Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-02

J.uil'IistI HJu l'fIl SPl De- Wcc1 us
the whilr. and as we were eating it the
butler opened n big couch and threw
snowy sheets of linen over It and silk
en- covers that rustlcd az they fell.
"You will sleep there said my host
us his servant laid the pillows. "and
well. I hope"
thought | had better go 10 my own
lodgings.
Too late, too late" said he. and l..
les weary and half asleep. accepted his
profer of hospitality. Then, having
eaten, he left me. and ] got into bed
after turning the lights out. Some
thing woke me in the darl; of the night.
There was Il rustling sound in the
room. l raised my head n bit and lis
tened. 1t was the black curtain that
hung in the corner. ! imagined some
body striking it violently. | saw n
white figure standing near me in the
darkness. 1t moved away as | looked
at il. A cold wind was blowing upon
my face. l lay a long time listening.
and by and by I could hear the deep
voice Of Truinbiill as If he were groan-
ing and muttering in his sleep.
When il began to come light | saw
the breeze from m open window was
stirring the curtain of silk in The cor
ncr. l got out Of bed and. peering be-
hind the curtain, saw only Il great
white owl. Gagged and staring out Of
wide eyes that cleaned fiery In the
dim light. went TO bed again. sleep
ing until my host woke me in the late
morning.
After brrakfasting | went to the
chalet. The postman had been there,
but he had brought no letter. from
Hope. ! waited about home. expecting
to hear from her, all that day, only to
see it end in bitter disappointment.
New York was Il crowded city even
then, hut | never felt so lonely any.
where outside a camp in the big woods.
The last day OF the first week came.
but no letter from Hope. To make an
end OF suspense | went that Saturday
morning TO the home of the Fullars
The equation Of my value had dwin-
died sadly that week. Now n small
fraction would have stood for it-nay,
oven tho square Of il.
Hope and Mrs. Fuller had gone TO
Saratoga. the butler told mo. came
away with some sense Of injury. |
must try 70 be done with Hope. There
was no help for it. l must go to work
at something and cease to worry aud
lay awake of nights. Bat ] had moth
ing to do but read ana walk and wait.
NO word had come to me from the
Tribune. Evidently it was not Ian
gushing for my aid.
I began to see there was no very
clanorous demand for me in 'the
great emporium" as Mr.. Greeley call
ed it. | began TO see. CT thought I did.
why Hope had SHE'D ut my offer and
was now stunning me. ! went to the
Tribune Office. Mr.. Greeley had gone
to Washington; Mr.. Ottarson was too
bus" 10 see me. | concluded that
would he willing to take Il place on
II OF the lesser journals. spent
the day going from one office to anotll-
er. but was rejected everywhere with
thank1. CAM home and sat dowr TO
take account OF stock. First, | count
ed my money, of which there was
about SOC left. AS to my talents.
there were none left. Like the pies at
H~illSborough tavon. If "A man came
late to dinner they were all out. I
had some fine clothes. but no more use
for them than a goose for a peacock's
feathers.
I decided to take anything honora-
hln nc an Hpn11nnfinn avon tl,,,,,J, r.
We're not in one Of the learned profes-
sionS. ! began to answer ADVERTISE
ments and apply ut business Offices for !
something to give me Il living. but
with no success. began TO feel the
se%lfshness OF men. God pity the warm
and tender heart of youth when it be-
gins to harden and grow chill. as mine
did then: to put away its CHEEKY con
fdencc forever; to make a new osti- |
that time, O We good people that have
sons and daughters.
! must say for myself that I had a
mighty courage and no small capital OF
cheerfullcss. went to try my luck
with the newspapers of Philadelphia,
and there M Of them kept me in sus-
pense n week to NJ purpose. When !
came back. reduced in cash and cour-
age. Hope had sailed.
There was n letter from Uncle Eb |
telling mo when and by what steamer
they were to leave. "She will reach
there a Friday" he wrote. "and would
like to see you that evening at Full
"lcr's."
! had waited in Philadelphia. hoping
I might have some word to give her "a
better thought of me, and that night
after such a climax Of i'll luck-well, I
had need Of prayer for a hayward
tongue. l sent home a good account
Of my prospects. ! could not bring
myself to report failure or send for
more money. ! would sooner have
gone to work in a s%cullery.
Meanwhile my friends at the chalet
were enough to keep me in good
cheer. There was William Michigan, a
Scotchman Of a great gift of dignity
and a nickname inseparably connect
ed with his fame. lie wrote leaders
for n big weekly and was known as
"Waxy" Michigan to honor n pale
ear OF wax that took the place Of a
member lost nobody could tell how.
He drank deeply Mt times. but never
to the loss of his dignity or self nos