Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-31

| to meet him, while Absalom came To
take his horse, a great concession.
Godfrey knew.
yes, sab. Massa Godfrey. Missy
Jane am home. sah," Gabriel de-
clared, too sure of the fact to wait
TO ask his young mistress about IL.
Godfrey, anticipating a better OPP
portunity for private converse with
Jane outside. declined the invitation
to enter the house and settled him
self upon ono Of the seats which
ran along the side Of the portico.
Lightning bugs were flashing among
the trees of the avenue: katydid
set mp a plant in the wistaria vine
beside him; in the dark depths Of the
woods an owl was hooting. The ST.
lencc of night was falling. and with
il had come the night-sounds.
Gabriel hurried mp TO James room
to announce Godfrcy's arrival, and
not finding her there FASTENED with
the utmost confidence to Mr.. Ellery's
sitting room. for at this time in tho
evening Jane and her stepmother
were likely to be with tho Invalid.
Gabriel did not know, as the oder
servants of the David Ellcry house
hold knew, that young Worthington
was not in favor with Mrs. Ellcry.
Jane, who had been reading to her
father. let fall the book into her
lap at his announcements of Worth
ington's arrival. while Mrs. Ellery
dropped her embroidery. An in
stants uneasy silence pcrvadcd the
apartment
"Thc insolencc," said Mrs. Ellerv
Mt last. "lInW dare he come here in
this high handed manner? And how
has he escaped the British? When
last VIC knew of him, he was their
captive. only saved by Col. Rcssc-
mcr's great clcmcncy from being n
corpse. No doubt he is now n fugi-
tive. fleeing from them. and relies
upon you. Jane, to aid his escape or
to hide him here Was there ever
such audactiy? Gabriel. tell the man
to be vonr; that under no considcra-
ton viii Miss Jane sec him.
Up rose Jane. and laid her book
upon the nearby table with an en-
phatic slap. YOU must permit me"
she said, looking coldly at her step
mother and for once blind to the
nervous frown which had gathered
upon her fathers brow and to The
wistfu look which ever came into
his eyes ut sign of disagreement he
tween her and his wife, you must
permit me to deal with my visitors
as | see fit. Gabriel you may go"
She swept from the room, ont into
the hall. and halfway down the
stairs: and then she stopped --
stopped to collect her thoughts: to
still the fut >r of her heart; to plan
her mode of procedure.
Godfrey. sitting upon the portico,
gazing into the peaceful night. was
thinking Of tho beauty of the sur
roundings of the luXuriousness of
James home. II required no little
courage. no small amount of self
confidence. TO ask her 10 leave il for
him; and that she could think
enough of him TO do it--ah, that was
the wonderful thing.
Yet, If All went well. when this wal
was over, when American success
was assured, as he never doubted il
would he. he could offer her home
scarcely less beautiful. for he would
accept his grandfather's offer tc
manage for him his estates in Vir.
ginia. Settled in the great white
house under the Virginia oaks and
walnuts. Jane would miss but little
Of the luxury Of her present abode
There was a flutter of white upoI
the staircase, n soft step across th'
hall. Godfrey sprang to his feet
Jane" he cried. holding out botl
hands; but the one hand Jane gave
him was cold-cold despite the fra
grant warmth of the night.
"Ah. Jane" cried Worthingt on
tho heat of his own emotions
making him impervious for the nonc'
to the chill of her demcanor. "hov
have longed for this moment. fo
this opportunity to see You, since
that blessed night when you save,
= my life: and did far more than saw
it-made it worth the living by tell
ing me that YOU loved me. 1t seems
incredible that but four days hav'
: passed since then. They seem rather
like four months. SO tagging has beer
each iAumcnt until l could acSin b
: with you"
With an effort Jane freed her han'
, from his strong clasp and move,
away from him 10 the edge of Tia
= portiCo.
Capt. Worthincton," she said
= without looking AT him, II pray tina
= YOU viii forge; that night and al
$ that occurred then. Let Us cancel i
- from our memory"
, Cancel it," he gaspcd. "Cnnce
- IT? Jane. what do you mean? |
? this some joke, some wiiticisni. tina
I ! am too duh to see the huinor of 80
. May" she answered. half turnn:
= towards him and speaking in vote
whose sweetness was lost in over
hrmncss, when tell You that | an
hetrothcd TO Col. TeSscmor You vii
possibly understand
"Bctrothcd to Con. HcSscmcr? An,
since when?" lie came closer
i "Since When? We're YOU. perhaps. be
tr"thed to him that night when go,
risGed your life TO save mine: whel
what made that life worth the say