Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-28

since ceased to interest him. 1t was con-
cealed after his fovorite fasbon-tackcd
under the bottom of his desk. 1t wns
written forty years ago, by Maria Woods
two years before my fathers marriage
and it was refusal of an offer of his
hand 1t was written in the stiltcd fash
ion of that day; it might have been copied
from complete letter writer"
My fnther must have loved Maria
Woods as dearly as love Henry to keep
that letter 80 carefully oil these years.
[ thought he cared for my mother Ilc
seemed as fond of her ns other men Of
.heir wives. although l did use TO Won
der If Henry and | would ever get to be
quite so much accustomed to each other.
Maria Woods must have been as beauti-
full as an angel when she was u girl
Mother was not pretty-she was stout,
too, and awkward, and suppose people
would have called her rather slow and
dull. But she was good woman and
'ried to do her duty.
Tuesday evening.-Thfs evening was my
FIRST opportunity to obey the second of
Mr.. Dix's orders. 1t seemed to me the
best way to compare the average length
Of arms wns to 20 to the prayer meeting.
[ could not go about the town with my
mpe measure and demand of people that
they should hold out their arms. Nobody
knows how l dreaded to go to that meet
ing. but | went, and looked not at my
neighbors cold, altered faces, but at their
irms.
l discovered what Mr.. Dix wished me
TO. but the discovery can avail nothing.
and il is one he could have made him.
self. Phoebe Dole's nrm is fully seven
IN ,hes longer than mine. l never noticed
i before, but she has an almost abnormal
ly long arm. But why should Phoebe
Dole have unlocked that door?
She made prayer-a beautiful prayer
It comforted even me a little-she spoke
Of the tenderness of God in all the trou
bles of life, and how it never failed us.
When we were all going out l heard
,evernl persons speak Of Mr.. Dix and his
:. biblical Cycopaedia. They decided that
he was theological student, book can
vassing to dcfray the expenses of his
education.
Maria Woods was not at the meeting
Several asked Phoebe how she was, ant
she replied. Not very we'll"
1t was very late. thought Mr.. Di,
might be over tonight, but he has no
been here.
Wednesday.-I can scarcely believ,
what l am about to write. Our investi
cations seem all TO point to one person
and that person-it Is incredible! l vii
not believe it. Mr.. Dix came as before
Mt dawn. He reported, and / reported
/ showed Marin Woods letter. He sal,
he had driven to Acton and found tina
the teweler there had engraved the las
date in the ring about six weeks ago.
II don't want to seem rough but you
father was going to get married again,
said Mr.. Dix.
II never knew him to 60 near an,
woman since mother died." protested
Nevertheless he had made arrange
ments to be married" persisted Mr.. Dix
"Who was the womanr
He pointed at the letter in my hand.
"Maria Woodsf
He nodded.
stood looking Mt him-dased. Such
possibility had never entered my head.
He produced an envetope from his pock
et and took out a little card with blu
and brown threads neatly wound upon l,
"IIet me see those threads you found,
he said.
got the box, and we compared them
he had number of pieces of blue sew
ing silk and brown wooden ravelings, an
they matched mine exactly. "Where u.'
you find them?' l asked.
"In my boarding mistress piece-bng."
l stared at him. What does it mean 2
gasped out.
"Whnt do you think"
at is impossible!