Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-29
CHAPTER n

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the Scrras. was in reality plateau of table
land, cmbayed like green lake in II semi
circular sweep of granite, that, lifting itself
5000 feet higher, became foundation for
the eternal SHOWS. The mountain genii of
space and atmosphere jealousy guarded its
secusion and surrounded il with illusions: it
never looked to be exactly what it was; the
traveller who saw it from the North ridge
apparently at his feet in descending found
himself separated from it by mile long
abyss and n rushing river: those who sought
it by seeming direct trail at the end of
an hour lost sight of It completely. or,
abandoning the quest and retracing their
steps. suddenly came upon the gap through
which it was entered That which from the
ridge appeared to be q copsc of bushes he
side the tiny dwelling were frees 800 feet
high; the cultivated lawn before it, which
might have been covered by the travellers
handkerchief, was field of 900 acres
The house itself was a long, low, irregular
structure, chiefly of roof and vcranda, pct-
uresquely upheld by rustic pillars of pine,
with the bark still adhcring, and covered
with vines and trailing roses. Yet it was
evident that the GOODNESS produced by this
vast extent of cover was more than the ar
chltect, who had planned it under the inlu-
mce Of n staring and bcwildering sky, had
trustfully conceived, for it had to be nlltl-
gated 10y blazing fires in open hearths when
the thermometer marked 100 degrees in the
a. L al H.. Ia. tit.,t
continually rocked the tall masts Of the
pines with sound like the distant sea, while
it stimulated outdoor physical cxertion ard
dciicd fatigue, left te scdentary dwcllerS in
these attitudes chilled i'll the shade they
courtcd, or scorchcd them with leaG when
thdy vcntured to baSk supinely in tho slll.
White muslin curtains at the French win
dows, and rugs, skins and heavy furs DIS
perscd in the interior, with certain other
charming but homogeneous details OF fu,'r:-
turc, marked the Inconsistencies Of the eli
mate.
There was n coqucttish indication of this
in the costume of Miss Kate Scott as she
stepped out on tho vcranda that morning.
A mans broad brimmcd Panama hat, partly
unseycd by "A twisted, gayly colored scarf,
but retaining enough character to Gigo
piquancy to the pretty curves of tho fccc
beneath, protected her from the sun; 8. rcct
flannel shirt-another spoil from the cremy
and a thicl; jacket shielded her from inc
austortics of the morning breeze. But tho
next Inconsistency was peculiarly her own
Miss Kate always wore the freshest ard
lightest of white cambria skirts, without tho
least reference to the temperature. To tho
practical sanatory circumstances q hc.'
brother in-law, and to the conventional
criticism of her sister, she opposed the Same
defense: How else is ono to tell vixen il il;
summer in this ridiculous climate! And
| then, wooden is stufIy, color draws the SIT,
/ end ono at least knows when one is cloa,: OF
/ dirty Artistically the result was far from
unsatisfactory. 1t was pretty figure under
| the somhcr pines, against the gray granite
and the stc"ly sky, and seemed to lend tho
following fields from which the flowers had
/ already fed floral relief of color | do roi
think the few masculine waviarcrs of tbs.
locality objected to it; indeed, sorno had
betrayed an indiScrcct admiration. and hcc
curiously followed the invitation of Mis-
/ Hates warmly Colored figure until thcy lad
encountered the invincihlc Indifference OF
Miss kntc's cold gray eyes. With tkrt1
manifestations her brOthcr-in-law did not
| concern himself; he had perfect confidence
in her unqualified dislntcrcat in the neigh
boring humanity, and permitted hcr tc
wander in her solitary picturcspucrcss, q
accompanied her when she rode in her darl
green habit, with equal freedom fror
anxiety.
For Miss Scott, although only 90, hat
already subjected mo,t of her maihonly lin
sions to mature crtica! analyses. She he,
voluntarily accompanied her sister ans
mother To California, in the earnest mop
that nature contained something worth say
Ing to her, and was disappointed to find sh
had already discounted Its value in Inc page
of books She hoped to find vague free
dom IN this unconventional life thus opcnC,
to her, Or rather to show others that sh
knew how intelligently TO appreciate it. bu
as yet she was only able to express it in tn
one detail of dress already alluded to- Som
of the men, and nearly all of the women, sh
had met thus far, she was amazed to find
valued the convent onalitcs she believed sh
dcspised, and were voluntarily assuming tn
chains She thought she had thrown Off. In
stead of learning anything from them, the9
children of nature had bored her with cage
questionings regarding tie civilization IN
had abandoned, or rritated her with crud
limitations Of it for her benefit Fancy
she had written to friend in Boston, an,
calling on Sue Murphy, who remembered tin
Bonner tragedy, and who once shot Il grind
that was prowling round her cabin, an
think of her begging me to lend her Wy sac
for pattern, and wanting to know il pole
nays were still worn,' She remenhcrc
moro bitterly the romance that had tickle
her earlier fancy, told of two college friend
OF her brother-in-law who wero living d.
perfect life in the mines, laboring in til
. bitches with n copy of Homer in their pocket
, and writing letters Of the purcst philosoph
under the FREQ air of the pines. How, con
: ing Unexpectedly On them IN their Arcadia
the party found them unprescntabe throug
, dirt, and thcucelOrth unknowabe throug
domestic complications that had filed thei
Arcadan cabin with half-bred children
Much of this disllusion she had kcr
within her own heart, from feeling G
pride, or only lightly touched upon il in he
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