Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-04


query aside as unimportant rushing
eagerly to the essential point. When
could he see her again? His placdity
had gone. That morning he made some
vague excuse TO Shearer and set out
blindly down the river. And 30. with
out thought. without clear Intentions
even. he saw her again. 1t WAS near
the pole trail" which was less like
trail than rail fence.
When the SHOWS are deep and snow.
shoes not the property Of every man
who cares to journey, the old fashioned
| "role trail" Gomez into use 1t is mere
| ly a series OF horses built of timber,
across which thick Norway logs are
| laid about four feet from tie ground
to form continuous pathway. In
summer 1t resembles nothing So much
as n thick one rail ."rce Of consldcra-
| bic height. around which a fringe of
light brush has grown.
Thorpe reached the fringe or bushes
and was about to dodge under the
fence when he saw her, SO he stopped
short. concealed by the leaves and tho
timber horse.
she stood on n knoll in the middle Of
grove Of monster pines. There was
something OF the cathedral In the spot.
| The girl stood tall and straight among
the tall. straight pines Xix" Il figure On
an ancient tapestry. She WAS doing
nothing just standing there but the
, awe of the forest was in her wide.
clear eyes.
In Il moment she stirred slightly and
turned Drawing herself TO her full
! hei,,ht. she extended her hands over
her bead, palm outward, and with an
| indpscfihahly graceful gesture bowed IL
CorCMon.o,is adieu to tn" solemn tree .
| Then. with little laugh. abe noyc1
away in Tie direction of the river.
At Gree Thorpe proved "a great need
of seeing her again. In Lis present
mood there was nothing Of The awe
stricken peace he had experienced oft
or the moonlight adventure. lic want
cd the sight Of her az hc had never
wanted anything before. The strong
man desired it. And finding it inpos-
sible he ragged inwardly and tore the
. tranQuil,itIes Of his iieurt.
so 1t happened that he ate hardly at
Rll that day and slept i'll and discov-
cred the greatest difficulty in preserv-
ing the outward scnbancc of ease
which the presence Of Tin Shearer
and the Fighting Forty demanded.
And next day he saw her again. and
the next. because the need Of Ills heart
-, 10,
enough, she came every afternoon to
the ciump of pines by the old pole
trail. Hut now curiosity awoke and a
desire for something more. He must
speak to her. touch her hand. look in
to her eyes lie resolved to approach
her and the mere thought chokcd him
and sent him weak.
When be saw her again from the
shelter OF the pole trai' be dared nor,
and so stood there prey 10 novel
sensation, that of being bafried In an
intention. AS he hesitated he saw that
she was walking slowly In his dircc-
ton Perhaps hundred PAGES sep
arated the two She took them de-
hberately Her progression YVES &C.
rics Of poses, the one which melted
imperceptibly into the other without
appreciabie pause of transition.
In moment she had reached the
fringe OF brush about the pole trail.
| They stood face 10 face.
She gave a ltti start of surprise,
ana her hand leaped to her breast.
where il caught and stayed. Her CHILD
like housekeeping mouth parted n
| little more, and the breath quickened
| through It, But her eyes, her wide
trusting. innocent eyes, SOL. IT his aud
rested.
He did not move. One Oh either side
of the spikc-markcd Old Norway log OF
the trail they stood. auu for an appre
! ciable interval the duel OF their glNnces
! lasted-he mnst"rful. passionate. cx-
| igent; she proud, COOL defensive in the
alootness of her beauty. Then at last
4 his prevailed 4 faint color rose from
| ler NECK, dceponed and spread over her
face and forehead. In n moment she
! drOoped hereycs.
Don't you think you stare little
rudeiy. Mr.. Thorpc?" she asked.
The vision was over.
"iiow did you know my Nance" he
asked
! she planted both elbows on the Nor
/ way and framed her little face deli
ciously with Der long pointed hands.
"lf Mr. Harry Thorpe eau ask that
| question" she replied, 'he is not quite
30 impoltc rs had thought him"
How is that he inquired breath
lessly.
Don't You know who am?" she
asked in return.
~ goddess. Il beautiful woman" he
! answered Tdiculously enough
She looked straight at him. This tim,
his gaze dropped,
Il an Il friend of Elizabeth Carpcn
! ter. who il Wallace Carpenters sister
who believe. is Mr. Harry Thorpe's
partner"
She paused rs though for comment
/ The young man opposite was occupied
in many other more important i.rec
| tons.
1--WE wrote Mr.. Harry Thorpe thai
we were about 10 descend on his dis
trict Wit, wagons and tents ana Inli
ans and things, and asked him to come
and see us
The girl looked nj him for moment
steadily. then smiled, The change OF
countennncc brought Thorpe 10 himself
I vs.,I In, la,to