Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-26

Hope wrote me every week for a
time. A church choir had offered her a
place o o after she went TO the big
city. She came home intending to sur
prise us all the first summer. but un-
fortunately I had gone away in the
woods with n party Of surveyors and
missed her. We were a month In the
wilderness and came out a little west
Of Albany. where l took a boat for
New York to see Hope. I came down
the North river between the great
smoky cities on either side Of 1t n
damp and chilly morning. The noise,
the crowds, the immensely Of the town
appalled, me.
At John FuIler's I found that Hope
had gone home. and, while they tried to
detain me longer, l came back on the
night boat Of the same day. Hope and
l passed each other in that journey,
and I did not see her until the summer
preceding my third and last year In
college, the faculty having allowed me
to take two years in one. Her letters
had come less frequently, and when
she came I saw a grand young lady Of
fine manners, her beauty shaping to an
ampler mold, her form strengthening to
the dignity Of womanhood.
At the depot our hands we're cold
and trembling with excitement. neither
Of us, l fancy. knowing quite how far
10 go in Il greeting. Our correspond
nee had been true to the promise
made mother. There had not been a
word Of love in it. only now and then
a suggestion Of our tender feeling. We
hesitated only for the briefest moment.
Then I put my arm about her neck and
kissed her.
II am so glad to see you." she said.
Well. she was charming and beauti-
full. but different, and probably not
more different than was I. She was
no longer the laughing, simple a
ncred child OF PARKWAY, whose heart
was as ones hand before him in the
daylight. She had now n bit Of the
wOmun's researcher prudence. her
skill in hiding the things of the heart.
I loved her more than ever, but some
how l felt 1t hopeless: that she had
grown out of my life. She was much
in request among the people Of Hills
borough. and we went about a good
deal and had many callers. But we
had little time to ourselves. She seem
ed to avoid that and had much to say
Of the grand young men who came to
call on her in the great city.
Anyhow 1t all hurt me to the soul
and even robbed me Of my sleep. A.
better lover than I would have made
an end Of dallying and got ut the
truth. come what might. But I was of
the Puritans and not of the cavaliers,
and my way was that which God had
marked for me, albeit I must W NJ
man had ever a keener eye for a lovely
oma or more heart to please her. \
mighty pride had come to me, and
had rather have thrown my heart to
vultures than sec it an unwelcOme of
fering. And | was quite out Of courage
with Hope. She. l dare say, was as
much cut of patience with me.
She returned in the late summer, and
l went back to my work at college In a
hopeless fashion that gave way under
the whip Of a strong will.
! made myself as contented as posi-
BILE. l knew all the pretty girls and
went about with some Of them to the
entertainments Of the college season.
At last came the long looked for day
Of my graduation, the end Of my stu
dent life.
The streets OF the town were throng.
ed. every student having the college
colors in his coat lapel. The little com
pany Of graduates trembled with
fright as the people crowded into the
church, whispering and tanning them.
selves, in eager anticipation. As the
former looked from the two side pews
where they sat many familiar faces
greeted them-the faces Of fathers and
mothers aglow with the inner light of
pride and pleasure, the faces Of many
they loved ON to claim a share In the
glory Of that day. I found my own. !
remember. but none Of them gave me
such help o. that of Uncle Eb. How
yer I might fare, none would feel the
pride or disgrace Of 1t more keenly
than he. I shall never forget how he
turned his head to catch every word
when l assembled the platform.
AS l warmed to my argument I could
see him nudging the arm Of David,
who sat beside him. as il to say
There's the boy that came over the
hills with me in a pack basket" When
l stopped a moment, cropping for the
Mex word, he leaned forward, en-
bracing his knee firmly as II intending
to draw off a boot. 1t was oil the as
s~istance he could give me. When the
exercises were over l found Uncle Ell
by the front door Of the church waiting
for me.
willie. ye done noble" said he.
did my very best, Uncle Eb," I re
piled.
Liked It grand, I did sartin."
"Glad you liked 1t. Uncle Eb."
Showed great larnin'. Who was the
man at give out the pictur's"
He meant the president who had con
6,rred the degrees. l spoke the name.
"Deceivin' lookin' man, amt he!
Seen him often, but never took no per
tick'lar notice Of him before"
How deceivineY l inquired.
talked SO kind Of plain" he replied
Il could understan' him ms easy as
though he'd been swappin' bosses. But
when you got up. Bill. why, you Jes' riz
right up in the air, an there couldn't