Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-01
whether she silent or awoke


sleeping girl, to enter further into
her life and absorb the sweetness OF
it's innocence, possessed him. She
would not know, she would never
know. perhaps; and why should he
not snatch from fate this one brief
moment of happiness? A doubt as
sailed him and brought hesitation;
but with an impatient gesture he
threw aside the hesitation. He would
not let even himself doubt himself.
And SO he came and stood above the
sleeper, and presently, entranced, he
kneeled and saw her lying there,
vague, dim and unrecognizable, but
girl asleep. Her face was towards
him upon the pillow and one hand lay
upon the edge of her bed. So quietly
did she sleep she seemed not to
tremor shook him from head to foot.
and never before experienced con-
fusion seized upon his mind. Instinct
lively he leaned above her hand and
touched it with his lips-lightly, rev.
erently. She sighed and spoke his
name, and overwhelmed with sudden
dismay, he would have withdrawn. but
she seized his arms and cried out:
Light! light" And then. broken
/ ly: ooh, sir, for the frst time-I am
i am-frigh tened!" He sank his
face beside her, overwhelmed with
shame.
at is half-past three" he said brol-
emily; 81 must soon say farewell to
you"
"Oh. sir, will you not light the gasp"
Seeing that she still trembled, he
arose and went to his chair
NO" he said. calmly. But sleep
on. | shall not disturb you again"
And then presently she came. and,
kneeling in sudden abandon before
him. placed her hands upon his shout
ders, her face close into his.
81 shall not let you leave me think
ing that do not trust you," she said.
"Oh, sir, kiss me now, my hands, my
hair, my lips if you will. I trust i'm
plicitly! trust you-yes, and
more, L"
"Child. child, you do not know what
you are saying!" He covered his face
with his hand.
Child! No, woman! You do not
understands it is You who are the
child. Listen. I was not asleep when
you struck a match and. turning your
face from me, looked at your watch.
] was awake, and I saw your face in
the glass across the room"
"Nou should not"
"Tt was an accident, and thanked
God, for it has given me a living mem
DRY Of the kindest friend since mother
died. It Is not the first time, for your
picture is in the doctors office He
did not know that have hung over il
fixing it in my mind-many-
times-oh, will you, will you say that
you wish to see me? Have you nc
wish to remember me?"
Remember you? ] shall carry with
me forever the sound of your voice
the touch of your hand. the perfume
of every curl upon your head"
"But my face! Will you look upon
that? I release you from all your
promises"
81 cannot! cannot"
oh sir, think what il will mean
to me in all the lonely days to come
the memory Of you and the conscious
ness that you carry in your heart
sometime the face of the girl who--v
"lt must not be. Remember you1
husbands honor. You promised to
honor him. Is this the way"
"My husband! my husband" she
cried, half rising. you have said it,
"Frances Frances"
"Ah, Frances Say it all. frances
my wife"
Frances, my wife," a passionat,
Dry burst from the girls lips
, "YeS, Frances. your wife. The won
an who loves you. who has loved YOU
and heard your story. Oh, he never
knew-he never dreamed it. Nothing
can silence those words: Frances
my wife I will look upon your face
and you shall, you shall see mine
yhe matches-ah, they are here!"
> Hold" he cried. huskily. ~ shoul'
be unworthy of your love and trust i
] could break my sacred promise
Look upon me if you will, but the eye
that would weep tears of JOY to Sc
you will be closed while the ma tch i
> burning. Look, if to carry in memor
the living record of one face will hel
you, take mine. and with il. right 0
wrong, the love of Richard Somers.
She struck the match and held
above his lifted face, advancing he
own and gazing eagerly upon him.
"Ah, again! again My husband, m
husband" she remurmured. ut is tn
, face of an angel!' The match gre,
short and the fatal red spark wa
showing in the flame when there cam
: flash of light in the window acros
, the room, the quick, sharpFeport of
pistol rang out, and Richard Somer;
, reeling, plunged through her arm
face down upon the floor.
The awful silence that followed tn
. tragedy was broken at length by tn
faint whisper of the dazed and hal
. unconscious girl.
Speak" she said, kneeling owe
-, the PROSTATE form; 'why-what
, the matter what has happened ?
!, Her hands found his head and passe
. rapidly over it. you do not answs
= mel" She drew slowly back frol
: him, chilled with great and III