Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-07

in orders should not marry"
Now, there was no ono visible TO argue
the question, and yet there seemed to bo
argument in his own mind for the Roy.
Wctherby Smiles smotc his palm with his
clinchcd fist nnrrily and kicked the fat
crowned hat to tho other end of tho room.
For two days the rector Of It. James
rgidly stiiled his interest in crucuscs His
interest in croeds. however, was not en-.
tircly satisfying On SUNDAY after vcspcrs
he overlook on his way home little figure
in fawn coorcd gown.
"You must sec my crocuscs, Mr..
Smiles, she said "Thc buds will he open
before Sunday"
The rector glanced gloomily at the dark
ening Sky and thought that probably
thOrC would be u frost that night. But ht
could not long think Of frost and other I'M
pleasant possibilities under the skillfm
manipulation Of his charming little neigh.
Dor He hcsltated at her gate, and again
crOcuscs triumphed over creed. The Gro,
cuses were flourishing finely. The crccdi
took back scat-indcod very unobtru
sivc scat-in the roctors memory.
His interest in the croCus continued that
evening to so late an hour that his old
scryitor really thought he was not coming
to supper and cleared away tho rcpast
Mover mind, said the rector kindly,
~ am not hungry" And when the old
man had doddcrcd off to bed he sat down
before the open window Of his chamboI
and stared out into the still night.
lie sat there for an hour. \ light burncd
behind the c,Etain of one Of his neighbur'(
windows. That was her light, he knew.
Finally it disappeared, but he sat on, his
arms folded upon the sill, his eyes glaring
fScctly into the darkness. Creed was maxi
ing strong fight for life.
1t grew colder, and suddenly tho Rev.
Ncthcrby Smiles awolie to the discomforts
of tho outer man IIo shvercd and drew
away from the window There was M
breeze and no clouds, but an increasing
chill made him close the caspmcnt.
THEN he slipped on smoking Jacket and
went to the door There was a light haze
upon the river, and simmer of frost was
in the air.
"a bad night for tho farmers and frui,
growers, - he thought. Then his mind re-
Vcrtcd to those crocuses. They will 10
black by morning, no said. TOO bad.
and the little woman thinks so much Of
them
llo hcstatcd moment and then went
in again, reappcaring shortly with an old
mackintCsh.
! Just the thing to spread over tho bed
to defend them from the frost, he NUT
! tered and with long strides ne crossed tho
rcctory garden and lcnped the hedge
Feeling good deal like night prowler
/ who had no business in the place, he crcpt
/ through his little ne!ghbor's garden and
/ approached the crncus bed near tho porch.
| llo started at the slightest sound and
! glanced about fcarfuly. suppose anybody
should SEQ him-onc OF his rarishioners--
q, L.. ., ~
was dark. 1t seemed to his excited imagi-
nation that anybody passing along tho
road could see him-thc rector of It.
James proving about beneath lady's
window
suddenly Just as he spread the cover
| ing over the crCcus bed and was turning
hastily To Ace he heard sound on the
| porch. He started and his eyes became
liked upon the vision before him. y he.
urc, all in white and motionless, stood
upon the lower step.
| Tho Rev. Nethcrby Smiles was startled,
but he was not superstitious. For soma
seconds, however, h. stared at the appari-
tion before he recognized it, Then ho
stepped quickly forward and began to
mako excuses In low voice.
Mrs. Scorritch-Lydia-I beg your
pardon, but l thought
llN SDu NV lhIli'I III MS lulltIIllH lt'
marks With shuddcring little cry tho
figure tottcrcd and would have fallen to
the ground had he no; sprung forward
and caught her in his arms.
Good Lord muttcrcd the Row. Mr.
Smiles, the Precipitation starting on his
brow. "What situation, Suppose ANY,
body should see me now. 10 thin; AZ mo
ii Clcrgyman-in wumau's garden at
night, holding that woman in my arms!'
He was tempted to lay her down upon
the porch and run. But he looked dowG
into tie littlc white face revealed by tLs
faint starlight The pale lids were drawn
over the great eyes, which ne thought 20
glorious The pouting lips had not entirc-
ly lost their rcdnoss, but the checks wcrd
without color. The loose fitting wrapreI
which she had Slipped on over her night
robe before coming down evidently, Ike
himself, with the CrOcus in mind for d
sheet had slipped from her hand rs sha
fclD had fallen away ut the neck, revealing
the marblclikc beauty OF her throat.
He looked upon her, and then did not
lay her down and flee. Instead he STORED
lower and--lifted her moro closely against
his breast and carried his burden into tho
house. There was a couch in the reception
room. He laid her down ana lighted tho
gas. She opened her eyes lauguidly and
saw him.
II have frightened you, Lydia" he
said, STOPPING above her. Really, l had
no intention, you know. l only rcmcm-
bcrcd the CrOcusrS -
IL thought you were q burglar" sho
admitted. And when heard your
voice
"Didn't you recognize it, he asked.
"Nou-yuu had never spoken to me in
just that way before, and
He bent lower and took her hand. 81
was only thinking Of the crocuscs, lydia"
he said, which WAS very true. He had
quite forgotten the creed. w. Bert
Foster in Chicago Record
a Little Joke Between Two Big Men.
Sccnc-A car On the elevated road, tho
train being halted between two stations
owing to a block somewhere on the road
above; big, fine looking man, standing
up, turning to equally big and fine look
ing policeman in uniform standing next
to him,
Cant you make us move on?"
The big policeman smiled his arprecia-
ton Of the big citizens little joke, hut 10
couldn't start the train. This was case
in which tho traditional power of the po-
liccman was of no avail. New York sun.
SO thoughtful.
"Icnnie Bronson is n clever girl"
"What has she done nowy'
"Huntcd out II different ways of frying
army pork and sent the recipes &c Captain
| Johnson Cleveland Plain Dealer