Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-25

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night the girl caught her breath
and half rose from her oh AFR" and for
what2 I cannot even tell him. l am
bound not to tell him. I must sit By
and see him sacrifice himself to friend
shipl'"
"Oh. cir, do you think" She bent
forward suddenly and. hiding her face
in her hands. rested them upon his
knees. He placed his own hand lightly
upon her head and wondered IL it were
treason to have discovered that her
hair was . mass Of curls and clustering
ripglets.
THAT IL only what you were saying
70 yourself, not what I am thinking.
When I called you child a bsolved you
from all the crimes OF womanhood.
There are many actions that flow nat
urally from childish hearts which carry
not tho slightest flavor Of immodesty;
and yet q woman may not copy them.
So in this. my young friend"
"Ah, you do not say my child owl"
mo, you have passed into woman
hood with the consciousness OF this
error. say error. because it Is a sit
nation that you should not have been
pla ced in--no, not 10 save human life
not even TO save your own; for the
unsecured wilderness OF woman's soul
is the priceless pearl Of eternity and
not to be staked on earth. But the
thought behind it all was OF your own.
You yielded under the pressure Of
fear and advice. Your OBJ jections were
overcome. and you obeyed an elder per-
son in whom you had implicit conf
dence. That is all, and l understand"
Then they did not tell you about
me-" she whispered. breathlessly.
"No; you have told me all that know
OF you, here in the dark. You are ten
der, modest, true and pure; and were
you my wife in truth, I would not be
ashamed to tell this story to the world
myself and own you as such after"
The words fell from his lips so tender
ly. 30 kindly, she took his hand in both
Of hers and laid her face upon il, cry
ing silently.
THE blame OF il all is on our friend,
the DOCTOR" he continued, deeply
touched. and his voice little unsteady.
What a tumultuous. headlong. hurri-
cane sort OF fellow he is! There is no
blame for you; for look. if am here.
how could you have resisted him? And
il Is only his judgment that was at
fault, after all-only his Judgment.
WHY. truer heart never beat than
Brodnar's."
Would it offend you il I ask sues-
Non?" She had waited for composurs.
and now did not lift her head.
''Why. no. OF course
"You are right sure?"
Right sure"
"Then. how could any gentleman
consent to be placed in such position
as yours? You must have known how
embarrassing Il was to be for me" His
Rrst inclination was TO whistle out his
establishment. but he restrained him
self.
you forget, nv child see you have
backslided into childhood-you forget
that in the first place ] was appealed Il
in behalf of woman and no gentleman
may resist that. And then had no rea
son to suspect that I WAS to marry I
girl. II might have been an expert
enced widow. Indeed"
But you are glad il wasn't, are you
aot?" she asked. anxiously.
Yes. my child"
am child?"
Yes, my ctild."
az don't see why"
because you are still--a child" Sh'
was not satisfied.
Mr.. Somers. | want you to thinl
well OF me Always. and the thought tina
] may meet you sometime doesn't EN-
barrass ME now. 1t would not emhar
rass me il | did meet you even il
should meet you tomorrow But wis
you to know all about me. and am go
ing to tell you everything from the be
ginning"
NO. indeed, you shall not" he sale
quickly. She Nfted her head, startled
why motif I choose? l am no
afraid TO trust You"
NO. no. Miss Frances"
"Ah. ! am woman again"
ayes, q woman Of a charm so swee
and heart so true that Richard SoT
ers must arm himself. Not your honor
but mine. the honor of your HUSBAND
is at stake, and you promised TO regar
that always"
And | ssall, sir; only tell me how.
why, l have promised my friend nc
20 seek 10 find out, or permit anyon
TO tell me anything about you. ma
not let even you inform me, You mus
not"
She was silent, disturbed, and wor
dering at his intense earnestness.
Then she said, in awe at the myster
Of il all: when we part tonight "
ere 10 meet as friends no more? Io
may never take my hand In yours an
speak kindly to me again? Oh, sir, yo
do not know, you do not know wha
your tenderness has done for the girl
, no. the woman you call child. fo
do not know what il is 10 have misse
. a fathers care. a mothers"
Hush" ne cried, mot one wor
, more. You are making it hard har
= for me to keep faith with my frien'
l You are betraying his secret" ST
: threw off his hand and arose suddenl
3. with an abandon of passion that owe
/ whelmed him.
: What a mockery! what mockery
, am ashamed-ashsmed II Is I WI
nm hetrayed'" Ne had arisen nj