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

friends, no longer buffeted by the storm
tossing in the past, which she now con-
templated with shudder and wondered
fearfully at having passed through un-
scathed. The sympathy in Doxie's face
had been the first evidence she received
Of how great and brave had been her
fight in the face of circumstances UNI
suspected in the realm of home, girl.
hood and loving care.
Doxie called early and left q message
that he would take her for walk that
afternoon. Priscilla would not hear of
Constance returning to the pension, for
the present at least. She petted and cos
seted her Unfortunately. She astonished
Constance by informing her suooinotly
during the course of that long happy
morning that she had given up the
stage.
"What changed you in your pur-
pose?"
Things" returned Priscilla airily.
She began a conversation on totally
different subject. Constance had signed
q three years contract with Geoffroy to
sing when called upon, to learn new
opera in 10 days if required, to remain
in the city all summer, through all the
opera season, as we'll as winter, unless
able to present doctors certificate that
she was 30 i'll she required change of
air and numerous other petty details
which she ignored at the time, but
which later assumed gigantic proper
tions.
Tomorrow, Priscilla announced,
1.-THE count calls to demand my hand,
and dad arrives from New York. She
was looking out of the window into the
street. There was flower cart on the
corner, purple with Russian violets and
yellow with mimosa. Constance glanced
at her sharply All she could perceive
was the tip of tiny ear and two hands
clasped firmly behind their owners
waist.
what are you going to do about lt?'
she inquired, with assumed indifference
What do you SUPPOSE said Pris-
ella.
IL know" asserted Constance posi-
lively, that you will refuse him."
"What an idea !" calculated Priscilla
sharply, turning suddenly and disclosing
Q pair Of innocent wide eyes and de-.
licious mischievous smile What, may
l ask, induces you to suppose anything
of the kind?"
Intuition, Constance remarked just
as wickedly.
"What have you intuished?"
Don't be fool, Priscilla and throw
away your happiness.
You are a fine person to counsel
wisdom" cried Priscilla daringly.
"How about Mr.. Doxie?"
"Well, what about Mr.. Doxie1"
"He is the man." Priscilla asserted
delightedly, with intense conviction
"you sent away from you. feel it il
my bones"
"What makes you think sop
"There was the sweetest look in you,
face last night" said Priscilla, "wher
you fell asleep, and, my dear, 1 saw Mr.
Doxie give you one look at the suppe
table which taught me everything
wished to know. 1t was perfectly beau
tiful" This with an expression of su
preme satisfaction which was in its wa.
irresistible.
HE is the man.
"Thank God"
II refused l had not finished. Wha
had you said to Mr.. Stornmouth las
night before / came up stairs to pu
him in such a bad humor?"
ZIP" cried Priscilla. What could al
! insignificant young woman like me pos
J sibly say to so important a person a
Mr. Stornmouth to disconcert him il
any manner whatsoever"
II mp Constance murmured. Sh
! was gazing at the ceiling. The end @
!. the remark was incom prehensible
: "What did you say!"
II said nothing" returned Constance
, Eyes, you did. You seemed to dout
the truth of my last statement"
Far from it, remarked Constanc
| coolly. II believed it. :"
Believed that what I said or di
/ was of no importance to John Storr
r MOUTH" she asked rather shrilly.
EXACTLY"
l "H'm! l presume you consider you
o self very clever. "
: mot at all. "
"A reader Of character and so forth.
S "By no means"
whatever you consider yourself,
q cried Priscilla irritatedly, you nevt
4 proved yourself SO entirely OF sea as ;
+ present.
r "Why so?"
, John Stornmouth, Priscilla al
nounced superbly, "adores me. He sin
: ply worships the ground walk on. "
"Nonsense!"
n what do you mean by nonsense"
Priscilla demanded. what do yc
: know about it anyway"
o Nothing" said Constance. elmer
ly consider it pity he cannot care f
d you, since You are 80 absolutely low
" BILE" The implied compliment was a
# ministered apparently as salt to saw
IT the incorporating nature of the stat
y ment which preceded it.
"A pity he does not care for me
Priscilla repeated soornfully. "Absur
He Is at my feet-literally at my feet
3 And you at the counts feet. T.
If course Of true love never did RI
Ia smooth -