Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-11

So she cried sayly. "All that de-
bate about pretty speech" Then.
sinking before him IN courtesy. II am
beholden to you" she said. do yo;
think no man ever made little Dat.
lry for me before tonight"
At the edge OF the orchard. where
they could keep M unseen watch on the
garden and the bank Of the creek. Judge
Briscoe and Mr.. Todd were ensconced
under an apple tree. the former still
armed with his shotgun. When the
young people got up from their bench,
the two men rose hastily, then saunter.
ed slowly toward them. When they
met, Harkless shook each Of them cor.
daily by the hand without seeming 10
know 1t.
I'VE were coming to look for YOU"
explained the judge. William was
afraid 10 60 home alone thought some
one might take him for Mr.. Harkless
and shoot him before he got into town.
Can you come out with Willetts in the
morning, Hnrkless." he went on, "and
60 with the young ladies to see tho
parade? And Minnie wants you to stay
to dinner and go to the show with them
In the afternoon"
Harkless seized his hand and shook IL
and then laughed heartily as he accept.
ed the invitation.
At the gate Miss Sherwood extended
her hand to him and said politely,
while mockery shone from her eyes:
Good night. Nj Harkless. l do net
leave tomorrow. am very glad to have
met you"
I'VE are going to keep her all sum.
mer. IL we cam" said Minnie. weaving
her arm about her friends waist.
You'll come in the morning."
Good night. Miss Sherwood" he re.
turned hilariously. ut has been such
a pleasure TO meet you. Thank you 50
much for saving my life. It was very
good Of you, indeed. Yes; in the morn.
ing. Good night, good light" He
shook hands with all Of them. includ.
ing Mr.. Todd, who was going with him.
He laughed all the way home, and Will
liam walked at his side in amazement.
The Herald building was a decrepit
frame structure on Main street. 1t
had once been small warehouse and
was now sadly in need Of paint. Close.
ly adjoining it, in a large, blank looking
yard, stood low brick cottage, over
which the second story of the old ware
house leaned in an effect Of tipsy at.
lection that had reminded Harkless,
when he first saw It, Of an old Sunday
school book woodcut Of an inebriated
parent under convoy Of devoted child.
The title to these two buildings and
the blank yard had been included in
the purchase OF the Herald, and the
cottage was the EDITORS home.
There was light burning upstairs
in the Herald office. From the street
a broad, tumbledcwn stairway ran up
on the outside Of the building to the
second floor. and at the stairway rail-
ing John turned and shook his COM
panlon warmly ny the hand.
Good night. William" he said. 1T
was plucky of you to Join in that muss
tonight. | shan't forget it,
Il jest happened to come along" re-
piled the ether awkwardly. Then.
with portentous yawn, he asked,
"Ain't We gon' TO bed?''
"No: Parker wouldn't allow it."
"Well," observed William, with an
other yawn. which threatened to ex-
pose the veritable soul Of him. *
d'know how We stand it. It's closte on
IL o'clock. Good night"
John went up the steps. singing
aloud
For tonight we'll merry. merry be.
For tonight we'll merry. merry be"
and stopped on the sagging platform
at the top Of the stairs and gave the
moon good night with a wave OF the
hand and friendly laughter. At this IL
suddenly struck him that he was TWEEN.
ty-nine vars Of age and that he had
laughed = great deal that evening.
laughed and laughed over things not
in the least humorous. like an excited
schoolboy making n first formal call,
that he had shaken hands with Miss
Briscoe when he left her as If he should
never see her again; that he had taken
Miss Sherwood's hand twice in one
very temporary parting; that he had
shaken the judges hand five times and
Williams four.
"Id!ot"' he cried. What has hap
pened to me-" Then he shook his fist
at the moon and went in to work, he
thought.