Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-22

l (CL@'$~x>7
, Thcy footed at Cuch other for one Tong
moment
back Tho door, which evidently led
from another room had opened, and a
figure stood there, in II long loose robe,
framed startingly against the darkness
bchind-thc figure Of Il young girl.
In all his after life it is probable that
Richard Felgatc never quite cffaced tho
recollection of that moment, never quite
lost tho impression of the girl as be
saw her then. She had stopped, with
ono hand ON the docrlnob and tho
other holding her gown at the throat.
They looked at each other for one long
moment across the drunken boy.
Swiftly, still looking at him, she
crossed the room and bent over the boy
He reused himself Little sullcnly
laughed slccpily and laid down his head
again. She looked at Richard FclSato
with such sccrn in her young face
/ that his reckless eyes icll little, and
he fumblod uncasily With his chair
back.
"What is the matter with my broth
err, sir:'
"You see " he replied in low voice,
without looking at her.
Yes l see, she said slowly. "And
you-you are, l suppose II fricnd-a =
"a mere chance acquaintance. IL
did not know. Will you-will you let
me go:' His tonos were hurried; he
tried savagely to get hold Of his easy
self possession, TO face this mere girl
with jest and treat the foolish matter
lightly, but her glance was disquicting.
Eyes, 60 by all means - she said, turn
ing away from him and tapping her slim
fingers impatiently on the table.
Near the door he hcsitnted for n mo-
ment and glanced toward her, noting
i'll Il dull way how pure and white and
still was her profile, how soft We're the
strands of brown hair which curled close
against her neck.
"Won't you let me say he began,
but she checked him quickly.
"Say nothing, / beg, sir. ~
He opened the door softly and passed
out and got down into tho street, feel
ing beaten and solercd and humblcd.
He was in a mood to curse the fate
which had taken him to the place, to
curse his weakness in being 50 easily
pat to stammcring flight by girl. But
after much tramping Of the streets, and
many vain endravors TO dismiss the
whole stupid business from his mind
he found that his chief feeling in the
matter remained that of humiliation.
Mr.. Bailey Roughton was Sullcnlv
recovering the next morning when he
received a call from his friend of the
previous night His remembrance of
events was so ha2y that he failed to rec.
ogniZe the name Of Richard Fclgate
whom it was presented to him by tho
servant or the person Of the visitor
when he entered the room. Fclgatc had
quito recovered his usual dcmennor,
only in daylight the lines on his face
and the horrible WEAKNESS Of his eyes
were more marked than in the light by
which men generally saw him.
81 sec you don't remember me, " he
said, with smile, as he pulled off his
. gloves, land yet was your guest here
{ last night, Mr.. Bailey koughton.
by JOvc, exclaimed the young
| gentleman ncrvously, II have aim
, recollection that | brought some fellow
, home with me! Yes, of course You got
/ me ont OF ii scrapo at that bcaatly club,
, aud thcn''-
"And then you insisted on Bringing
3 me here, y supplemented Richard Eel.
gate, frowning. To-day have called
, TO apologize for my conduct"
, "ApologizoW exclaimed Bailey
, Roughton. "Oh, I'm sure there's moth.
ing TO apologize for, Mr.. MIR. Fclpate"
he glanced ut the nothing al
all. dare say we kicked up bit Of d
, row, butt.
| lyon mistake my meaning" replied
, Felgate coolly, Il do not suggest that
S an apology is due to you, but to your
a sister. "
Here, what are you driving ati'
6 cried the other roughly. 81 suppose
| can manage my own affairs. WHAT'S ny
y sister got to do with the natter"
q IN speak plainly, my young friend
Yan brought me-an utter stranger
picked up in one Of the worst haunts il
. London-homo with you last night. w
, We're both, | suppose, intoxicated; yol
n certainly We're. Suffice it that we dis
turbed lady, whom / accidentally dis
covered to he your sister, and who cam
out here after you had fallen asleep"
p Game opt hcre!" gasped Bailey,
4 Certainly, responded Richard Eel
gate. "Now, my dear Mr., Bale,
), Roughton, you are very young Life
:, as | know it's sealed book to you
. Pray the gods you may never open it
o boy. Nlotiyes are usually inoyplicablo
g save to those in whose breasts the
- sprang. | shall not attempt to explain
!, mine to you. Suffice it that you place,
: me in false position last night; toda.
: l come to set myself right "
= "Oh, you can't do that, you know,
. broke in Bailey R.slghton. LAS
:, nights affair is done 18th; we all hay
', q spree sometimes, But last night ism
this morning. You can't expect to pus
= yourself in in this fashion, Mr,--MI
Felgato." He got up as he spoke an
spread his legs and shook his head az