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

AttNtI Poufuuod pbu 6Loul eIb
seq pIsMoL 'uInSe lem 6eul ueuA
sHsuspuvu kaLBsu pun 'supIpd IN
sHof kiSeuo 10 pou sseIeLBo 'ssinoo
-ie,uI ileu, ~ spJoM qsisu 10 cones
-qe NJ ~ 6tuo uoIsssLdxe puuoJ pBu
uosuoid pun Jtesmyu ueeM,sq dIus
-pusiLJ eleouIs pus uiea V 'psdoIeA
-ep kIeSiel useq lou puu suonospr
sul eyII suNuosBu pisu STU III 'fir
-uonntoAei svM loeys eul pun 'NolO
on coming home. His weak-natured
aunt had never been able to impress
him strongly and he stood now, as
In his childhood, nearly alone in the
world. II was due, perhaps. TO this
lack OF diverting affections that the
boyish admiration and homage In
spired by Mabel, as a school miss,
had grown latently as he approached
manhood. into q feeling of intensity
was dimly conscious OF its growth
and grip on his soul when Bessie
had leased him, and later had awak-
ened more fully to conception OF
It's strength when he had seen his
officer making for her door. Yet his
consequent ill-humor on this occa-
sion arose from jealousy which he
might have classed with the feeling
often aroused in him when he had
looked through q skylight at the
ward room dinner and had then
gone forward to a salt beef ration.
But the sight OF her standing Mt the
window In all her beauty of figure
and face.-the startled dark eyes
shining with the tears of the mo-
ment before. the crown Of glossy
ha,r the tinted cheek and full white
throat, the graceful inclining of her
head and shoulders, and the tremu-
lous, tentative parting Of her lips
that ripened. az he looked. to be-
wildering smile OF frank reco"ni-
tion.--aroused in the sailor a knowl-
edge of himself.
But the knowledge came with
shock. and his involuntary attitude
partook OF the bitter defiance of his
last meeting with her. He had not
seen the change in her face which
had prompted Mr.. Breen to a chival-
rous defence of his ungraciousness
and he went down the street with
wildly beating heart and trembling
knee joints, wrestling with the one
phase OF the situation that he could
grasp,-she had smiled on him. and
greeted him from the window Of her
home. For the gentleman at her
side-the commissioned 'oficer he
cared nothing at present. Mabel had
smiled on him. and by that smile had
lifted him higher in his self-estima-
ton than would an appointment o
Annapolis.
At the next corner ne came to
earth. He heard distant wells over
the hOuse-tops, and the rousing
chorus OF sea song that he knew.
But that which had come TO him
prevented the words that would sure
ly have arisen to his lips without il,
snd vet accumulated the sickening
disgust he now felt for the crowd
with which he was identified. and for
the mission which had brought them
to this peaceful town. What would
she think Of him when it a.! came
out? Yet she herself had once asked
him to flght. and there was comfort
in the thought
He could not mix with that crowd
now II not yet, so he doubled
around the block and out across the
ball ground. glad to find it vacant,
and sat doUn on rCcl, ot tho cida
Of the country road. where he over
hauled hts soul. calling back the past,
planning the future, and often shut
ting his eyes to see again the face
al the window. His time in the navy
would expire in a few months he
would be Of age. he could obtain
the money that his mother had left
him. and meet Mabel Arthur by right
as the social equal OF any ensign in
the American navy.
Even a sailor in love. seasoned as
he may be against exposure and
warmed by the glow in his breast.
may become chilled If he sits long on
a cold rock. especially II the uniform
OF the day Is blue without pea
coats" Yet the distant city hall
clock had struck seven and the win
ter cold had reached his homes be-
fore he was reminded that at six he
was 10 meet the boys at the station.
Hope they knew enough to take
the train he muttered as he pulled
himself together and started stifiy
through the darkness. Under the
first street light he studied his time
table and found that the next train
for the city would pass through at
nine o'clock. Plenty Of time" he
said: It's like pulling teeth to shake
hands with the old man; but Aunt
Mollie wouldn't forgive me II |
missed seeing her"
He went down the street, past the
schoolhouse, and, few blocks
further, crossed over to enter the
street on which stood his uncle's
house. But IN the middle of the
street he stopped He could look
straight down 10 the business section
OF the town, brightly Illuminated by
the newly installed arc lights over
mead, Men were running about and
an occasional shout reached his ears.
he turned, and hurried on, for he
could distinguish, here and there,
among the running men, the uni
formed figure OF shipmate. Two
men coming toward him scurrled
across the street when they saw him
under a street lamp, and Dick heard
one say, There's another OF EN-"