Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-17
THE BEST MAN.
Translated by Alice Elizabeth Northr,

"To have two lovers is not at all re-
markable! But when a girl doesn't know
which she loves best, that makes trou-
ble!'
Kathleen Summers lay In the hammock
on the lawn of her suburban home That
morning when she went driving with
him, Charles Reed had told her how
much he loved her. And she.-well If 1t
hadn't been for Dewitt Lee. whom she
liked and whom she knew loved her. al
though nc had not then spoken. she
would have accepted Charles. Later In
the day Dewitt also had pleaded his
cause. So kind and generous he was.
that she could not help loving him; but
somehow though unable to explain 1t
to herself. her love for Dewitt seemed
different from her love for Charles. She
promised neither, and thus matters
stood, as she lay musng in the ham,
mock with the sunlight slanting through
the big trees.
Charles Reed was a young physician;
Dewitt Lee a young lawyer The doctor
had medium height and the gentle man
ners that help to make the successful
physician. Dewitt had the personal at
trac Of finely built figure and
jolly somewhat brusuue manner Tho
two were good friends although oppo-
sites, the lawyers gaicty attracting tine
other with his serious disposition
One thing they had in common. was
their love for Kathleen. They each knew
it and respected it in the other Already
each had told the other to go ahead
and the unfortunate one will grind his
teeth and be best man."
Kathleen was n girl worth winning. NO
one could dispute that both doctor and
lawyer had reason to love her. brought
up ir tho old fashioned house which had
belonged to the Summers for generations
| lsn1 all
filming Influences Of the place. When Mr.
and Mrs. Summers returned, after an
| absence Of five years, with a wee. fair
haired lassic. there were fcw-saVe the
nurse they brought with themwho knew
she was other than their own flesh ana
blood. Mrs. Summers had always in
| tended Kathleen to know the fact OF
the adoption She dreaded that some
one might feel it a bounden duty to tell
| the girl when it would come as shock
| to her. But when the child said, Faith
| err" and Mother" and grow more ana
more loveable. both Mr.. and Mrs. Sum-
| mcrs put of the evil moment. until
through love and association. they al
most forgot she was not OF their own
kin.
Her laughing bright eyes had looked
only on the sunny side of life. and now
in her maidenhood she wore the bloom
Of blush rose and had a kind heart nm
willing to hurt a friend.
AS has been said. she was aware o. an
almost deeper feeling for Charles inci
for Dewitt. even while Dewitt seemed
both about the same time. AS friends
they had come together from the West
60 try their fortunes in tho East
"Oh dear" Kathleen meditated, ~ be-
lievc won't get married at all but JUS
live with Father and Mother and he ar
old maid" safe conclusion for an at
tractive girl Of twenty-five.
kathleen dear. where are you? Aren
YOU coming to dinner" her mother
voice called from the piazza.
What a prosaic ending to an tventfu
day" thought Kathleen, as she wen
towards the house.
Tho summer waned: Kathleen spen
part Of it at the seashore; the docto
spent his vacation abroad studying in
. German University. while the lawyer
as lawyers will ever do to win a suit
stuck by the case. Tho salt air was ais
necessary to his well-being.
Perhaps it was strolls in the evening
by the shore. blended with tn" effect o
the moonlight-cver willing aid t
r lovcrs--that led Kathleen finally t
choose Dewitt In truth she was lit
tie piauod to think Charles should hav
left her to pursue his studies abroad
while Dewitt left the law through one q
D the warm summer months to be her dc
voted companion.
. The wedding was to take place tn
next Juno. 1t was in April that Dewitt
said to Kathleen, do YOU know, Sweet
u heart that ! have really never told yo
one rather important event in my boy
hood? seldom think Of it; but 20
should know it. I'm an adopted son.
"Adopted." exclaimed Kathleen in
:, surprised tone.
y 1T was this way" continued Dewitt
. my father and mother died when wa
- about three years old. They had been
comfortable circumstances. but 10
- nothing. The Minister and his wi,
i adopted me: | never knew any differenc
= and loved them as if they were my ow
10 parents. AS told you, they died befoi
N | came East
e Were YOU the only child"'
&c "No, there was a baby sister. but
was told she did not live long.
do you know what your name was
asked Kathleen full of interest
- Yes, it was Richard Dewitt NJ
>, foster father and mother gave me the
10 name with my own for first name.
'e .You poor boy murmnred kathle'
~ eympathetically. did You feel bad
- when you found it OUT?
~ Well YOU see, | always knew it, al
~ besides dear. you know the story OF Il
20 two children. One said to the other
=. a taunting tone. your Papa and Man
- aren't your own; your nothing b
adopted.
T. The other quickly replied "Well' 70
10 Papa and Mama had to take you, b
-, mine chose mo from a hundred
Kathleen repeated the conversation
y, her mother the next day as they s
-, sewing She noticed the queer oXprf
- sion on her mothers face. Are YOU
~ Mother" she asked anXiously'
"a "H--he should have told you hetor'
ho said Mrs. Summers.
~, "Whv. surely" said Kathleen 81
;" prised; cit makes no difference, does
g. Dewitt said he seldom thought aoo
~, III. He really has no recollection
them
"No. il makes no difference, and NJ
w Summers began rapidly TO embroider
~ ", WHY MOTHERS