Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-29
HER SECRET.

0'rom the Russian Of y. y. Lcnder)
The soft melancholy southern autumn
was at Its height Tho days were still
worry beautiful Al r9cioty of the little
Gown Of r. wa divided up into groups
deyoting these last warm evenings to
walks and suburban trips. little circle
had gathered at the country house OF
Andrei Petrontch Gavrilof, the local
land-ho and mine-ownor 1t was a
beautiful home on the high shores of the
Sea of AZOf
our circle aboundcd In young people.
I There We're the young engineers who
! brought to light the unknown riches OF
the Azof district. a doctor, an official, 4
st. Petersburg man. and a regular flower
garden OF young girls. II THIS uttis cir.
Gle Of ours were rich In anything Il was
in youth We never got tired on our
walks, We were never disappointed In tho
plan. and hopes Of our youthful iife.
The boat is ready" Andrea Fetrontch
announced to his guests. do take a
ride
We went down the hill to the landing
| The young doctor took the helm, the rest
the oars. then the ladies and the young
eirls quickly got into the large boat
rocking gently at the owners private
dock.
Liza, 14gochka,! No FRANKS this
time, beg you" said very stout heavy
woman to her back-eycd daughter, a real
bcaHv "i a gipsy-like type.
'tr. don bc alarmed. mamma" She
! answer laughing. Il am tired OF
praut4 myself You may stay here in
reac, in tho garden but we are going
rowing. ! shat, be serious and sedate
I shall look at the sky at tn" stars ana
Will sigh lanEuidly. ! won't stir"
The starry night that had just begun
wa in truth magnificent. he calm sea,
the moist warm air and the glorious
stavs-all made wonderful melancholy
picture.
The boat glidcd off from the shore but
oven AT a great distarce we could distn-
gUish tho yellow lights of the house
acainst the green BACKGROUND.
What ii night" exclaimed blacl5-eyed
Liza. "What poetry, what charm Let
us got up a concert on the water. Peter
Petrontch. you can sing so begin some
thinG----'
Peter Petrontch, young engineer. did
not wait 70 be entrcatod. Soon the CAL
surface Of the sea resounded with SONS.
lie sang "BlaclI Eyes, Bright Eyes" The
words of tho romance were emphasized
by the singers, as though on purpose so
that blacl,-oycd Liza might take them to
hcsolf
The sounds noated in tho air. the boat
rocked gently from side to side. Every
ono w2s very merry. The "eyes" Of the
duet begun by the young engineer and
taken up by Liza changed into n chorus.
The doctor accompanied in a soft bari
tone.
"Ah, Peter Petrontch." began Liza
when tho last sound of the romance had
died away "lf you only knew how hate
fui such nights are TO me sometimes"
my dear young lady" replied the en-
Gineer in the tone OF a prcceptor. you
were Just going into raptures about the
night"
"WeH am enrsptured by it and I
hate il. For you know, my friend, that
Inconsistencies are natural to us women.
How beautiful ii is now. and yet there
is something sad about IT, something l
cannot grasp-
"Your heart Is not occupied. Put
who is there to prevent you from falling
In love-"
IL am in love. deeply in love-
THAT Is confession. Don't be so
frank" rosounded several voices in the
boat.
'Must it be n secret, then that am in
love?'--answered black-eyed Liza looking
at them all smlingly and fearlessly. "ro
he sure, whom | am in love with. that
is a real secret" she added quickly and
began to laugh.
And won't you tell anyone this
secret?'