Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-26
CHATTER XIV.

gift Of penetration. knew shortly
that Mrs. Brewer. wise and prudent
woman that she was. had suspected
my love for Hope and her love for me
and had told her what she ought to say
II I spoke of it.
The maturity Of judgment in Hopes
answer must have been the result OF
much thought and counsel, 1t seemed
20 me.
ar you do not speak again I shall
Know you dO not love me any longer"
she had said. They were brave words
that stood FOX something very deep in
the character of those people-a self
repression that was sublime. often in
their women. As | said them to my
self those lonely summer days in Fara-
way | saw in their sweet significance
no hint OF the bitterness they were t.
bring. But God knows I have had N.
share of pleasure and no more bitter
ness than | deserved.
1t was a lonely SIMMER for me. |
had letters from Hope-ten Of them
which I still keep and read. often with
something Of the old pleasure-girlish
letters that told OF her work and
friends and gave me some sweet
sci and much assurance between the
lines.
Travelled in new roads that vacation
time. Politics and religion as well as
love began to interest me. Slavery
was looming into he proportion OF n
great issue, aud the stories of cruelty
and outrage on the plantations of the
south stirred my young blood and
made it ready for the letting of bat
lie in Gods time. The speeches in the
Benate were read aloud in our sitting
o after supper the day the Tribune
came. and all lent a tongue to their
discussion.
Jed Feary vas with us one evening,
I remember, when our talk turned into
long ways, the II of which ! have
never found to this day. Elizabeth had
been reading OF a slave who, according
to the paper. had been whipped to
death.
IF God knows at such things are
bein' done. why don't he stop 'em?'
David asked.
Cant very we'll" said jed Feary.
"Can II he's omnipotent." said David.
"That's Il bad word. n dangerous
one" said the old poet, dropping his
dialect as be spoke. 1T makes God re.
eponsible for evil as well as good. The
word carries MS beyond II depth. It's
too big for our boots. I'd ruther think
he can do what's do-able an know
what's movable. In the beginning he
gave laws to the world, an these laws
nrc Interchangeable. or they are not wise
and perfect. II God were to change
them he would thereby acknowledge
their imperfection. BY this law men
md races sutfe as they struggle up
ward. But If the law is Interchangeable
can it be changed for a better cause
even than the relief of a whipped
slave? In good time the law shall pun
ish and relieve. The groans of them
that suffer shall hasten it. but there
shall be no change in the law. There
ran be no change in the law
"Leetle hard t tell jest how powerful
God is" said Uncle Eb. Good deal
like tryin' { weigh Lake Champlain
with n quart pail an a pair O. steel
yards"
III Gods laws are Interchangeable what
is the use of praying?" / asked.
HE can give IFS, the strength to bear,
The will to obey him an light to guide
rs" said the poet.
Hope returned for a few days late in
August. Invitations We're just issued
for the harvest dance at Richards.
"You mus take 'er," said Uncle Eb
the day she came. "She's a purity
dancer as a man ever see. France
right up an tell 'er she mus 60. Don
want to let any one git ahead O. ye."
"Of course I will co." she said in an
swer to my invitation. II shouldn't
think you were a beau worth having If
you did not ask me-"
The yellow moon was peering over
Woody ledge when we went away that
evening. knew it was our last pleas
ure seeking in PARKWAY, and the crick-
ets in the stubblc filled the silence with
q kind Of mourning.
She looked so fine in her big hat and
~ avn ~ ihH u ulll uNNts
series Of lace and ribbon, adjusted
with 80 much patting and pulling. that
as she sat beside me l hardly dared
touch her for fear Of spelling some
thing. When she shivered n little and
said IL was growing cool I put my arm
about her. and as ! drew her closer to
my side she turned her hat obligingly
md said it was a great nuisance.
tried to kiss her then. but she put
her hand over my mouth and said
sweetly that | would spoil everything
II l did that.
IL must not let You kiss me, vii
Ham," she said. ''Not-not for all in
the world. I'm sure you wouldn't have
me do what l think Is wrong-would
you?"
There was but one answer to sucl
an appeal, and made myself Ms hap
ny as possible feeling her head upor
my shoulder and her soft hair touching
my cheek. As l think OF it now thu
trust she pat in me was something
sublime and holy.
"Then ! shall talk a~bout-about OIL
love-" I said. II must do something
promised I wouldn't let you" she
said. Then she added, after a moment
Of silence: "Ill tell you what you may
do. Tell me what Is your ideal In {
woman-the n you would love bes