Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-08-07
CHAPTER XXXVII.


usual to Alice Page. The summer idyi
had passed, and though it left scar
on her heart she had resolutely de-
tes-m ined to put the sweet illusion out
of her mind. Il was very foolish 10
let him see that l cared she thought
''for it can never be, and by and by
he will forget me, or if he does THINK
of me it will be to recall me as one OF
his summer girls who had fit or Sill
liness."
Her heart ached at times, and III
spite of all resolution her fingers would
ence in awhile stray to the chords OF
ben Bolt" She answered his letters
in a cool, matter of fact way. Occa-
sionally. when he referred to his heart
hunger and how hard he was studying
in hopes that she might think better
of him, she wished that he had no
purse proud and naughty mother 10
stand between him and poor girl, ana
her next letter would be more chilly
, than ever. What perhaps was bitter
sweet thought was the fact that the
colder she answered him the warmer
his next letter would be. He happened
| to mention once that his mother had
spoken Of a certain young lady, VINO
belonged to the cream of Boston So
ciety, as an eligible match and advised
him to show her a little attention. Ii
did not help his cause.
How grateful she was all through
those melancholy autumn days that she
had a large school to absorb her
thoughts. She was having long ana
hard fight with her own feelings, and
imagined she had conquered them
when Thanksgiving time drew near
and her brother announced he Woulu
run up and spend the day with her.
She almost cried for joy at the news,
for proud spirited Alice Page was feel
ing very heart hungry when the letter
came. Albert was just little surpr1s-
ed at her vehement welcome.
ooh, 1 have been so lonesome, Ber-
tie,'' she said when they were alone,
land the evenings drag by so slowly!
Then you do not write me as often or
such nice letters as formerly, and Aunt
Susan never seems to notice that l am
blue If it were not for my school L
should go crazy, 1 think
Il am very busy these days, SIS"
Albert replied, "and my mind is all
taken up with work Mr.. Nason's
business is increasing, and l have many
clients besides him" Then he added,
How did you like Blanch Nason?"
"Oh, she was very NICE" replied
Alice coolly, land if she were a poor
l 7 YIN
to love her. AS it is, it is useless for
me to think of her as a friend. 1t was
good of her to pay me a visit, though,
and 1 enjoyed every minute of it."
And what about Frank? Did he
not say lot of sweet things to you?"
/ Alice colOred. i-a5 5.i a
"Oh, he is nice enough she answer
ed, "and tried to make me believe be
had fallen in love with me, but it won't
do any good. am sure his managing
mamma will marry him to some thin
girl with a fat purset
$50 that is the way the wind blows
my sweet sister, is it? And yet my
possible future law partner has beer
humming Ben Bolt nearly every day
for the past two months! You mus
have smiled on him very sweetly wheI
he was here"
please do not say any more abOu
him, Bert" she answered with little
pain in her voice. HE is all right, bu
l ain too poor and too proud to satisf.
his mother, so that is all there is to it.
Then she added in self protection
: Tell me about the island girl 1 heard
YOU fell in love with on the yachting
trip and for whom you deserted thu
crowd" Albert looked confused. Il
is true, Bertie," she said quickly. 6
;. can see it in your face. That explains
? your short letters. / shall feel more
. desolate now than ever"
"Alice, my sweet little sister," he re
!, piled, resolutely drawing his chair nea
: and taking her hand, cit is true, and
;. intended to tell you all about it, onl.
l hated to do it at first and so put !
off. She is more than pretty, she il
: beautiful, and the most unaffected an
= tender hearted girl I ever met. Blu
you need not worry. She is so devoted
: to the two old people who have brough
!. her up as their own that she will no
!. leave them for me as long as the.
live"
= Then he frankly told Alice the entir
: story of his waif of the sea and how
= she had refused to yield to his plead
ing.
y And now, sweet sister," he said a
. last Il have q plan to unfold, and
want you to consider it WELL 1 an
= now earning enough to maintain
II home, and 1 am tired of boardin
:, house life. 1t is not likely l shall mar
: ~ the girl I love for many years t
; come, and there is no need for US to b
!, separated in this way. l think it
, best that we close the house or rent j
q for the present, and you and Aunt SU
+ san come to Boston. l can hire pref
n ty fat, and we can take down such o
= the furniture as we need and store tn
= rest. What do you think of the plan
- ''Oh, l shall be so glad of the change
BERTHE! 1t is so desoIate here, and