Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-14

could live hero forever IL only
Major Brooke paused, Ethel had mean
while taken off her garden hat and was
swinging IL idly to and fro In her hand.
well II enly-what? l know of
counsel II only there wcro no such things
as orderly rooms or parades or general in
spections and unlimited botany instead.
But even then you would not be happy
You haven't the true scientific spirit"
She let her hat fall.
How do you make that out, Miss
Joycct'
why, I believe you've forgotten what
you came for this afternoon. You don't
seem in any hurry 60 find the bolladon-
na."
"Ah, Miss Joyce, I've found the bella
donnnp'
Anybody who knew Major Brooke we'll
would have been astounded to have heard
hbh say this. He was an old public school
boy; he had been to Sandhurst; he was o
good, sound, solid Enrlishman, brought
up to entertain profound respect for his
profession and for himself, and yet hero
In moment he had fallen from these
heights into the abyss of Incrc pucriity.
1t is impossible to say what might have
happened next had not n silly bee como
buzzing from the honeysuckle to hover
round tho majors nose
Come along, Major Brooke, the bella
donna you want to see Is in this corner
over here"
Tho graceful girl ran of to remote
corner among mass OF ruins, overgpwn
with shrubs and tangled crecpcrs.
All, there It is!' cried tho major, with
en;ba.iNm He bent over to pluck tho
Aowvr at the same moment as Ethel
It,ek H. -. IL
big hand went 70 do tho Same thing, with
tho result that his palm fell on the back
Of her hand and his fingers closed round
hcr hand completely. 1t was nm accident,
but ono Of those accidents, it must be con-
fessed, which belong to that largo class
that will happen" Major Brookcs at
titude was such that he was obliged to
continue to grasp Ethcls hand little
longer in order to recover bis equilibrium.
1t was oil over in q moment or two, but
when hand touches hand thus for tho first
time emotions arc not to be measured by
any such coarse mechanical standard as a
clock
Ethel was first ~ recover herself.
"Rrally, Major Brooke, how stupid of
mel" she laughed n little ncrvously II
was so anxious for you to-
"Awfully clumsy, I'm afraid I was,
Miss Joycer'
They stood locking at ono a1other-he
rather confused and shy, she with pretty
blush, the telltnle of her feelings. He
took her hand In his. 1t was no question
Of ON accident now.
AT that moment q sound was heard Of
approaching footsteps.
Walt moment Stay hero for me-"
cried Ethc', huricdly snntching her hand
away, while fetch my hat!"
No sooner had Ethel left him than he
saw the dean approaching. To thought
there was no point In attracting the at
tontion OF that august parsonage, and he
was glad to be half obscurod by the shad-
ow. But it would have been strange
thing for man nearly feet high to re-
main upobserved even in the place where
the major was standing. Tho dean saw
him, but failed to recognize him us a fell
low guest Of the previous evening.
II beg your pardon, sir, " said the dean
stifly. ~ don't know how you obtained
entrance to this pnrr of the Close, but this
ground Is strictly private.
II the major had said and done what he
ought, he would have greeted the dean at
once shaken hands with him, explained
who he was and how he camo to be there
and how he hoped to have tho pleasure Of
calling upon him at the deapcry before
long. Tho dean would probably have re.
piled that he was pleased to renew Major
BroolSc's acquaintance then and theK and
would be delighted to sec him nt the dean
cry whenever he should do him tho honor
to call. But tho major was not quite him.
self just then. and he was In a mood to be
easily ruficd. He resented tho deans
manner and answered with perfect as
sumption OF sang froid. "Privatc2 So I
understand, sir. was enjoying its charm.
ing beauty all tho moro on TINT account"
II am afraid you do not quite under
stand This is the dean S private ground.
You werc not alone, sir"
"Well, really cxpostulatcd the major.
81 do not know who your friend OF
companion wns" And nm not going to
tell you, thought the major. but who
ever he was he gave you entrance to this
ground improperly.
"Sirr' exclaimed the major. He began
to think things were going too far.
"Yc. This ground is always locked
and the key Is kept at the dcanery No
one can gain entrance except by means OF
that keS, and the person who introduced
you must be In possession Of a second key
In defiance Of my authority You will Ia
doing mo q favor, SIR" continued the
dean, unbcpding, for he perceived that his
zeal for his own authority had carried him
rather far, "if you will inform me which
of tho cathedral officials it was who let
you in here this afternoon,
Major Brooke was in position OF con-
siderable nWkwardncss, but happily Miss
Joyce's Timely arrival believed him Of HIS
embarrassment. Sho had heard the last
part Of tho conversation as she came once
moro upon the sceAe
"OA Mr. Dcan!'' she cried, with pretty
trcpidation, I'm the culprit!"
Miss Joyce - exclaimed the dean.
"Yes; l kept fathers key for day or
two longer that l might show Major
Brooke the Atropa belladonna which
grows here. l have shown 1t him this
afternoon, and as have no further u,e
for tho key now allow me to do what
ought to have been done before, give it up
to you.
The dean took the key from Ethel. He
and the major shook hands, with mutual
explanations and apologies.
Miss Joyce and Major Brooke soon found
| other places which gave equally favorable
opportunities for the study Of botany.
The Atropa bellsdonna, however, has
| Just lately yielded in interest to another
tlowcr-sho orange blossom, to wit
| Madame.
TAs English School System.
| The English "bonrd school" system.
which corresponds TO our public schools
iShs yet far inferior In most essentials
Tho board schools are not, TO begin
| with fres Tuition fees VARYING from 9