Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-10

Mrs. Van Cortlandt WINGED "A little "A
these words, but showed nothing Nv
her countcnancc, which had beer
schooied Tor many years TO guard her
secret. Before she could reply u scrv.
| ant entered and announced Colonel
Payton. AT which Mrs Van Cortlaudt
rose 30 receive him. al tine Same time
wondering that hc Of all men should
come on this night. What mystic con.
nection could there be between her
thoughts Of him and his arrival? She
dared not venture reply. even TO her.
[ self
The colonel entered with dignifed
ease and self command. such a. would
be- expected from the man If tho
world and the soldier hat he was.
. Nothing in his manner betrayed that
/ this was aught but tho most casual
call, nor was there anything in the
I greeting between him and Mr. Mitchell
from which one might have suspected
that they had seen each other before
on that day.
Advancing toward Mrs Van Cort.
landt. ne bowed low as no said.
My dear friend. hope you viii par.
don me for having remained away
from You for so long. II is almost a.
month, ! fear"
give weeks colonel" said tho lady.
/ laughing II fear time coo, lightly
with YOU in your world Of business and
/ pleasure. We two women alone in a
great house like this night after uicht.
keep better reckoning If the visits OF
our friends. do we not. Pcrdtat"
The colonel was charmed 10 find that
In the chronology Of her heart she had
noted the flight Of time between his
visits
"YcS indeed. mother" said Pcrdita.
advancing. I'VE always miss Won.
colonel, Whcp you remain away from
MS for long time"
$50. then. YOU. too, like TO have mo
come The coloucrs voice trcmblcd a
ltrlc. and if was with an effort that he
controlled himself He admired tine
girls marvellous beauty. and he won
dcrod that he had taken SO little cog
uiHAncc of it hitherto.
"Ah. yes Indeed we do like to have
You hero. Your interesting stories al
ways make the evening seem shorter"
so Is the colonel n romanccr?"
asked Mr. Mitchell
All had taken seats again Mrs.
Mitchell having drawn Perdua to A
seat beside her on the sofa She rrlt
great pity in her heart for this love
ly girl, who was but a child. for the
relations which existed between hnr-
self and her husband were such that
She always know all of his affairs. In
this one she had taken especial interest
from the beginning because OF the Incl
lent Of the abandoned baby. She wa.
we'll aware. therefore, Of her husband <
object in visiting the Van Co1landts.
and indeed her own part had been as
Si-ncd to her.
"Oh. the colonel tells the most won
dcrful stories" said Terdita. replying
to- Mr. Mitchell
why. then, colonel 7 have learned
this SO late that | cannot lot another
hour pass without hearing ono Of your
narratives" MI Mitchell laughed pleas
autly - he spoke. No one would have
thought that thore was any hidden
motive in his words when he added:
Tell Us of your first love affair |
never knew of a bachelor who has not
been in love
The coloue! glanced swiftly at Mr..
Mitchell heSitatrd and decided quickly.
You are right" said he II think
man seldom lives alone from choice.
Either no woman will have him or the
one whom. lie loves is beyond his