Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-27
By HOWARD FIELDING


Il am not engaged to him any more"
said she, and her father admitted cor
daily that that was something to be
thankful for
lie has behaved most dishonorably
to you," he added.
IL have no complaint to make of Mr..
Alden's conduct" said Brenda. Il
shall not break my heart for him, but
wish he might have loved me. Let
us 20 in to dinner"
Mr.. Macane was considerably sur
priscd to observe as the meal progress
ed that his daughter ate with n good
appetite. Having IA shrewd faculty of
observation, he perceived at last that
BrCnda's body was attending TO the
whole matter Of its own sustenapce
and that her mind was elsewhere. AS
anxiety rises in intensity the thinking
part of us nterferes more and more
with the grosser envelope and the
processes of enlightened sefiShness
therein implanted by nature, but there
comes a point of separation whence
the mind goes it's own way and the
body likewise. to the great betterment
Oh llc latter temporarily.
After dinner Brenda and her father
went into the library, room Of which
he made great use for smoking, much
preferring it to the apartment especial
ly designed for the Indulgence of that
pernicious habit.
Brenda fell at once into deep thought,
and her father, after several futile at
tempts to talk with her, sat down by n
desk and cndeavored TO occupy himself
with certain household accounts. He
was man of large frame and little
flesh. rather handsome in a mildly
aquilne style and with eyes like Bren-
da's, but gentcr and with more of the
blue tint in them. There was some
thing womanish about him, hard TO
trace. but probably in his manner al
together and not in his looks. \ nerv-
Gus irritability made utter tritles tragic
for him. Everything worried him more
or less. At the desk there. as he put
tered with the accounts, his pen fell
from the rest where he had placed it,
and he picked it up, with groan.
His pleasures were few. His home
was something to him; his pride, of va
rious kinds, staff to lean upon. He
had considerable affection for his son
and rather more for Brenda. He
thanked God daily that her health was
so good; but, even so, he was always
afraid that it might fail.
His chief Joy in life was business
journey. He could get nothing out of q
pleasure trip because of the obvious
/, waste of time. But to be one Of three
or four moderately congenial men abb
. solutely forced to travel, preferably in
some ones private car, perhaps to see
, a bit of industrial property in the west
or even no farther than Washington
, when there was bill affecting bust
? was genuine relaxation. 1t was neces-
sary 10 20. ard the responsibility FOR
, getting there was on the engineer In
, the cab ahead One might smoke a
. good cigar meanwhile and speak OF
small matters When one has reached
=, certain stage OF nervousness. it is
more tranquilizng to ride Co miles ar
q hour under another mans guidance
, than to sit still at home as a result O
a one own NOllllOn.
i TO Brenda and her father in the II
q brary entered Wllett, the butler, will
v troubled cOuntenance. 1t appearct
/. that two men desired to see Miss Mac
r lane and that their names were Barne
O ami llaggcrty.
"Ihey mentioned a Captain Neale
a miss" said the butler, ''presuming t.
3 4 lou nd
:. Brenda rose hastily.
r ''rhcy have come to take me to tn
# hospital" she said Tell them | vii
II be ready in a few minutes, and Sc
about the carriagc.'
: Are these people policemen" dc
t mandcd Mr.. Maclane.
B." "Wcll. sir, ! took them to be wha
il they call ward detectives" venture
, the butler, land | dropped the hint t
II James that he'd do we'll to keep an ey
l. on them. There's things in the sma
.. reception room, sir, as would go into
q mans pocket"
You did quite right, Willctt,' sal
! Mr. Maclane brenda, my child,
suppose it's entirely useless
absolutely. l must GO she said.
"Then ! must 20, too" he groanct
But Brenda put a firm veto upon thi
proposal.
1T is wholly unnecessary" she sai(
with my maid and James l shall nc
| be afraid even if these men are a
that Willett says they are. There wi
be the coachman and groom besides"
Her father came up to her and teucl
ed the diamond ornament which sll
wore at her throat.
II would not put unnecessary tempti
ton in the way of the weak" he sale
with an attempt at levity. "Some {
these fellows are said to be very c!
| pert"
Brenda gave the pin to her fathC
and also removed ring of more tina
| ordinary value, which she knotted up
! a handkerchief and thrust into Ii
| bosom of her dress. Her maid entere
at this moment with such things 9
ct were necessary to prepare Brenda fC
the ride.
or After his daughters departure NJ
lg Maclanc paced the floor of the librar
y for a LONG hour in restless anxiet
Then he received a telephone messal
nc from Brenda informing him that ST
id had learned that Mr., Alden was stl