Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-07

"You have been In Mr.. Holidays
family a great many years. haven't
you, Mr.. Thompson" asked to give
him opportunity to compose himself.
Eyes. q great many years, sir-near-
~ forty. should say"
Before Miss Holidays birth. them"
"Oh. yes, sir; long before. Just be-
fore his marriage Mr.. Holiday bought
the Fifth avenue house he lived In ever
since, and was employed then. sir,
as an underservant."
inf Nolladay and his wife were
very happy together, weren't they?" I
questioned.
every happy; yes, sir. They were
just like lovers, sir. until her death.
They seemed just made for each other.
SIR" and the trite old saying gathered
a new dignity "a he uttered 1t.
paused a moment to consider This.
certainly. seemed to dlscredit the theo-
~ that Holiday had ever had liaison
with any other woman, and yet what
other theory was tenable?
There was nothing to mar their hap
piness that you know Of! or course"
I added, you understand. Thompson.
that I'm not asking these questions
from idle curiosity. but to get TO the
bottom Of this mystery If possible"
II understand. sir" he nodded. mo,
there was nothing to mar their happl-
ness-except one thing"
"And what was that"
"why, they had no children, sir. for
fifteen years and more. AfteS Miss
Frances came. Of course that was oil
changed"
"She was born abroad?"
Yes, sir: in France. ! don't just
know the town.
But you know the date Of her
birth?'
"Oh. yes. sir--the 10th Of Juno. 1876.
We always celebrated It,"
"Mr Holiday was with his wife at
the timeY'
Yes. sir. He and his wife had been
abroad nearly year. His health had
broken down. and the doctor made him
take long vacation. He came home
few months later. but Mrs. HOlla-
day stayed on. She didn't get strong
again, some way. She stayed nearly
four years. and he went over every
few months to spend week with her,
and Mt last she came home to die,
bringing her child with her. That was
the first time any of It's ever saw Miss
Frances"
mir. Holiday thought great deal
Of herr"
you may we'll say so. sir. She took
his wife's place." said the old man
simply
"And she thought a great deal Of
him.
more than that. sir. She fairly wor.
SHIPPED him. She was always at the
door to meet him; always dined with
him; they almost always spent their
evenings together. She didn't care much
for society. I've often heard her tel
him that she'd much rather just stay
at home with him. 1t was he who
rather insisted on her going out. FOL
he was proud of her. as he'd q righ
to be-"
"Yes," I said. for all this fitted IL
exactly with what had always heart
about the family. "There were NJ
other relatives. were there!'
None at oil, sir. Both Mr.. Holla
day and his wife were only children
Their parents. Of course, have beer
dead for years"
Nor any intimate friends:"
None Id call intimate, sir. Miss
Frances had some school friends. bu
She was always well-reserved, sir
Yes" nodded again. And now,
I added, tell me. as fully as you can
what has happened within the las
three weeks"
We'll. sir" he began slowly, "afte
her fathers death she seemed quit
distracted for awhile-wandered abou
the house. sat in the library Of even
ings. ate scarcely anything. Then MI
Royce got to coming to the house. an,
she frightened up, and we all hope
she'd soon be all right again. Then sh
seemed to get worse Of sudden am
sent us all away to get Belar ready
l got the place in order. sir. and tele
graphed her that we We're ready. Sh
answered that she'd come in few
days. Ten days ago the rest OF tn
servants came. and l looked for he
every day, but she didn't come. I tcle
graphed her again. but she didn't an
swer. and finally got so uneasy. sill
couldn't rest, and came back to tn
city to see what was the matter.
got here early this morning and wen
right to the house. Thomas, the sec
ond butler. had been left in charge
and he told me that Miss Frances ant
her maid her started for Belair tn
same day the servants did. That's al
l know
"Then she's been gone ten days?'
questioned.
Ten days; yes. sir
Ten days. What might not have mar
pened in that time. DR.. Jenkinson
: theory Of dementia REQUIRED to me, an
! was more than ever inclined to credl
. 1t. How else explain this flight:
could see from Mr. lsoyces face nov
absolutely nonplused he was.
WELL" l said at last. for want 9
something better. well go with you
: the house and see the man in charg
there. Perhaps he can tell us some
thing more"
: But he could tell us very little. re
dava heforc n corriaCc had driven u