Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-06-15

CHAPTER X.
The curtain had fallen upon the last
oct. The applause had been riotous and
unstinted--not OF the claque species;
genuine. Stornmouth conducted Doxie
hphlnd the scenes and presented him to
Constance. who, radiantly happy,
banning with girlish relief, her eyes
moist with grateful tears, was sur
rounded by crowd of stockholders
men with waxed muStaches and eyes
like the cOrgested orbs of vultures. As
her gaze fell upon Stornmouth she step
ped forward with both hands outstretch
ed. lie grasped them warmly. Il have
seen tonight, he began, trifle awk
wardy, after he had offered his warm
est congratulations, ian old friend Of
yours, who begs a reintroduction.
Cuntance smiled. Il cannot imagine
whom you mean, " she said carelessly.
She stopped short as her glance fell
upon DoXio
There was a sweet volatile flush
which dyed her checks an instant; then
both little hands outstretched again.
"You-in Paris" she calculated.
GlOlLlllOuth tOul't IiNbI iltI 4lculN DNul
through the words, but Doxie took her
ease OF manner as sign of Indifference.
Loycrike, he attached the wrong value
to outward appearances.
81 came, " he answered quietly,
with Mr.. Stornmouth. He brought me
here tonight" He stopped. His hands
We're grasping those other dear, longed
for ones so fast. He had wholly forgot
ten that they TWO were not alone.
But She womanlike mindful of curl
Gus gazers, withdrew hers with slight
frown which was essentially bewitch-
ing, since it beliod the act rcgretfully,
and said TO Stornmouth, "When shall
See yuu again
Stornmouth' eyes twinklcd.
"Wc are all going around to supper
now, - he remarked, looking everywhere
except at the two somewhat agitated
faces before him, which, quite futilely
were so hravely endeavoring to conceal
any evidence Of emotion. lat Miss Del
nos; You, to meet those arrows Of out
raceous fortune, the critics-according
t. Miss Pliscilla's idea they must be fed
and Wincd il order to award you your
just merits-ourselves, to look on at
your triumph and applaud grit and
pluck after the Same honest fashion in
which we have been applauding them
all the evening. Doxie, will you escort
Miss Brandford? I must return and
fetch the ladies. "
Before Doxie could answer, Storm
mouth had vanished.
Come, said DoXie, in a strange,
smothered sort of voice. The light and
the heat dazzled him. The figures OF
the corypsees hurrying to and fro past
and behind them, i'll and out of the
wings, seemed like so many noisomC
insects let loose to upset his newly
found peace. Was it peace, this ham
mering, thudding anguish of impatienct
in his veins!
II must fetch my wraps and change
my dress" said Constance family
swat for me, will you"'
81 have waited, returned Doxie per
tinently. Then, considering that he haC
made an impression which could not b.
misunderstood he seated himself quiet
L., while Constance went off to chang
her splendid bridal attire for "a littl
brown homespun which looked to Doxi
like something his mother used to wea
when he, lad, ran to her weeping 70
comfort In reality the frock in ques
ton was the girls best, marvelou
creation by little Partisan dressmake
who had worked on it reverently
dreaming of its being worn by grea
prima donna of the Opera. But Doxi
was a man and lover.
When they arrived at the Avenu
Montaigne, Constance was seized
Aunt Mildred, rapturously embrace
and placed in the seat of honor at tho Il
BILE, surrounded by all the best know
newspaper men of Paris, eager TO es
change q word with the coming spoile
ChilC Of the public, Constance VIZ
STRANGELY, drcamily content. Her nerve
We're stoadied by that hand clasp of Do
les. Quite simply, he had held h'
hand III his while they had driven frol
the Opera to Miss Delno's, and she ha
poured out to him a running river
her relief her past struggles, her life
She had not yet had time to think OF
the sweet promise of his coming, Il
sternly controlled look in his glad fac
the sense of help and protection ii
mere fact Of his presence brought he
She put it all on one side with an G
fort, as something delightful to
dreamed about with the rest of her Il
umph of that evening
Stornmouth, one of tho most soug
for of after dinner speakers, man
the world in the best sense diplom
of no mean merit, astonished Priscil
with his French, which all at once
her surprise he turned on, with M
chievous look in his eyes, for her ST
cial benefit. Up to now she had not /
tributed to him any linguistic abili
whatsoever. He was the main prop
i.,....i IL of I