Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21


you have not sung, Alice, wish you
would sing it. l hate to have you
omit any
Il have only sung what was asked
to- she replied. us not that so, Mr.
Nason:"
That is true replied he boldly.
"and you have not sung one that
wouldn't enjoy hearing again tonight"
"Oh, l have enjoyed them ALL" said
Albert only thought you might have
missed one. and, as Frank remarked
coming home that he was hungry fol-
music wanted him satisfied
The next day they attended church.
only this time all three walked back
together. Alice was graciousness per.
sonifed. All her jokes and smiles and
all her cohversa ton were lavished
upon Frank. Several times Frank,
who intUitively felt she did not wish to
he left alone with him. started to ask
her to take walk that Sunday even
ing, but each time his discretion pre-
vailed. IF she is willing to listen to
any lovemaking. she has tact enough
unless she is l had better keep still"
The evening was one to tempt
Cupid, for the moonlight fell checke cred
through the half naked elms along the
roadway, and where here and there
group of naples stood was bit Of
shadow. The whippoorwills had just
returned to Sandgate. and over the
meadows scattered freflies twinkled.
The houses along the way to the vii
lage were wide apart and the evening
air just right for a lettering walk. To
Frank anxious to say n few words
that would further his hopes in the
direction of this bewitching girl, it
seemed Il waste of good time not to
take advantage of the evening. 1t was
almost past and the lights in the
houses across the valley had long since
vanished when he obtained little
consolation.
The charm Of the evening had stilled
conversation. and neither had spoken
for long time when he said rather
disconsolately: My anticipated visit is
almost over. May | ask vow TO 20 in
and sing just one song for me, Miss
TageT
with pleasure" she responded In
her sweetest tone; "what shall it be-
II will leave that to your selection"
he replied.
Without word she led the way in
and began searching among the pile of
music on the piano. and finding what
she wanted. opened and spread the
music on the rack.
1t was "Ben Bolt"
she sang it in minor key, and as
the opening words "Oh, don't you re-
member sweet Alice, Ben Bolt tioatcd
out on the still evening air they seemed
to him fraught with Il new meaning
and that Il yeritablc sweet Alice was
bidding him, another Ben Bolt, not to
forget her. When the last note had
faded into the night air she turned
her now serious eyes toward him.
Il thank you" he almost whispered
and there won't be many waking mo.
mcnts in my future when | shall not
think OF sweet Alice
1t was not much of love scene. but
to him it seemed wide open door of
hope, and when many miles separated
them, and for days, weeks and months
afterwarL even when doing his best
to crowd duh law reports into his
brain, the one tender glance she gave
him and the tones of her voice came
back with unfailing accuracy.
The first visit of Frank Mason to the
Page home, his sleighrides with Alice
and his appearance at church had
caused no end of comment. 1t was
known that he had been Il classmate of
Albert and came from Boston, and lat
or Aunt Susan vOuchsafed the infor
nation that she Guessed he came from
one o the first families and that he ap-
peared right we'll behaved"
1t was all she really did know, for
both Alice and her brother were con-
Siderate of her failings and knew it
was not safe to discuss their visitor in
her presence. The tempest of gossip
had not more than half quieted down
when it received a regular boom from
his second comifIg. The pupils OF the
north end district school spread the
news of their teachers unexpected
callers and that she had dismissed
school at once and gone on with the
stranger Old Amos Curtis, the miller,
told of their visit and, wonder upon
wonder how the next day "her beau"
had given him five dollar bill "jest
fer lcttin' 'em use u leaky old boat fer
an hour"
The buxom Abby Miles had the best
and longest story to tell, and her
praise of Mr.. Mason, how polite he was
and "how he couldn't keep his eyes
olf'n Alice all the afternoon" was
whispered to every girl she knew. The
five dollar incident created the most
gossip, however. The miller had re.
marked that young Teller who
threw money round that way must be
RICH" and that remark soon grew into
story that Alice Pages beau was
worth n million and that she was en-
gagged to him.
AS might he expected, the subject Of
all this gossip heard none Of 1t until
the storm had reached alarming bro.