Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-25

less thnn n hundred mlles--when he
has always liked and admired you
above all the rest of mankind? know
that he has tried time and again to
hear of you, but the other men wrote
that they knew nothing, that It was
thought you had gone abroad. | had
heard Of you, and so has he seen your
name in the Rouen papcrs-about the
White Caps and in politics-but lie
would never dream Of connecting the
Plattville Mr.: Harklcss with his Mr.
Harkless; though did, just little, in
II vague way. I knew you, OF course.
when you came into Mr.. Halloways
lecture the other evening. But why
haven't you written to my cousinf'
"Roucn seems rather far away to
me-" he answered quietly. 1--WE been
there only once, half n day on business.
Except that. I've never been much far
Their than Amo-and then for conven-
ton or to make a specch--since came
here"
"Wickcd." she exclaimed, "to shut
yourself up like this! ! said II was fine
to drop ont Of the world. but why have
YOU cut off YOUR old friends from YOU?
Why haven't you had relapse now
md then and come over to hear ysaye
play and Melba sing, or to see Mans
field or Henry Irving, when we have
had themt And do you think you've
been quite fair to Tom? What right
had you to assume that he had forgot
ten you:'
ooh. | didn't exactly mean forgot
ten" he said, pulling blade of grass
to and fro between his fingers and
staring ut it abscntly. ITS only that
have dropped out Of the world, you
know. They rather expected me 10 do
a lot of things. and l haven't done
them. Possibly it is because am SEN
sitive that | never lei Tom know. They
expected mo to amount to something
but don't believe his welcome would
be less hearty to q falurc-he Is II
good heart"
"Failurc." she cried and clappcd her
hands and laughed.
I'm really not very tragic about IL
though | must seem consumed with
self pity" he returned. smiling. 1T is
only that lave dropped out Of the
world while Tom is still in it,
Dropped out Of the world"" she
echoed impatiently cant you see
you've dropped into it? That you
Last night was honorcd by your
praise Of my graceful mode of quitting
it,"
and so you wish mo TO be consist
emit" she retorted scornfully. What
becomes of your gallantry when We
abide by reason
True enough; equality is n denial Of
privilege"
"And privilege Is a denial of equal
ity? | don't like that at ali" She
turned a serious, suddenly illuminated
face upon him and spoke earnestly
ITS my hobby, | should tell YOU. ant
en- always sounding the personal note.
1t should be sounded as we would
sound it. And think we could bea
the loss of privilege -
He laughed and raised a protestn:
hand. But we couldn't
NO you couldn't. It's the ribbon O
superiority in your buttonhole. know
several women who manage to liv,
without men 10 opcn doors for them
and | think | could bear TO let ma,
pass before me now and then or wea
his hat in an office where | happcne,
TO be. and | could got my own ice at
dance, ! think. possibly with even les
fuss and scramble than I've sometime
observed in the young men who hav
done il for me. But you know yol
would never let us do things for our
selves, no matter what legal cqualt.
might be declared, even when we ge
representation for our taxation. 70,
will never 4, able TO deny yourselve
giving us our privilege" hate bein
waited on. Id rather do things 70
myself"
, She WINS so earnest in her satire. g
full of scol'n and so serious in her mea II
, Ing. and there was such n contrast be
tween what she said and her person
she looked so prominently the prett
, marQuise, the little exquisite, so essen
, italy 10 be waited on and helped, t
have cloaks thrown over the Gampnes
, for her 10 tread upon, TO he run abou
, for-hr could SEQ half dozen youth
rushing about for Ter ices. for her cal
- riage, for her chaperon, for her wraI
- at danc"s-that to save his life h
, could rot rcprcss chuckle. He mar
g aged TO make it inaudlhlc, however
and ii was as well that he did
= Il understand your love of newspt
G per work." she went on less vehcmen
|. ly, but not less earnestly. Il have n
:. ways wanted to do it myself, wante
J. to Immensely. | can't think Of nor
,. fascinating way of earning ones Ii,
p ing. And | know i could do it. VIII
, don't you make the Herald a dailyf'
o To hear her speak of learning one
q living was too much for him. Sh
# gave the impression of riches nc
h only By the fine texture and fashioniE
"a of her garments, but one felt that In,
, ures had wrapped her from her brit
Il He had not had much time to wouds
. what she did in Plattville. 1t had o.
a Cured to him that it was n little cd
y that she could plan to spend any eAtel
"a OF time there, even if she had like
T. Minnie BriscOe Mt school. He felt tia
a she must have been sheltered and pc
{, ted and waited on all her HE. o.
Z could not help yearning to wait on he
a. lie answered inarticulatcly. so
h some day" in reply TO her question an
,l.-l.,