Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-07


rapid click, click, click of the type
writing machine invaded without dis
turbing her consciousness. Toward 3
O clock the low drone of the rutaries in
the cellar made itself felt rather than
heard The early edition of the country
was being run off. Time was flying
danced away by nmble feet in the west
end, worked away by nimble fingers in
Fleet street (well named thoroughbred.
Play and work, work and play, each
supplementing the other. the acts of
the frivolous recorded by the indus
trious
When little more than three hours
debating was finished, the voice of the
girl, now as hoarse as formerly it had
been musical, ceased. She dropped into
chair and rested her tired head on the
deserted desk, closing her wearied eyes
She knew she had spoken between 49,
600 and 30, 600 words, a number almost
equal in quantity to that contained in
many book which had made an au.
thor's fame and fortune, and all for
the cphemeral reading of a day-of a
forenoon, more likely--to be forgotten
when the evening journals came Quit
Shortly after the typewriter gave its
final click the editor came in.
Il didn't like to disturb you while
you were at work, and so | kept at my
own task, which was no light one, and
thus ] appreciate the enormous strain
that has been on you Your account is
magnificent. Miss Baxter just what |
wanted and never hoped to get.
II am glad you like it, D." said the
girl, laughing somewhat dismally at
| the croaking sound of her own voice.
II need not ask you if You were
there, for no person but enc who was
present and one who knew how to de-
scribe could have produced such a
vivid account of it all How did you
get in p
lin whcre?" murmured Jennie drow
silly. She found difficulty in keeping
her mind on what he was saying
ITO the Duchess of Chiselhurst' s
ball
ooh. getting in was easy enough it
was the getting out that was the trou-
| BILE -
Like prison, ch?" suggested the
editor CHOW, will you have little
wine or something stronger"
"No, no. All | need is rest. -
Then let me call cab. l will see
you home, if you will permit me.
II am too tired to go home ! shall
remain here until morning.
NONSENSE You must 20 home and
sleep for = wcr if you want to. Rouse
up! | believe you are talking in your
sleep now.
II understand perfectly what you are
saying and what | am doing | have
work that must be attended to at S
| Please leave orders that some one is to
call me at : and bring a cup of coffee
and biscuits or rolls or anything that is
to be had at that hour. And please
don t trouble further. | am very thank
full to you. hut will express myself bet
ter later on.
With this the editor had to he con-
tent and was shortly on his way to his
own well earned rest To Jennie it
seemed but "A moment after he had gone
that the porter placed coffee and rolls
|
o'clock, miss =
The coffee refreshed the girl, and as
she passed through the editorial rooms
she noted their forlcrn, disheveled APP
pearance, which all places show when
seen at an unaccustomed hour, their
time of activity and hustle past. The
rooms were Uttered with torn la
pers, wastebaskets OVERLOOKING silent.
scrappy, abandoned in the gray morn
ing light, which seemed intrusive,
usurping the place of the usual art
cial illumination and betraying bare
ness which the other concealed. Jennie
recognized relationship between her
own up all night feeling and the spirit
of the deserted rooms.
At the railway station she found hel
maid waiting for her, surrounded by
luggage.
Have you got your Tickets"
"Yes, my lady"
Il have changed my mind and viii
not go to Paris just now Ask porter
to put those trunks in the left luggage
Office and bring me the keys and the
receipt -
When this was done and money mat
tiers had been settled between them
Jennie gave the girl G5 more than wa,
due to her and saw her into the car
riage well pleased with the reward.
hanson brought Jennie to her fiat, anC
so ended the exhausting episode of tn,
Duchess of Chselhurst $ ball.
Yet an event, like malady, leave
numerous consequences in its train, ex
tending-who shall say how far int
the future. The first symptom Of thes
consequences was a correspondence
and, as there is no reading more drear,
than series of letters, their substance
merely is here given.
When Jennie was herself again, sh
wrote "A long letter to the Princess vol
. Steinheimer, detailing the particular
Of her impersonation and begging par
9 don for what she had done, while Civ
+ ing her reasons for doing it. But per
r haps because it did not occur to her, sh
made not the slightest reference to Lor,
Donal Stirling. Two answers came T.
/ this-one registered packet containin,
the diamonds which the princess hat
previously offered to her, the other
, letter from the princess own hand
The glitter of the diamonds showe
a Jennie that she had been speedily for
given, and the letter corroborated this