The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-01-31
CHIFFON AND
HOMESPUN
BY FANNIE HEASLIP LEA


HOUSE, dlltt llluStu hlitlS 1T tut Steps
huttoning her dogskin gloves The
keen. bright cold of the November
morning brought the blood 10 her
checks and an awakening sparkle 10
her cool gray eyes. She fastened the
gloves With 4 final tug and ran down
the path to where Il man and two
horses stood. just beyond the gate
He helped her mount with no word
beyond Il brief Ready" and an ap-
proving smile, then swung himself into
the saddle and followed her over the
crest Of the hill ON which the red farm
house stood.
You lead the Way" he called after
her Il am stranger in strange
land
This Nay" said Janet. Il want you
to SEE the view from Brerson's hill.
It's about the best in this part of the
country. | think"
letter Than this?" asked the man
audaciously, his eyes on her clear cut
profile
The background is better said Jul
net coolly
The mountains rose blue aud misty
in the distance as they rode ON. Around
them the red of the sumac blazed Wild
~, and on the sloping sides of the
foothills through which they passed
great gashes in the red clay suggested.
strangely, open wounds.
Its Il fine country" said Burke,
With conscious hanalty
Janet flung him IL look That startled
him. il was 81 far outside her usual
cool self mastery.
Its COILS country" she said ex-
ultantly oh. could ride forever See
the haze. like smoke, ON those noun
tains and the leaves aiire ON the hills.
There's rabbit See him Jump across
the road. Md look yonder's an aster
| thought its Time WAS over, Isn't
that wind good on your face? Oh,
love il all. every bit of it..
Il see you do said Burke slowly.
We'll. why shouldn't II" She de-
manded. doesn't ii make you feel
here"
II see You have said the man I'm
trying 10 fit that soul To the janet
know in town. the Janet who sat for
| my Lady In Gray the Janet of trail
ing ehilfons and pink teas and Ibsen
matnces. Why, you've different look
| In your eyes now. You're warmer, less
aloof. less certain of yourself What
Is il Z"
Don't" said the girl. with a pro
testing smile. II won't he dissected.
asked You down 10 spend Thanksglv-
ing with me-not To cut up my soul
with your little hatchet."
"knd came 10 spend Thanksgiving
with YOU" retorted Burke not with Il
strange woman who has your eyes and
your hair and your face-you that
know How did yon happen to leave
here" he asked, with the umembarrass-
ed frankneSs of intimacy.
81 don't know" said Janet doubtful
~. I'll lust happened. Aunt Jane took
Il fancy 10 me While I was off at col
lego, ANA when ! graduated she offered
10 DIlIlE lllt out III lbN II. hOiutE new
er objected to anything | wanted, and
well, | was daZzled with the idea of
town society, dances, men. Any girl
would be SO | went TO Aunt Jane" she
finished You have the sweet, sad
story of my life now. bar II few de
tails"
"Mcn:" asked Burke.
al l. -
Yes men," said Janet.
"Of whom am one" he finished
She nodded inscrutably
We'll, | don't want to be one" he
protested 'nnless you preface II with
the In Italics
Don't your
No" he repeated firmly. Il don't
See here, Janct-how long have | known
your
"a year and a half" said the girl re
fectivcly
And in the course of that time |
have twice asked you to marry me-
haven't IT,
~ seem TO remember something of
the sort" she answered, with a flicker
ing smile that somehow shcathcd the
sheer
Didn't you know when you asked
me here that I'd do II againl Didn't
you know that | couldn't see you I'm
new phase and not lose my grip ON my
self? All, Janet, you must have known
and If You, knowing let me come it
must have been because you meant TO
say lie broke off and struck saw
agcly with his whip at the leaves above
his head
Meant to say what" suggested the
girl whimsically the word that would
row my horizon and weed out my ex-
istence 10 one thought, one aim, one
end? Is that what / meant TO sayf"
IF you Ike to put it So that Is it,"
said the man sulenly. "You know the
truth is
They rode in silence for a little while.
Il could make You happy, said the
man at last
could you, Alec? I'm not 50 sure OF
that" Janet pushed All escaping hair
pin back and after a moment faced
him proudly. Pm not playing fair
with YOU" she said. II did know you'd
ask me this again and | made up my
mind I'd A shabby buggy creaked
past them. In their absorption they
had ridden upon it without knowing
Janet nodded bright Good morn
lngn' TO the country people within.
well" said Burke confidently when
they had passed. There was an egult-
ant look In his cyca, and he bent TO lay
his hand on hers where ii held the
reins.
Janet swerved suddenly. Take care"
she said hurriedly, we've ridden into
TIE returning congregation of Brier-
sons church.
Burke followed her with an unuttered
imDrpc1ti ion