Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-04

dlltI lspIluOu, as lItNn as pllIlUSC
Of new life. | looked about me,
took in the cleanliness of everything.
and contrastcd it with my own dingy
apartments at Rickford's hotel,
where the view from the window was
not Of meadows and breezy uplands,
but of red roofs, chimney-pots, and
constantly revolving cowls. I could
picture the view from this window in
the early morning, with the dew
upon the grass, and the blackbirds
whstling in the shrubbcrv. I am not
a vain man, | think, but at this
iuncture I stood before the looking
glass and surveyed myself. For the
first time in nv life I could have
wished that I had been bctter-look-
ing. At last I turned angrily away.
''What a duffcr I am, to be sure!' I
said to myself. "If / begin to get no.
tions like this in my head there is no
knowing where may end As if any
girl would ever think twice about
me-"
Thcreupon descended to the
drawing-room, which found empty.
y
furnished. with little knick-knacks
here and there, a work ba slket put
neatly away for the Sabbath, and an
open piano with one of Chopns
works upon the music-rest. Leading
out of the drawing-room was n small
conservatory. filled with plants. II
was a pretty little place and I could
of ,4
passionatclv fond of flowers. hut my
life at that time was not one that
permitted me much leisure to in
dulgc in my liking. As stood now.
however, in the charming place.
among the rows of neatly-arrangcd
pots, | experienced a sort of waking
dream. seemed to sec myself
standing in this very conservatory,
hard at work upon my flowers, a
pipe in my mouth and my favorte
old soft felt hat upon my head.
Crime and criminals were alike for
gotten: no longer lived in dingy
part of the town. and what was bet
ter than all had
do you know I feel almost in
clined to offer you the proverbial
penny" said Miss Kitwater's voice
behind me, at the drawing-room
door. as it permissible to ask what
you were thinking about?"
I am not of course prepared TO
swear it, but I honestly believe for
the first time for many years, 1
blushcd.
81 was thinking how very pleasant
a country life must be-" l said, maxi
ing the first excuse that came to me.
81 almost wish that I could lead
one
"Then why don't You? Surely it
would not he so very dificult?"
81 am rather afraid it would" I
answered. and yet | don't know
why il should be-
"Pcrhaps Mrs. Fairfax would not
care about it," she continued. as we
returned to the drawing-room to-
/ gethcr.
GOOD gracious" remarked
"There is no Mrs. Fairfax. 7 am the
most confirmed of old bachelors.
wonder you could not see that. Is
not the word crustiness written
PIaln'S upon my loreheao
am airaId cannot see H. she
answered. am NOT qul'e certain
VINO IL was nUt Iahcy IL was my
uncle VINO informed me that you
were lharrIeu'
1T was very KIND OF him. | said
"But 1t certainly is not the case.
lear my WiGe would nave rather
lonely time OF 1t II II were. an
Obliged TO be away from home Sc
much' you sec, and Tor so long at
time
ours muNt be indeed a strange
profession, Mr.. fairiaN' II | may say
so, she continued. some time ago
! came across an account in maya
|he, or your me- ana the many IA
nous cases in which you had taker
part
"Ah. ! remember the wretcheC
thing" | said. 81 am sorry that you
should ever have seen it,"
And why should you be sorry?"
'Recause it is silly thing, and
have always regretted allowing the
man to publish il. He certa inl1
called upon me and asked me a lot o
questions, after which he went ava,
and wrote that article. Ever since
then | have felt like a conceited ass
who tried to make himself out NOR,