Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-17

and there ensued what was TO her nm
almost intolerable pause Of expecta
ton while the crowd assaulted the win
dows Of the smoker, leaping up and
climbing on each others shoulders 10
catch the first glimpse Of him. Rriscoe
and red faced young man "a stia niger
to Plattville) came down the steps
laughing like boys, and then Heating
and Bcncc, and then Warren Smith.
AS the lawyer. reached the platform nc
turned toward the door Of the car anC
waved bis hand as in welcome. "Her,
he is, boys" he shouted.
At that il was as If all the noise that
had gone before had been mere leak
age of pent up enthusiasm. A thousand
horns blared doafcningly: the whistle
of the locomotive and that of Hib
bard's mill were added to the din; the
courthouse bell was pealing out wei
come. and the church bells were ring
ing; the cannon Numbered, and thcL
cheer on cheer shook the air rs John
Harkless came out under the flags and
passed down the steps Of the car.
When Helen saw him over the heads
of the people and through hea wing tn
mutt of flags and hats and haudker'
chiefs she suddenly gave Il frightened
glance about her ana Jumped doNr
from her high perch and sank into the
back seat of the blackboard, with hcI
burning face turned from the station
and her eyes fixed on the ground. She
Oh 1No1
from him the first time she ever saw
him. and then. as now. ho came in tri
umph, hailed by the plaudits Of his eel
lows and now, as on that long depart
cd day OF her young girlhood, he wa,
borne high over the heads of the reo
pie, for Minnie cried To her TO look
they were carrying him on their Shout
ders to his carriage. She had had only
that brief glimpse of him before h,
was lost in the crowd that was SO glac
TO get him back again and so proud o.
him; but she had seen that he looked
very white snd solemn.
Hriscoe brought Tom Meredith
through the crowd and put him in tn,
blackboard beside Helen. Gan right
Ligp" called fine judge to Willetts, wht
was at the horses heads. you go sc
into line with the boys; they want yon
Wen 60 down on Main street to sec
the parade. he explained, gathern.
the rens in HIS hand.
"Did YOU tell him about Mr.. Halo
way" asked Helen, leaning forwarc
anNiou>ly.
"Warren told him before we left th,
car" answered Brscoc He'd hay,
declined on the spot, | expect, if we
hadn't made him sure it was all right
with Hedge"
IF understood what Mr.. Smith wa,
saying, Holloway must have behaved
very we'll" said Meredith.
The Judge laughed He saw II wa.
the only way to beat McCune. and hc'o
have given his life and Hairless too
rather than let McCune have it."
why did you leave Mr.. Ilark lessT
Helen asked her cousin, her eyes moi
meeting his
My dear girl" he replied. because
for some ineXplicable rea son. my lady
cousin has not nominated me for con
gress and, oddly enough, the updis
eliminating hultltude were not cheer
ing for me; the artillery was not in &C
tion 10 celebrate me: the band was no,
playing 10 do Inc honor. Why should
ride in the midst Of a procession tina,
knows ne not? Why should ! en-
throne me in an open harouChe, with
TOUR white horses TO draw it and draped
v.rh slAen flags? Since these things
We're not for me, ! few to your aide tc
Ensemble mk spleen under the licensed
prattle Of n cousin"
Then who is with him."
The population of this portion Of In
diana. take it,
ooh, It's all right said the judge,
leaning back TO speak 10 Helen. Cheat
ing and Smith and your father are to
ride in the carriage with him You
needn't he afraid Of any Of them letting
him know that II. Fisbee Is lady.
Everybody understands about that OF
course they know it's TO be left to you
to break il TO him how girl has run
his paper"
The old gentleman chuckled and look
ed out Of the corner Of his eye at his
daughter, whose expression was in
scrutable.
"l' cried Helen. 81 tell him, Nc
one must tell him. He need never know
it."
RriScoe reached back and patted her
cheek, GLOW long do You suppose he
will he here in rlattvlle without its
leaking OUT
But when they kept watch over
him for months nobody told him.
"Ah," saiH Briscoe, but this is dif.
fcrent'
mo, no, no." she exclaimed. at
must be kept from him somehow"
Hell know it by tomorrow; 80 you
better tell him this evening"
This evening""
eyes; yonll have good chance"
Il Will
"He's coming TO supper with MS he
and your father, of course, and Heating
and Renee and Boswell and Smith and
Tom Martin and lige, We're going tC
have a big time, with You aud Mimi,
to do the houors. and we're all coming
into town afterwnrd for the fireworks
and III let him drive you in the phae
ton. You'll have plenty OF chances tC
talk il over with him and tell him al
about it,"
Helen gave little gasp. "Nevcr"
she cried "Never,'
I-l,n al 10