Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-14


is rare, the combination of No. 4 and No.
4's men is hard to beat.
But there is good deal more to No.
than that. 1t has risen to n point
where it wiclds great social and political
importance. Candidates for office like
to call No. As men their friends 1t is
far from being "A Sunday school, and the
common run N the clergy would probably
not feel much at ease in the society of
its members.
But this story does not deal with No.
As affairs so much as with one of its
members.
Ills companions noticed that Tim was
unusually silent this evening.
Billy Ncwcomb, who had happened to
be rabbit shooting upon Coatue when
Tim had taken on his cargo, had been
kcenly interested in the adventure.
While others were seeking soicitously
for the cause of Tins silence he was
biding his time. All they had got out of
Tim had expressed about as much as
crows croak, but Billy got a rise.
IN tel you what's the matter with
Tim. It's in love"
"Never! one declared. "Tim's the last
one"
"Wcll, I'll bet you it is so, for seen
him with that Hayward girl. scallopin.
today. SO now"
"Now, jest want to know" said an
other. well, well, if it's so, I'm glad o.
it. It's high time, Tim, an | wish you
well'
Others wished Tim well, too, so thor
oughly and increasingly that he had no
time to explain, if he had had words to
explain himself, which may we'll be
doubted.
lie returned home to his mother early
that night, and the next thing he went
to see pcrsis instead of going to No. H.
lie was received with n warmth that
brought the blood to his face and kept it
there for the rest of the evening.
The conversation was mainly devoted
to the past season and the prospects of
the next and the probable market quo
taions on scallops when Lent came.
1t was only when Tim started to go
that he approached the subject of his Wis
it with trcpdation that was plainly Wis
iblc to Pcrss, as it might have been to
any one.
Il wonder he began-that is, was
thinkin sorter-that is. whether you'd
ever danced. Don't want to seem inquis-
tive, you know, only kinder thought I'd
like to know"
"Why. yes, Tim, can dance, an like
to, what's more
"Wcll, I'm gad-that is, | might be if
only Tins arms, in series of gcs-
lures not modelled after the Delsarte sys-
TEN. were vainly trying to help him OK
press himself. "You see" he continued.
1--WE No. 4 boys have series o. dances
every wnter-that is. assemblies, we call
'em-an | kinder thought you might sort
er like to goI"
When he had Mt last sailed through his
difficulties of speech, Tim was standing
on one leg, and there was perspiration on
his brow.
why, yes; certainly I'd like to go.
You're real kind"
Tim quickly turned, opened the kitchen
door and departed without even saying
good night
Tim was himself again when he went
to No. 1 the next evening. He showed no
resentment at the gibes which were aimed
at him, and they finally ceased He only
said, you jest wait till the dances be-
GIN"
This they did. and there was not sou
emn face in the hall when he entered it
the following week with Persis by the
hand
the happiest he had ever known, and it
was not until summer came that he found
n fly in his ointment. There had been no
expressed understanding between the
pair, but then understandings are not al
ways put in words. 1t was only when
Tim and Persis misunderstood each other
that they approached the subject Of their
relations with each other.
1t happened when the summer season
had begun. Tim had appeared in a new.
trim surrey, and business was good, and
the world looked sweet and lovely to him.
But, however the extremely virtuous
may feel about it, jealousy is no respectcr
of persons. When Tim passed the Sea
view House. he always stretched his
neck and looked for Persis. Persis gen
orally saw him and waved and smiled.
The city people smiled, too, and thought
1t was so pleasant to see a happy pair of
lovers, even in humble life"
But there were times when Perss did
not see Tim. They were not many. to
be sure, but enough to crush the life out
of him. That Persis could ever be seen
laughing and joking with stranger and
not see him when he passed killed his
heart, summoned all the baseness in his
soul to the surface and at last made
him the sepulcher Of once happy ma.
turc.
1t was all done in n minute. He did
not often see Persis, but once in the mid
die of the summer he met her when his
resentment was hot within him.
See here, Persis," he began-and
speech came easy and without hesitation
-'seems to me you're sometimes pretty
close to them city fellers. An what do
they care for you anyway"
He couldn't have done worse. She had
stopped suddenly.
Tim Henderson, what do you mean?
What have you to say about what | do?
Say, do you think you're captain O. this
craftT"
why. | dunno. but kinder s'posed
you an Ine was goin together
WELL YOU needn't s'pose you're under
any obligations. | see you re Jest like all
the rest o the men. | want a man that
is man. ! want n fellow that has some
thin o the hero in him. | don't want any
o the trash that has only suspicious
when they see man an woman talkn
together kinder friendly like" She turn
ed on her heel and walked away.
That was the last time Tim spoke to
her for over II year. That period Of his
life was an intcrludc of blank agony. As
for being hero, he felt instead the
meanest of men.
If he had loved Persis Henderson, he
worshipcd her now, and it may seem
strange 10 Some that tho fny hut ipc;o;.,a