Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-11

Mary, will you try aud forgive me,
II l treat you better?" asked her hus-
band, in n shy voice.
She left off sobbing, and turned an
nstonished, still fearful face toward
| him.
Treat nc" whispered she, "as we'll
as the pigs?"
Just as WE'LL" he whispered, with a.
smile which had something new in It.
She sat up. She looked at him in
quisitivelN
| II wonder" said she, at last, "whethcr
this is only ruse TO get me away quiet
lyP For you must have been shocked.
surprised. angryl" >
$50 angry" answered Sir Alexander,
that 1 can't trust myself to scod YOU.
/ might say words you would never for
get"
Lady Auchlean looked long and stead
lily in his face. Then n deep blush came
suddenly into her cheeks, and she slid
down to her knees beside him on the
! floor.
"Oh, IL you only mean tiff you will
only sometimes look at me like that.
speak to me like that-if you will only
remember that I'm q woman, and NOT
n doll, to be dressed up TO look pretty.
and to be kept under n glass case AMI
nover-t-touchcd! Oh if you'll only
/ do that you never need be afraid Of
my behaving badly; indeed, you need
not. I'm not wicked, reully I'm really,
really not. I've never done any wrong
to you, and If / had thought YOU
would care. never should have thought
of-of-oh. oh, 1 am ashamed of nv
self! 1 don't know what you must
think ~ mo w your hearth"
well, I'll tel YOU" ana Sir Alexan-
der raised her from the floor and seated
her on the sofa and sat down beside
her. 81 think you sillier than / had
thought; but don't know that l like
you the less on that account. see that
you can't be treated SO well as 1 be-
lieved."
"Oh, don't say that"
And so / shall have to look after
you more. l shall have to dance az
tendance upon you, l suppose, instead
of passing so much time at the farm.
! shall have, in short, to be more at
tcntive husband if | want to keep my
wife"
"Oh, don't say that! dor t, dontl Jf
you know how wicked you make me
feel! And II Ont understand il.
You've always seemed so coldl Are
you sure you won't be Just the Same
again when you get me homer"
well, you must take your chance OF
.hat!"
In spite of his words, Lady Auchlean
did feel comforted, She did not vet
love her husband, but she was contrite.
humble, grateful for his forgiveness,
his forbearance, and thoroughly
ashamed of the escapade, which had
so nearly had fatally serious conse.
quences.
Sir Alexander went to the hut ~
send Jock for carriage, as the weather
had changed for the worse, and the
Scotch mist had given place to heavy
rain. There was shrewd look in the
old mans eyes, and even Mrs. Jock
glanced at him with furtivc interest.
He felt sure that the pair had seen and
heard something Of the recent occur
rences.
Jock, you rascal" said Sir Alexan-
der, as lie followed the old man out of
the hut, you've been in somebody's
confidence lately, 1 suppose; not in
mine"
mae, SIR said Jock, stolidly, "I've
been in naebody's confidence but my
old woman's."
But you knew that there was to be
meeting at the cottage? It's of no
use 10 deny it, mani"
II thocht there would be when saw
my lady come. 1t didna seem prob
able that she'd come to meet her hus-
band, since he's maistly ava"
"She had been here before, then ?"
said Sir Alexander, trying to hide the
fact that he was suspicious.
"Nae, sir, never before. My lady's
been always by herself when I've met
her, seeming lanesome, thocht. But
it's not in the nature of letldies us hand
some us she 10 be lanesome long, sir
/ could ha' tellt ye that, if ye'd
speered."
Sir Alexander turned away and went
into the cottage, too angry to speak
without betraying himself. He found
however, in his wifc's newly-disco, cred
charm, in her half childlike penitencc
and pretty humility, matter to divert
his thought.
When the carriage arrived and Lady
huchlcan and her husband began the
descent Of the hillside to meet it, she
leaning on lis arm, old Jock watched
them stolid!y from the window of the
lut and then turned to bis wife with
dry chuclile.
II thought thercd be a fnre-up
so:nc DAY" Sid he, land so there has
been, or my names no Jock. But if Sir
/ Alexander learnt that there's sort o.
cattle ABBOTT that is better worth look
ing after than his hort-horns. maybs
he'll get hame prige-wilner after a"
TIE END.
MIR. Doolans Economy.
"Oi tell ycz phwat it is, Biddy," said
Mr.. Doolnp to his wife, I've must practice