Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14


brought in something and then asked
her to go ont She was angry. and her
anger was formidable, although checked
in some measure by the presence of
Rachel.
81 am older by several years than
you, young ladies' she said and her
traditional type of bearing seemed to
Rachel to rise up like "A great frozen
wall between her and every conception
of Jetus MS sacrifice "What you have
promised in spirit of false emotion,
presume, is impossible of performance.
''Do you mean, grandmother, that
we cannot possibly act as Jesus would,
or do you mean that if we try to we
shall offend the customs and prejudices
of society,"" asked Virginia.
ut is not required. 1t is not neces-
sary. Besides, how can you act with
any
Nine. Page paused broke off her SEN
tcnce and then turned to Rachel.
"What will your mother say to your
dccisiony My dear, is it not foolish?
What do you expect to do with your
voice anyway
81 don't know what mother will say
yet, Rachel answered. with q great
shrinking from trying to give her moth
er's probable answer. If there was
woman in all Raymond with great am
billions for her daughters success as a
singer, Mrs. Winslow was that woman.
och, you will zoe it in a different
light after wise thought of it My
dear" continued Nine Page, rising
from the table, "you will live to regret
it if you do not accept the concert com
pany's offer or something like it. -
Rachel said something that contained
q hint of the struggle she was still hav
ing, and after little she went away,
feeling that her departure was to be
followed by painful conversation be-
tween Virginia and her grandmother.
AS she afterward learned, Virginia
passed through a crisis of feeling during
that scene with her grandmother that
FASTENED her final decision as to the use
of her money and her social position
Rachel was glad to escape and be by
herself A plan was slowly forming in
her mind and she wanted to be alone
. 10 IlllUk III Ollu CuItIullN Dul DtlOlt
! she had walked two blocks she was an
noyed to find Rollin Page walking be-
side her.
Sorry to disturb Your thought. Miss
Winslow. but / happened to be going
your way and had an idea You might
not object In fact, I've been walking
here for whole block, and You haven t
objected.
Il did not see you, replied Rachel.
Il wouldn't mind that if You only
thought of me once in awhile, said
Rollin suddenly. He took one last nerv-
Gus puff of his cigar, tossed it into the
street and walked along with pale
face.
Rachel was surprised, but not star
tied She Ind known Rollin as boy,
and there had been a time when they
had used each others first name famil-
iarly Lately, however, something in
Rachel's manner had put an end to
that She was used to his direct at
tempts at compliment and was some
times amused by them. Today she hon
estly wished him anywhere else.
do You ever think of me, Miss
Winslowy" asked Rolln after pause
"Oh, yes, quite oftenp" said Rachel,
with smile.
"Are you thinking of me now9"
eyes, that is-yes, l am.
"What?'
"Do you want me to be absolutely
TRUTHFUL
"Of course"
"Then l was thinking that I wished
you We're not here -"
Rollin bit his lip and looked gloomy
Rachel had not spoken anything as ht
wished
"Now, look here, Rachel-oh, know
that Forbidden but I've got to speal
some time--you know how feel Whar
makes You treat me so hard? You uset
to like me little, you know
Did ]? OF course we used to get OF
very well as boy and girl. but we ar,
older now"
Rachel still spoke in the light, cas-,
way she had used since her first annoy
ance at seeing him. She was still some
what prooccupied with her plan, which
mad been disturbed by Rollins appear
ance.
They walked along in silence littl
way. The avenue was full of people
Among the persons passing was Jasl
} Chase. He saw Rachel and Rollin ant
} bowed as he went by. Rollin Wa
watching Rachel closely.
II wish were Jasper Chase. Mayb
I'd stand some show then" he SAT-
modify.
, Rachel colored in spite of herself
She did not say anything and quickene
her pace little, Rollin seemed deter
mined to say something, and Rache
seemed helpless to prevent him. Afte
all, she thought, he might as well knoy
the truth one time as another.
"You know well enough, Rachel
how feel toward you. Ism t there an
= hope? l could make you happy. Nv
3 loved you good many years -
"Why, how old do you think I am 2
broke in Rachel, with nervous laugh
/ She was shaken out of her usual pois
l of manner.
"You know what l mean" went o
5 Rollin doggedly. land you have n
right to laugh at me just because
S want you to marry me.
5 I'm not. but 1t is useless for you I
speak-Rollin, said Rachel after a lii
= tie hesitation and then using his nam
/ L -.