Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-21

Inen you want my sister 10 Sacrl
fee herself to save you. Is that It"
II don't ash her to sacrifice anything
II she does not care for me-" replied
Willis proudly.
Edward did not reply to this. and
after awhile Willis said: I'm going to
write to your mother and ask her II
l may speak to Freeda. II she gives
her consent, | suppose it's all right"
II shall never give NINE"
"But she Is Of age. She can decide
for herself"
II mean that it will never be with my
approval that you ask Freeda to mar.
ry you. haven't any fears about
the answer she will give you"
Nevertheless, he did have some fears
and Willis seemed to know that fact.
ut all rests with her, then. VIII
you promise me one thing. Ned? Will
you promise not to say anything to
her before get word from your moth.
err? After all, isn't man to be al.
lowed to choose for himself when b.
loves personY
Edward hesitated. He did not know
Just what his mother would say. But
what Willis said had good deal Of
weight after all.
Eyes. I'll promise that" be said at
last reluctantly.
"All right. Thank you" replied VII:
lis, and then, as by agreement. the con-
versation stopped.
A week later Willis showed Edward
q letter from Mrs. Blake.
Edward read it through in some sur
prise. 1t was in answer to Willis let
ter, in which he had evidently gone
into a full account of the matter. He
had put his case as strongly rs posi-
bic. and Mrs. Blake had evidently
sympathized with him to degree
Ills proposal concerning Freeda had
come rs a great surprise, but she was
willing that Frceda should decide her
future. She had always given her
great freedom and did not wish to CO.
ercc her feeling. At the same time she
ventured 20 express her strong regret
that Mr.. Preston was not Christian
by profession and more than limited
her doubts concerning Freeda's &C.
ceptance of such future on &C.
count of her religious home training,
etc The letter closed with reluctant
assent to Willis appeal to be allowed
to speak to Freeda.
Its all right so far as your mother
is concerned" said Willis, with SOME
satisfaction. as Edward handed back
the letter.
Edward did not answer.
"There's one more thing ! want to
as, of you, Ned, and that is that you
let me speak to Freeda before you say
anything to her against me. Will you"
Il won't say anything to her. Let her
settle it," replied Edward shortly.
This was about two weeks before
Three days after, as
Edward was going over to the library
to get book, he met FreeQa coming
from the hall. Her face bore marks of
weeping, and Edward knew at once
what the reason was.
He went up to her and faced her
with sympathy.
"Come, Freeda. take walk with me
out on the lower. campus and tell me
what you can. l know about it,"
Freeda silently assented, and they
went down to seat under an old elm
and sat down there after walking slow
ly around the wide path that encircled
the campus.
"And couldn't give him any other
answer, Ned, could II" asked Freeda
as she continued her account of the un-
expected interview she had had with
Willis.
"No, don't see how you could" re-
piled Edward gravely. "And yet you
say, dear that you had begun to like
him very much"
Like isn't the word to use, Ned
I'm afraid think great deal too
much of him for my own happiness
now. And yet l felt as sure all the
time he was asking me to marry him
and looking so handsome and SO
Freeda choked little
and Edward waited in sympathetic ST.
lence for her to recover-"so brave,
Ned, that I had hard work to say no.
And yet l knew it was for the best. I
told him plainly that I feared for my
future with him on account Of his
drinking especially. And he promised
everything about giving 1t up for my
sake. But l have no faith in his prom
ses. Isn't it strange, Ned, even though
believe have somehow come toto
actually think more Of him than Of
any one, still know, somehow, that
after awhile he would begin to drink
again, and our home would be ruined?
It's an awful thing, the drink habit,
sn't it. Ncd?"
TO BE CONTINUED