Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-10

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>--'-s-@s- sic lay asleep. Tho
sudden increase of liaht awokc her.
and she found that Brenda was hold
Ing both her hands.
~ was afraid you would move too
hvnch and hurt yourself" said she. II
knew YOU must wake soon. How do
vow focl%"
Elsie winked her eyes and twisted
the left corner of her mouth with the
cir of Que who is testing a bruse to
see how sore it is
"rhere was a girl who felt better
once lorg time ago" she said, but
it doesn't matter. Haven't you been TO
bed all this night
81 have slept On the couch" replied
Brenda. My maid brought down this
loose gown. and I've been very comfort
able. have had some things brought
from your house too
Did you get my little silver mirror"
asked Elsie, with eagerness. ooh, how
good of you, Please let me have it,"
Brenda gave her the mirror, and she
Eazcd long and intcntly into it; then
she sighed and laid down the glass.
"All gone" she said. well, that
doesn't matter either. Nothing matters
any more. But used to think l would
be pretty when was dead"
$50 you will. my dear" answered
Brenda. You'll have u swceter, pref
tier face than you lave now-the dear
est cid Crandmother's face, with beau
tiful white curls all around-and the
children who come to kiss you will cry
like a little shower on May morning.
but they will be better children after
ward. for they will want to live the
life that brings such happy sleep at the
end of it,
81 wish l could say things like that"
said Elsie. Even if they aren't true
they make people feel good. I-look-
fierce! Don't l. honestlyf"
"Fiercer echoed Brenda. "Why,
anything else in the world, should
say"
That's slang" said Elsie. at mere
~ means terrible"
"Well, I'd hardly agree to that word
either" said Brenda. "You don't in
spire any terror in me. You're only
little bit pale, and perhaps you have
cried too much.'
"You must think ! am perfect baby.
Really It isn't so. l have borne some
things in This life fairly well. l would
bear much more and be as happy as
any girl if l only knew how. But
there's no way. My life is in a tangle
that cannot be unwound. l just SIM
ply can't go on, Brenda. That's what
e. I Il to- /, -
room the first time and while l lay
thinking before | would let DR.. Ken
dali know l was conscious. There is
no way, absolutely no way
Her voice began to tremble, but she
rcsolutely checked the tendency.
"Iiow everything settles down on
you in the morning." she said. "Nou
wake so happy. Perhaps you have
dreamed of the pleasantest things,
almost always dream of people ! like
and of being with them in the fields or
abroad somewhere in a strange city
and all dressed up in the most wonder
full clothes, and then the reality be-
gins to come down. like-like a great
ball of rags. | saw them loading 4
barge with rags Once-she was along
side a steamer-and | always remem
bcred how those dirty, heavy, sitting
bales came down. They were like life.
'Your life hasn't been altogether q
bale of rags, my young friend" said
Brenda, "and unless I'm much mis-
taken it viii be in the future quite
like some Of those dreams. There was
young man who made promise OF
Two about strange cities and beautiful
rlothes, you know" she added, REDEEM
ing n little. Il saw Mr. Aldcn's note
to you. and was tricked into reading
part OF it,"
Il suppose it will be printed in the
papers said Elsie, with your picture
and mine and Mr.. Aldcns. Isn't this
awful: 1t is SO absolutely horrible
that there's no use being polite about
1t. But really | never meant to do YOU
any harm. reyer encouraged Mr.
Alden. ! loved him from the begin
ming. The very first evening | saw
him | went home and cried about him
but when he began to come to see me
! made him think that | didn't care
for him. actually did make hin
think So"
II know It," replied Brenda gently
she told me So"
ut was only on that last evening
that let him guess the truth" sait
Elsie, land how did that. heaven ma!
know Suddenly he seemed to see it
and then, honestly, l had no oppor
tunity to deny it. | didn't speak {
word in two hours. Mr.. Alden talked
for both OF us, making my argument:
for me and then answering then
without the falntcst perception thai
they weren't really mine at all. II
fact, he was like Il big boy, so carried
away witt his own idea that all the
world seemed to be rushing along II
the way he wished. 1t was only wheI
he talked about sending me lot OF
money to buy wedding clothes that
managed to make myself heard ani
even then he thought that my objec
ton was altogether to the money anC
not to the wedding. Remember that
was not much calmer than he, and yol
will have some idea of the confusion
Oh, Brenda, how can | talk to you like
this? Aud you don't seem to care il
the least Are we all crazy togetherW
"SOmp Of us haVp lppn go unrhane ,