Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-19

back for another vacation the fields
were aglow with color and the roads
were now overdrifted with meadow
music and the smell Of clover. I had
creditably taken examination for col.
lege, where I was to begin my course
In the fall, with q scholarship. Hope
had made remarkable progress in music
and was soon going to ~Ogdensburg for
instruction.
A year had gone nearly since Jed
Feary had cautioned me about falling
in love. I had kept enough Of my heart
Sbout me ITO do business WITH" but I
had continued to feel an uncomfortable
absence In the region Of II. Young men
Mt Hillsborough-many Of whom, I felt
sure, had a smarter look than had
bid %stubbornly for Hopes favor. I Won
dercd often II did not turn her head
this tribute Of rustic admiration. But
she seemed to he all unconscious Of its
cause and went about her work with
small conceit of herself. Many a time
they had tried 10 take her from my arm
at the church door-a good natured
phase Of yovthful rivalry there in those
days-but size had always said laugh
ingly, mo, thank you," and chung all
the closer to me. Now Jed Feary had
no knowledge Of the worry It gave me
or Of the peril it suggested. knew
that II I felt free to tell him all he
would give ne other counsel.
! was now seventeen and she n bit
older, and had I not heard Of many
young men and women who had been
engaged--aye, even mnrried-at that
age? Well. as It happened. a day be.
fore she left us to 20 to her work i'm
Ogdensburg. where she was to live with
her uncle. I made m end of delay. I
considered carefully what n maj ought
to say in the circumstances, and |
thought had near an accurate notion.
We were in the garden tOgethcr-the
playground of our childhood.
Hope, | have a secret to tell you,"
l said.
"a secret" she exclaimed eagerly. IL
love secrets"
"a great secret" I repeated, as I felt
my face burning.
"Why, 1t must be something awful"
mot very I stammered. Having
missed my cue from the beginning, 1
was now utterly confused.
william" she exclaimed. "what il
the matter Of your
II nm in love-" said I, very awk.
wardly.
as that nlly" she answered, n trace
of humor in her tone. Il thought It
was bad news"
l stopped to pick a rose and handed
it to her.
WELL" she remarked soberly, but
smiling n little as she lifted the rose to
her lips, lis it any II l know
l felt 1t was going badly with me,
but caught n sudden inspiration.
you have never seen her" I said.
If she had suspected the truth l had
turned the tables on her, and now she
into her face, and for a moment ii gave
me confidence.
SIS she pretty?" she asked very
seriously as she dropped the flower aud
looked down, crushing it beneath her
foot.
'Shc is very beautiful. 1t is you l
love, Hope"
"A food of color came into her cheeks
then, as she stood a moment looking
down at the flower in silence.
II shall Keep your secret" she said
tenderly and hesitnting as she spoke,
"ani when you are through college
and you nre Older-and l am older-nnd
You love me as You do nOw-I hope-I
shall love you, tOo-as-I do now"
I1er lips We're trembling as she gave
me that sweet assurance. denrer to me
far dearer-than all else | remember
Of that golden time. and tenrs were
corTsing down her cheeks. For myself
l was In a worse plight of emotion. l
dare say she remembered also the look
of my face in that moment.
"Do not speak Of it again" she said
as we walked away together on the
shOrn SOC of the orchard meadow, now
sOwn with apple blossoms. until we
are older. and If you never speak again
l shall know you-you do not love me
any longer"
The dinner horn sounded. We turn.
cd and walked slowly back.
ID l look all right?" she asked. turn
ing her face to me and smiling sweetly.
"All right" l said. Nobody would
know that any n loved y~ou-except
for your beauty and that one tear track
on your cheek"
She wiped 1t away as she laughed.
Mother knows anyway" she said,
Nop1 cl,o hoc ut,,or ~ uonJ o1,,too