Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-24

IH
n wreath Of green leaves around the
neck of the slumbering Billie. II was
know the exact truth. I ran way to
keep from being married for my
money. I had an idea that a match
making friend was connecting q
scheme to deprive me of my liberty"
Ferroll showed n sudden interest.
I'VE have n bond OF sympathy" he
raid, watching his creditable perform
ance at making smoke rings in the
calm summer air. ~ have nm aunt in
Newport who was absolutely deter
mined I should visit her this summer.
She had picked out a rich old maid
who owned n lovely cottage, and had
1t all planned thnt I was to 90. to see
and TO conquer snid spinster. So. you
see, I came down here to keep from
being forced into marrying for money"
II used to know some people In New
port. What's your aunt's name?
she asked, with prctcnse of idle curl.
osity.
"Mrs. Fenlon. She has been there
for the last three years only" And
his observation being concentrated on
his newest smoke ring. he failed to see
the crimson that flushed her face when
he mentioned the name OF her own next
door neighbor at Newport.
Billic's mistress sat under the tree
by the creek one day until she had fin
ished her book, and still Ferroll had
not appeared.
She leaned over and patted the dogs
head.
ITS the first time in three weeks
that he has not been here first, Billie"
she said.
Billie gave a snort that either px-
pressed ridicule for the anxiety in her
voice or diSnpprovnl Of having his ears
rubbed the wrong way: then he sud-
denly sat up to listen, and in n few
minutes Ferroll came down the path.
For the first time he came without
his fishing tackle. lie threw himself
down on the ground beside them and
scowled into the dogs welcoming eyes
'Billic, want you to know that I'm
an egrcgious idiot. Perhaps you will
be somewhat at sea as to the meaning
of cgrcgions, but l assure you it's the
very worst kind of idiot"
Miss Winchester raised her eyebrows
in sympathetic surprise.
suppose you tell us how you became
aware of your mental defects" she
suggested.
He pulled the dogs head ove on his
knee.
billie. l dare not tell how l dis
were the fact of my idiocy. Last
night when | left the creek l was n
happy man. ! had determined to come
down here this morning md ask You
how you would like to live in a house
with Il doctors sign OF II. had n
faint hope that your mistress would
hate to give you up and would come.
too. to look after you. you know. But.
Billie. that hope is as dead as q door
nail. l Ind n letter from my aunt this
morning. md she mentioned casually
oh. yes. darn casually-thnt she was
glad l had postponed my visit. as Miss
Julia Winchester was not Mt home and
she would not have me miss having n
trial at winning her money for any
thing"
The woman sat perfectly quiet while
be continued his condolences.
"Now. she would always think I was
after her money, you unsympathetic
brute, and, to make matters worse.
have kept her amused for three weeks
with jokes about the old maid at New
port. Billie, do you think there is q
living woman that would overlook be
ing called an old maidf'
She reached over and tool hold of
II Of the dogs maltrcatcd ears.
LEND me an car. Billie. You ought
to be a well trained dog. for l have
spent hours Oh your education. Get
up and express nicely to the gentle
man your overwhelming desire to live
in IL house ornamental by a doctors
sign"
Then she managed to force her head
away from Ferrolrs shoulder long
enough to add another sentence:
"You might state that your mistress
has a fondness for egregious idiots,
Billie"