Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-11

rlch young lady has that L object to
this kind Of q marriage; but IL she is
only happy, l won't complain"
These gossiping hirelingS were at the
windows when the returning carriage
appeared in sight an hour later. The
brides beautiful face was flushed by
the contact with the wind, aud she
had never looked so happy or moved
with so much grace. Talley and Miss
Dean had very serious faces as they
came up the versnda side by side.
well, it is all over said the major
70 his bride when they were alone in
the luxurious company cha mber. where
red fire glowed. He had never been
such a mystery TO himself as now. He
felt as if he were drunken with de.
licious memories OF their old court
ship.
Eyes, I am your wife at last" She
said, with a smile. 81 am your wife
and am going to make you happy.
feel it away down in my heart"
"You feel it," he repeated. as If in
dream. and he helped her to take of
her cloak. He felt her warm breath
on his face. He laid the cloak aside
then drew her into his arms and kissed
/ her. And so do |, dear girl. And sc
do l."
At that strange moment Jeanne
! Goddard and all her evil plans seemed
as much removed from his Fife as il
she had never entered it. 1t was as Il
the old life had come back to him
! the life in which his love had for itt
! object creature so pure and unde
! fled that 70 lifted him up and opened
bis eyes to spiritual possibilities.
81 was at first afraid you would moi
consent so soon sfter--after her
death" he said
II felt that 10 was my right to have
you now" said Blanche, frankly
"She told me how she had deliberately
beguiled you from me when she die
covered that you loved me. The night
before she sailed she confessed sh<
had resorted to every trick and arti.
fee within her power to make you
cast me aside"
"She told you that?" the major ex.
claimed.
Yes. and not only that, bat she said
che had some sort Of presentiment
lidI slt " as 6JiIIH w blt dpiC1bs dfl9
said If anything did happen to her
she hoped l would marry you. Oh,
I've tried to regret her death--to feel
sorry for her at being taken away in
the midst of such sins, but l cannot.
She even tod mech | can't tell YOU
what Csc she said. 1t makes me al
most hate her memory"
please go on" said the major.
she confessed that she was ur-
happy with you-that she wanted to
get away from you-that she married
YOU simply for your money
" suspected that" said the major.
dreamily.
1t seemed so wonderful 20 him that
he could now calmly contemplate
Jsanne's shallow faithlessness with
out the pangs such thoughts had al
WAYS caused him. Was II because he
really loved his ward and that he had
never loved Learne-that his passion
for her had been only base infatua-
ton winch had already taken wirgsp
He could not answer these Ques-
tiorS; he could only wonder at the
strange emulation which was swell
thusiasm over the thought that he
was loved by IT, beautiful Young
creature before him. He lost sight OF
the wrong he had done her She had
only n short while TO hve-that time,
lie told himself, should constitute his
life and hers; beyond that brief Pc
Rod he could not reckon,
"You have suffered ?" he beard him.
self murmuriug.
Ever since that awful day when
you introduced me to her in the draw
ing-room. I had never dreamed that
God intended you for anyone but me.
You had been NY whole life, and
even afterwards, WHEN | saw the hold
she had on you. could not keep from
, suffering. The pain, the loss was
with me night and day. I hated her;
. l despised myself. planned a thou
sand times TO leave, but could not
: tear myself away because I saw your
, soul in danger. | saw her day by day
leading you downward instead OF up
ward as l had dreamt of doing. I
knew how charitable you had been be-
r fore your marriage-how many poor
people YOU had helped and l saw her
/ drawing you away from such I'm
pulses by her sharp, hsartiess ndi-
Guile"
And now that she Is no longer
no louGer-here2" Goddard could not
| pronounce the word which iay on his
tongue like a weight.
Now tnat she is out Of our way
shall pray God 10 hetp me exercise q
| better influence over you
! "You have always done that he
said. do with me as you viii. l am
/ a very bad man, Blanche; very wick
ed man. II you knew me as am you
t would despise me for my wickedness,
? as Won despsed her for hers"
"You never had fault till she crossed
l your path. dear guardian. and nothing
, you have done since is going 10 count
: She spoke lightly, and smiled as shs
laid her head on his shoulder.
? The next day was Sunday. and as
< Miss Dean had gone home, they drove
? alone TO the village, about two miles
distant, 30 attend church. Blanche
I had never looked so well. The crisp
air brought the blood into her cheeks
and blew her hair into a froth of gold
about her eyes and brow.
"PprhaDs We ought not TO drive so