Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-03
CHAPTER XIII.

hor brother bore no relation to
the memory he cherished OF his boy
ish regard for her He would not
have spoken Of her: but Bessie had
broken his guard, and with the
sound Of her name came an eager
desire to hear of her, which con
trasted painfully with his humilis-
tlon: for how could Bessie quote
from his letter II II had not become
public property?
80 she showed you that, did
she?" he said at last.
no. she did not" said Bessie
from the depths Of sofa where
she had collapsed In her laughter.
But as my most intimate friend.
she quoted to mo your opinion OF
her. Oh, 7 loved you, and you are
not worth the powder to blow you
up" And Bessie was again over
come
We'll, have It out with yourself,
Bessie" he said painfully; and
then tell me- How is she? haven't
heard OF her since I left"
Bessie arose and laughed no
more. His face forbade It; but she
was still woman enough to tease
him.
She Is very well. l believe, and
at home now | may see her to-
morrow Would you like TO send
message by me? No? Well I shall
say that I've seen you, anyway. she
would be delighted to meet you
again. know.
"Of course" the girl went on
with feminine maliciousness. Mabel
Is enormously popular. She came
out last year, and she has lawyers.
doctors, literary men. artists. we'll
all kinds Of men, in her train,
with few millionaires thrown In"
And She he began awkwsrdly.
"She we'll" purred Bessie.
there is Mr.. Breen. Of the navy
have you met him?''
"Breen-Ensigr Breen?" repeat
ed Dick.
Yes. Ensign Breen. She met
him before her debut. and his
chance should be good. He Is a
|
from q sailor. and he will get the
reflected benefit"
For the purpose OF further tor
mentlug him, Bessie had said too
much. Dick knew the pay and mar
riage value Of an ensign, aside from
the element OF love, which would
have reached a definite point in less
than two Seasons. This had flashed
through his brain without process OF
reason. But what hardened him
was the following thought-that OF
the vast social gulf between himself
and the ensign. between a sailor be-
fore the mast and a commissioned
officer
Bessie he said with a mock
courtesy and recklessnsss born OF
his conflicting emotions. were
worthy. should extend through
you my congratulations TO Miss Ar
thur on her conquest. Were I in q
position to advise. | should caution
her to beware of naval ofhcers-es-
pecially enstgns. They DO not earn
as much as the ships cook. and their
wives take in washing to clothe
them"
why. you cannot mean It," said
tho astonished girl Mr.. Breen Is
an ensign, and know"
Ensign Breen," said Dick with
fine anarchisuc scorn. Ensign
Breen. OF the Vermont Why. Breen
killed a Kanaka woman with has
heesh in the Straits of Sunda last
cruise but one. Got wife in
Frisco. two In Antwerp, and a
whole harem in the Sandwich
Islands. Got knitted in Rio for
running a dual establishment; and
he pays alimony in four towns on
this coast, and"
Il don't believe single word you
say"
She had grown an inch taller.
Her eyes were swapping and her an
ger nails were buried In the palms
Of her hands. while her cheeks. but
for two little red spots which came
and went, were white.
Fact, Bessie--why, what's the
natter"
She threw herself on the sofa, and
buried her face IN the pillow.
What's the trouble, Bessie?" he
asked. Then, dimly realizing the
truth. he began to explain.
II was only joking; II was all a
string Of lies Didn't think what I
was saying, Bessie-honest. Don't
cry any more, now. I'm sorry. !
wouldn't make you cry for anything.
M. Breen's good fellow--ons of
the beet He's my officer"
There must be something" she
sobbed you would not dare say
such things unless you knew"
You mean that where there's
smoke there's fire. Bessie? It's all
5mohe. every bit, You stirred ms
up, and / didn't care what | said"
She sat up and dried her eyes,
while he sang the praises OF Ensign
Breen. ascribing virtues TO him that
would have astonished the young
officer had he heard But Dick with
sore neart of his own. felt a large
and generous sympathy for other
aching hearts, and an especial in
terest In Bessie, his only friend In
the old trouble. who evidently loved
this man. She listened quietly
eagerly-And at last smilingly.
~ must go, BESSIE" he said. when
be felt that had undons the harm