Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-30

crying a good deal, on and on, since
her father died, poor thing" she added.
That would explain II, certainly, and
yet grief for her father might not be
the only cause of Frances Holladay's
tears.
"But che didn't seem vexed with
your"
"Oh. no. sir; she gave me q brooch
as I told you."
II fear can't promise you any.
thing" said Mr. Royce slowly, after a
moments thought. "Of course It's
none Of my business. for Miss Holiday
must arrange her household to suit
herself; yet, II you don't get back with
your old mistress, may perhaps he
able to find you a position somewhere
else. Suppose you come back in three
or four days, and I'll see what I can
do"
"All right. air. and thank you." she
said, and left the Office.
had some work of my own to keep
me busy that night, SO devoted no
thought to Frances Holiday and her
affairs. but they were recalled to me
with renewed force next morning.
did you get Miss Holladay's sig
nature TO that conveyance!" MIR. Cru
ham CHANGED 10 ask his partner in the
course of the morning.
mo. sir" answered Mr. Royce, with
| lust trace Of embarrassment. II
called at the house last night, but she
sent down word that she was too iii
10 see me or to transact any business"
Nothing serious. l hOpe!" asked the
other quickly.
mo. sir. think not. Just trace
of nervousness. probably"
But when he called again at the
house that evening he received sim
liar message, supplemented with the
news impaired by the butler. servant
of many years standing in the family.
that Miss Holiday had suddenly de-
cidcd to leave the city and open her
country place on Long Island. It was
only the end Of March, and SO n full
two months and more ahead Of the
season. But she was feeling very ill.,
was not able to leave her room. indeed,
and believed the fresh air and quiet
of the country would do more than
anything else to restore her shattered
nerves. - the whole household with
the excef1on Of her maid, cook,
house girl and undcrbutler. were to
leave the city next day IN order to get
the country house ready ut once.
Il don't wonder she needs little
toning up" remarked our chief sym.
pathetically. "She has gone through
n girl reared as she has been. Two
or three months Of quiet will do her
good. When does she expect to leaveY
I'm about a week. think. The time
hasn't been definitely set. 1t will de
pend upon how the arrangements &C
forward. 1t won't be necessary. viii
it. 10 bother her with any details OF
business? That conveyance, for in
stance
"Can wait till she gets back. No. we
won't bother her at all"
But it seemed that she had either i'm
proved or changed her mind, for two
days later a note. which her maid had
written for her. came to Mr.. Graham
asking him to call upon her in thu
course of the next twenty-four hours
as she wished to talk over some mat
tiers OF business with him. 1t struck
me as singular that she should ask fol
Mr.. Graham, but our senior called d
cab and started of at once without
comment. An hour later the door open
ed and he entered the Office with q
most peculiar expression Of counte
nance.
"Well, that beats me" he exclaimed
as he dropped into his chair.
Our junior wheeled around towart
him without speaking. but his anxiety
was plain enough.
ITO think that a girl 40 level headed
as Frances Holiday has always beel
should suddenly develop such whimsi
calities. Yet ! couldn't but admire he
grasp Of things. Here have l beer
thinking she didn't know anythin!
about her business and didn't care. bu
she seems to have kept her eyes open.
"Well?" asked Mr.. Royce as the 9th
er paused.
"Well, she started out by remindin,
me that her property had been left t
her absolutely. to do as she PLEASED
with. a point which I, of course. con
coded. She then went on to say tina
she knew Of number Of requests he
father had intended to make before hi
death, and which he would have mad'
IL he had not been cut off SO suddenly
that the requests were of such n Ia
ture that he did not wish his name t
appear in them. and that she was goini
to undertake to carry them out anony
mously."
"Well?" asked our junior again.
"Well," said Mr.. Graham slowly, "sh
} asked me to dispose at once Of such o
her securities as l thought best in or
der that l might place in her hands b.
tomorrow night 100000 in cash-'
cool hundred thousand
fro be coNTlNuRD.y