Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-10
CHAPTER Y.

It is now proper to touch upon
different element in this story. 1t
may seem strange to the reader that
Warde should have developed so ar
don't an interest in the case which we
have been considering. and the writer
would not be quite frank if he did
not admit that the young reporters
activity was not purely professional.
From the very moment that he he
held Miriam Wright, the mystery had
possessed for him fascination that
would not he put aside. So far as Her
bert Wright was concerned, il cannot
be said that Irving was absorbinrly
interested in his affairs: and it was
at first more an instinct than any
thing else which caused him to be-
Ucve that the young fellow was inno-
cent It was the intangible influences
OF Miriam Wright hat enlisted him
ardently in the case, and that inten-
Eifed his eogerncss over each new de-
volopment There was something
about her loneliness that appealed to
him. and from the very first her
beauty Lad ;irccd him as he had
never oecn stirred before. His inter
est in the case gave him an excuse
for seeins, her frequently, and as he
was man of intelligence and Of
many attractive qualities, his visits
were always acceptable. There were
features in the Wright case which
were rather repulsive to him. The
Z q a Cf ha
such that he would have felt very
much like saying that his taking off
was hardly worth investigating with
view Of furnishing the murderer
But il seemed at first TO involve the
punishment of an innocent man. and
that appealed to Irving's sense of fair
play. In the next place it introduced
into his life the elment that trans
, figured and transforms the world.
\ friendship soon became ccnrnted
between himself and Miriam. Per
haps at first each was a novelty to
the other, and therein lay the charm.
Miriam life had been narrow and
interpretive. She knew the world
only through the medium of books.
She seldom received or paid visits.
and she had obtained her education
at the hands of a governess; and had
she been cast upon desert isle her
idle life could hardly have been more
restricted. She was so unlike the
other women whom Irving knew that
he was attracted to her from the
start.
At first his visits were taken IN
with the latest news about Herbert's
case the value of the testimony, the
probable action of the jury, the evi.
tence that could be introduced for
Herbert, and various other featured
Of the case. But there came a time
when this topic was pretty nearly
exhausted, All the events in Herbert's
life had been reviewed, his DISPOSE
ton had been analysed and every
probable possibility and possible
probability in connection with tho
case had been canvassed. Up TO this
time their acquaintance had been
based on their joint concern for Mi
rams brother, but when everything
had been said about him and his af-
lalrs mat could be said, they began
TO talk about themselves; and like
the timid skater venturing rather
warily upon the new ice, they were
decidedly shy at first; but when they
found that the ice would hold them,
as it were, they became drawer and
more daring. Confidence begat conf
dence. The acquaintance ripened
apace, and it was not very long be-
fore each Of them was aware of tho
tender touch of an unseen influence.
When Christmas came, Irving spent
Q good deal Of his time at the Wright
place. He was received on a footing
Of friend, and he did much in a
quiet, nnobtrusive way to make the
holidays less sad for Miriam and her
mother.
ATQ BE GosTtssyEpa sr