Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-26

me. think can manage him."
Mrs. Lancaster rose as the officer drew
near.
II think ] shall ask the musicians to
play my favoritc," she said. speaking
at Wrinkle, TO whom she had nodded.
AS she moved away the captain start
cd TO sit in the hammock beside its oc-
cnpant, but Evelyn promptly stood up
and leaned against the balustrade. Her
action was greeted with grunt of dis
approval on the part of the young man.
ut is just little cool at this end"
she said. half apologetically.
"You make me feel that it is decidedly
so," he retorted. But I hope you will
bear the temperature "a moment
longer
"You wish to speak to me, sir?"
He was evidently under great agita-
ton and he ed to reduce his voice
10 calmness only by extra effort.
al have for some time suspected that
you were allowing yourself 10 become
interested in that country pumpkin"
be said. almost brutally; "but did not
dream till tonight that you were in
correspondence with him"
Most Of your dreams occur at night,
do they not. captain?" Evelyn had
lifted her eyebrows and was smiling
Coldly, defantly.
81 guess there is no dream about your
corresponding with hm-at least that
be has written you to-day" returned
Wrinkle, in a white heat. you have
been in the house all the afternoon. and
besides no one but him could have
could have"
Wrinkle found himself sliding into
pitfall OF his own making, and the
startled vacuity OF his small face caused
Evelyn to laugh out immediately.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "you think he
wrote me about the shearing process"
For moment the captain could only
stare stupidity. then a lame defense
came to his lips.
81 could not think OF anyone else
who could report such lie to you" he
said.
Then T am not to believe that il re-
ally happened?" quer-ied Evelyn.
1.-THE very idea is absurd on the face
sponsc.
81 can't believe that Mr.. Fanshaw
would write me deliberate false
hood" she returned, s<ll smiling tan
talizingly. HE is quite truthful and
honorable"
Wrinkles lip curled and quivered i'm
potently.
do you consider it an honorable
thing TO write lie about a man-a--a
rival? I presume / may call him
that, since you have encouraged him
to that extent"
"Hc has never thought of you as a
"a rival" Knocked Evelyn, with a pro-
nounced sneer. She moved towards
the others, but he grasped her arm
and detained her. His fury was now
unbridled.
II shall report this to your father"
nc threatened
You intend to tell my father that
! correspond with Mr.. Fanshaw?" she
asked, stcrnlv, coldly.
81 shall feel it my duty as his friend,
knowing that he would disapprove Of
it. and that you are doing a most fool
ish thing"
"Then YOU viii toll him a false
hood she said. with white smile,
and eyes which flashed like diamonds
In the moonlight
you do not CORES pond with him?
He has not written to you to-day"
He has never written me line in
his life. ] happened to be a listener
to his challenge and witness TO your
cowardice. AS for his unique hui
initiation of You, ! actually quivered
with delight when he cut off your
brazen badges Of bravery. He repent
ed of having done it--like Il brave man
would-when he saw that had seen it
all, and he gave me the things TO sew
back on your coat, but you are fight
ing with woman now. and T
shall retain them. | may need them
in the future
He shrank from her as il she mad
struck him in the face. And with a
little taunting laugh Evelyn left him.
She was so agitated that she avoided
the others who were listening to the
negroes as they sang a spirited ballad
If Ronald Fanshaw could have wit
messed what passed at Carnleigh that
evening. il might have softened his
sharp self-censure for what he had
done in the heat of passion. He had
always looked upon dueling as radi-
cally wrong, and he now told himself
he had gone TOO far in further humili-
ating man after he had tacitlv
thrown himself on his mercy. Before
he had quilted the colonies wood that
morning he was brought face to face
with product of his example that
sdded fresh sting to his general dis
content.
He had almost reached the boundary
fence when he came upon his shaggy
haired barefooted brother. standing
up to his ankles in the wet loan OF a
swampy spot. Dave was leaning On a
rife as tall and sturdy-looking as him
self, an oldfashioned treasure which
he brought out only ON special occa-
sions, such as prize shooting matches
at which he was a champion shot
and when there was a threatened
"black uprising"
"Why, Dave, what are you doing
herc?" Ronald asked, in astonish-
ment.
"Huh! I amt a-doin' nothin'. but
Srbot un,IlJ adam &c ia l.ax