Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-24

he uttered a cry and stopped. Helen
was standing beside the %hydrangeas
with both hands pressed TO her face
ana her eyes cast on tho ground. She
had run away rs far as she could run.
There were high fences extending
down to the creek on each side, and the
water was beyond.
"You.' he said. You. YOU"
She did not lift her eyes, but began
to move away from him with little
backward steps. When she reached
the bench on the bank she spoke with
n quick intake of breath and in a voice
he almost failed to hear, the mcrest
whisper, and her words came so slow
~ that sometimes minutes separated
them. Can you-will you keep NEON
the Herald?'
keep YOU
He came near her. II don't under
stand. Is 1t you-you-who are here
again."
Have YOU forgiven me? You know
-now-why | wouldn't resign? You
forgive my-that telegram?'
What telegram
"The n that came to you-this
morning"
Your telegram?
"Yes.'
did you send me one?"
ayes"
at did not come TO me-"
"Yes-it did"
"But-What was it about?"
ct WAS signed" she said: "it was
Signed She paused and turned half
away, not lifting the downcast lashcs.
Her hand. resting upon the back of the
bench, was shaking. She put it behind
her. Then her eyes were lifted Il little,
ana, though they did not meet his. lie
saw them, and a glory sprang into be.
ing in his heart, Her voice fell still
lower, and two heavy tears rolled down
her cheeks. at was signed" she whis.
pered. 1T was s!gncd-'II. Fisbec.'"
He hcgaN to trcmble from head &c
foot, There was Il long silence. She
had turned full away from him. when
he spoke his voice was as low as hers
and lie spoke rs slowly as she had
"Iou mean-tEu-tAen it was-youT'
Yes"
"You,'
eyes"
"And you-you have-you have been
here all the time:'
"All-all except the wcck-you We're
hurt"
The bright veil that wrapped then
WAS drawn away, and they stood in the
quiet, gathering dusk. He tired 10
loosen his neckband; it seemed to be
choking him. IL can't don't com.
rrehcnd it. | am trying 10 realize
what it all means
1T means nothing she answered.
There was an editorial yesterday"
he said, IAN editorial that | thought
was about Rodney McCunc. Did you
write it,"
Yes"
1T was about-me-wasn't it,"
yes"
1T said-lt said that-that I had won
thc-the-lovc of every person in Car
low county"
Suddenly she found hor voice. "DG
not misunderstood me-" she said rapld
~. 81 have done the little that | have
done out Of gratitude" She faced him
now, hut without meeting his eyes. -
owed you more gratitude than II WON
an ever owed a nan before, | think
and ! would lave died to pay a part
Of it,
"What gratitude did you w mcf'
"What gratitude? For what you dll
for my father"
Il have never seen your father in my
life"
Listen, My father is a gentle old
man with white hair and kind eyes.
MY name il my uncle's. lie and my
aunt have been good 10 me as n father
and mother since | was seven wears
Old. and they gave me their name by
law ana ! lived With them. My ia.
thor came to sec me once n year. | nev.
cr came 10 Sce him. He always told me
everything was we'll with him, that his
lie was happy, and | thought it was
easier for him not having me to take
~ VI, ht mas bttH 81 Door ever since
was a child. once he lost the little
he had left to him in the world, his
only way Of making his living. lie had
no friends. he was hungry and dcspcr,
ate, and he wandered. | was dancing
ana going about wearing jcwels-only
did not know. All the time the brave
heart wrote me happy letters. | should
have known, for there was one who
did and who saved him. When at last
came TO see my father he told me-hc
had written of his idol before, but II
was not till ! came hat he told it all
TO me. DO you know what ! felt?
While his daughter was dancing co.
tillons a stranger had taken his hand
and-and'- A sob rose in her throat
and checked her utterance for a mo-
ment, but she threw up her head proud
~. Gratitude. Mr.. Harkless" she
cried, II nm James Fisbee's daugh-
teri"
He fell back from the bench with a