Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-19

| and your eyes nearly left their sockets.
Once your foot slipped and screamed
as you went down. thought it was all
over then, but you held onto his horns
and when he flung up his head he
raised you. Then | saw the CLEAN of a
set purpose In your eye as you slowly
backed him to the big stick near by and
then l saw you grasp it and beat him
Off"
She paused out of breath, she had
spoken so rapidly.
II see you have not forgotten he
laughed, modestly. "My arms ached
for week after that. / don't think |
ever gave my muscles a greater test"
She gazed at him admiringly.
Il think strong, manly man is Gods
best crcation"--hcr tone was almost
revercnt. NO. have not forgot
never shall forget that you offered your
life as readily as Capt. Wrinkle" (she
sDcered slightly would hand me
glass of wine. You were so exhausted
afterwards that you could not speak
and yet you helped me over that high
fence; ] know you were exhausted, for
you sank down and could not rise"
Ronald flushed slightly. 81 hoped
you would forget that" he said.
ut is what / want to remember
most" the girl declared because it
proves how very much you did for me-"
Her voice was low, and it quivercd as
If strong emotions were working in her
breast. The branches of the trees we're
moving overhead, and Il shaft Of shift
ing sunlight fell on her glorious, gold
en- brown hair. The breeze comm u from
the east brought the strain of a plan
'ation melody sung by the negroes
working in one of her fathers cotton
fields. For one instant the eyes of these
two met, and then, like man in a bliss
ful dream, he turned and picked up his
rod. His cork was under water and he
could see the slack line being drawn
here and there. 1t was IL fine trout
and he laughed merrily as he drew it
out of the water. She sprang up and
stood by him as he took it from his
hook and put it into his basket.
Il am afraid am disturbing your
sport" she said, tentatively.
You see you have given me good
luck" he made answer.
II have wanted another talk with
you Tor long time" She cast Il glance
in the direction of her party. Il pre-
sumo | ought to join them, but have
really not said all | wished. 1t seems
half Il lifetime since we met"
Later that day he actually shuddered
over the boldness of his reply to this.
and yet am Convinced that it was one
of his remarks which she remembered
in its entirety.
"The meeting in itself seemed
Whole lifetime to me-" he said, in
full, tense voicc-"the beginning, the
end-a short, beautiful life, for |
thought might never, perhaps never,
see You again"
"lou thought we should never meet
again." she spoke in slow surprise. as
the import of his words dawned on
Ter, and then he saw her eyes 90 Gown.
and fresh shaft Of bitterness pierced
his heart. He knew she was thinking
of the gulf which lay between them.
The look of pain which crossed her face
almost distorted it. Stil ii was only
to add new character to her beauty.
IL want TO tell you moe thar al"
she shrugged her shoulders, as If TO
shake Off the unpleasant thought he
had just read, how very much good
!'!1r example has done me. You re-
member you told me how You had
learned French by studying it at night,
and by hiring Il man to work for you
who spoke the language to YOU as YOU
worked in the field together, and that
you used to walk three miles after |
supper Ia an Old German, who spoke |
his tongue to YOU and lent you the |
German classics? Well, when got
back to school and was tempted to
neglect my studies | recalled the eff
forts you were making to educate |
yourself and | became ashamed of my |
self and really l profted by your ex-
ample. | took two medals. | should /
never have won them but for YOU"
Her companion laughed softly.
u did not have such good fortune in |
adding a teacher of Italian to nv fac
ulty,' he told her. "lie was making |
his way over the mountain with a hand |
Irgan and monkey and told me lie |
was out of money. My answer to him |
was that | needed man TO pick cot
ton and that | would pay him the
wages OF an experienced hand if he
would stay with me through the sea-
son. He readily consented and every |
thing might have worked out to the
glory OF my perseverance,, but lie in
sisted on working with the monkey
IN his shoulder, ard the two together
proved such an attraction that all the
negroes in my field gathered around.
lim. | gave them the first day off. but
when the next came and the pickers
came in holiday attire accompanied by
hosts of neighboring negroes called
halt. ! paid the stroller for the
lay he had not worked and dismissed
I'm. This Infatuated him, and | re-
'eived my first gratuitous lesson in
-talian-a beautiful string OF oaths
which may never be worth what paid
or them"
Evelyn laughed long and heartily.
on are the most original man |
YER met" she declared. What funny
experiences you do have. And did your
ia Ian master forsake you?'
Ronald laughed drily.
after he had got his organ ont of