.
This seemed to my eyes the most lovely
thing imaginable, and think | should hav,
gone in and bought it had it not suddenly
occurred to me that | had seen sometime
in this style on high days and holidays il
Shadwcll, and thai was to sunder myself
entirely from all modes of the past. Thel
II little farther on show of silk handker
chiefs for the neck, spotted and lowered il
bright yellow and other vivid hucs, an
paaled once more to my sense Of the bcaU,i
full. But here again was confronted by