Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-10
HE DID HIS BEST.
''Hcllo. Charlcvl Wake INV

| a succession of convulsive sneczcs and
groans
cold in the head, eh? Never mind it,
up with youln
up indeed, with knifelke pains shoot.
ing up and down every joint in fellows
body and hts head feeling as if hundred.
weight Of lead were tied to every individ-
ual hairr'
Remember your engagements, Char.
ley. Remember that the girls expect every
young man to do his duty this splendid
day"
Mr.. Evans groancd
Ralph, your list Of visits is compare.
lively small. You must 40 and make my
apologies. You must go and sec Flora
Howard for me. I told her last night that
should have something very particular to
say to her today, and she'll think it pur-
posed affront if she hears nothing from
me"
'What shall tell hcr-that you have q
woeful cold in the hcad2'
Nonsense just explain matters to her
and say that--that-in short, convey tp
her the idea that ] love her and ask he.' L
| she will have me
Rather an awkward message for a
third person to carry. Hadn't You hc,tcr
wait until you can plead your own cause
in propria PERSONA
NO, nO-it's a question that admits of
no delay. There are a dozen bcaux Ai5iny
round her the whole time, and it won't 90
To lose my prize for lack Of decision. just
act as my proxy, Ralph. 7 know She will
say yes"
''On my soul, Charley, wish you
wouldn't send me on this particular cr-
rand Can't you find some other mcsson-
GER
"Oh, I understand what you mean"
said Evans, tossing rcstlcssly on his pill.
low. Il know You We're rather en admrcr
! of Floras at one time, but you must be
aware that you never had any chance in
that quarter. Don't be selfish, and. be-
sides, would rather send an honest, stu
pid sort of fellow like you than any ons
else. No otfensc, Ralph, I hope?"
"Oh, no; of course not" said Ralph
Brewster demurely, Struggling his shout
ders. well III do my best"
AS Ralph Brewster walked rapidly along
the ice glazed payemonts he could not help
mentally reverting to the gentleman he
had left behind him.
Pretty cool, l must say he remarked
to himself I've seen a good many j.
dcnces Of Charley Evans selflshness, ut
this is the most convincing Of all Does
he suppose that I have 10 fcelings9 And
then his calm way of taking it for granted
that Flora Howard is dying for him d
rather undergo the rack than to do CHI
lcy's counting for him, but I mustn't in
dulge these lachrymose sensations"
The slanting afternoon beams peoping
! into Charley Evans invalid chamber play
cd all sorts of mcrry pranks around his di-
sheveled hair and restless head, and finally
creeping up the wall vanished away into
the purple mysteries of twilight, and Ralph
/ HrpNysfpr did y N ri
Charley grew impatient. II ism t par
ticulary favorable to an angelic disposition
to have cold in your head, with aching
bones and quiyering nerves and cranium
thrCbbng as if somebody was trying to
split it apart with dull Ratchet
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock sounded on his
strained ear. and still RalphS familiar
footsteps had not fallen on the stairs. What
could have delayed him?
And while he was revolving probabilities
and possibilities in his weary brain Nor
phcus considerably camo 10 the rescue,
and he fell asleep to dream Of standing be-
fore the altar with Flora Howard
1t was on the evening of the third day
from this eventful first that Charles Evans
sat before his fire, very cross because tha
doctor had prohibited his going out for a
day or two.
Suddenly the door was flung open and
Ralph Brewster burst in.
Hello, old fellow. How are you? Sur
pri,ed at my nonappearancc ch, Well,
here am to make all the necessary apollo
GIGS and explanations. "
Charley held out his hand with a lazy
acquicscencc in whichever might bcfall that
was worthy of a nobler cause.
well Charley l went to see Flora, rs
you wished me to -
n; / - hui.
enng up. What did she say
"Why, commenced by making AL apollo.
ges for your absence, which, by the way,
didn't seem to affect her very powerfully,
and then l played ofhand into the lows
subject"
"WcU?" demanded Charley eagerly.
1.-The strangest part of the matter was
that she didn't understand me, but seemed
to imagine that was making love for my
self and before l could explain she had
hidden her pretty face on my shoulder and
confessed in the sweetest words woman
ever falterod forth that my sentiment was
not altogether unreturncd'
Charles Evans turned very red, spr9nK
up and then changed his mind ard sat
down again.
We'll, what next?'
Why. you can imagine the delighted
pcrplcxity of my position. OF course I
couldn't bawl out, You re mistaken in
the individual Miss Floral am only
counting in behalf of Charley Evans now,
could If'
Charley Evans stared fxedly at his
friend, but made no answer, Ralph Went
on;
so when l discovered that the bright
est dreams OF my life-hitherto deemed as
visionary and unapproachablc as she very