Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-07

to meet her--a creature flufily
gowned in tulle but little darker
than her crown of coiled hair. with
but two relieving fecks OF red-a
ribbon at her throat, flower in her
belt.--with color IN her lips and
cheeks that rivalled the red, with n
diamond on her finger no brighter
than the sparkle in her eyes. The
two poems took momentary meas
urements, then Mabel advanced with
a smile.
why. Bessie" she exclaimed. as
their lips met. whore have you
been? It's an age since I've seen
you. You look lovely--really you
do" She caressed Bessie's shirt waist
"A fluffy thing Of silk-and led her
to sofa. Take your things of,
dear. It's so long since you've called.
Give me your hat and your wrap"
"No--really. Mabel, I can't stay.
must return soon. l didn't tell
mother I was going out, you see"
Must your What PITY But
tell me, Bessie" and again she
fondled the silk where
did you get it2 In New York; 1t Is
simply beautiful"
NO" answered Bessie, deprecat-
ingly. for Mabel's equipment shed
! the flavor OF duties paid, at wns
made at home. | rust n good deal,
you know, to Annals taste and to
mothers"
But 1t Is lovely, and your hat,
too. How do you manager"
Then followed twenty minutes
discussion of things feminine which
have no place In thie story. At the
end OF II, Bessie, with the sweetest
smile she could assume, which hard
ly hid the tightening of her lips,
said,--
by the way, Mabel, did you read
what the papers said tonight"
"Yes--part Of Il. Why do you
ask"
About Mr.. Breen's disappear
ance? Did you read that?"
"Oh. yes. They seem to think that
he has been murdered. Who would
have thought It OF Dick; and we had
|
But, Mabel"-and Bessie almost
gasped it-"you don't think so, do
you? You don't think that Dick
would kill him? Why, he couldn't
Dick Halpin. He couldn't. You
know he couldn't I will never be-
lieve It,"
II really do not know" replied
Mabel, twirling her diamond. what
Dick could or could not do. He seems
to have very violent temper. The
paper calls him a ruthau and a
scoundrel. Ruffians and scoundrels
sometimes commit murder"
And don't You care7" Bessie
stood up. Don't you care anything
about It? Dick Halpin. whom you
have talked about for years, Is
charged with murder. You were there
on that day--you saw him--you
must have seen him--you must know
what the quarrel was about. Why
did he follow him? You know, Ma
bel. Why do Mr.. Breen follow him
to his death?
Mabel still tvirled the diamond
while she loosed up at the agitated
Bessie, now pacing about in short.
hurried turns.
Il am not COZ cerned, Bessie" she
answered SLOWLY, about this aspect
of the case, because I happen TO
know that Dick Halpin lid not kill
Mr.. Breen."
No? he did not? Then where is
he? What has happened? Is he
alive"
Bessie paused in her walk. and
stood over Mabel with eyes wide
open, and hands tightly clenched.
Tell me-" she added, and there was
almost a threat in the command.
YES" replied Mabel. impassisve-
ly, he is alive and'-she pressed
her diamond 10 her lips-'I should
think very happy to be alive"
Where, Mabel? Where is he?"
Bessie leaned over her.
(Which ono 90 vow mean" asked
Mabel. Both are alive, and one is
happy-that is, If l may Judge by
the letter I received this morning"
"A letter? On -yes-a letter--tC
you" BESSIE stood erect. II under.
stand. OF course. He ia alive, and
writes TO you. really beg your par.
dom did not think" She went tc
the mirror, and though her hat was
symmetrically true in adjustment
she gave 1t few spasmodic pats
then she turned and advanced TO,
ward Mabel, who had arisen.
"He was mine, Mabel" said Bes,
sic, as she paused IN the center Of the
room. "Mine-mine-he never told
me, but | knew was to wait fol-
him. And you took him away. He
left me TO go to you. Some day he
will leave you 10 go to another, and
then you will know-what-I know
now" She reeled little, but recov'
cred Good by Mabel" she added
and turned toward the door.
Before she reached 1t Mabel had
caught her. She embodied her in hel
arms and pressed her lips to the pale
cheek
Bessie, you poor girl" she said
gently, come back. You don't un
derstand He is nothing to me but
a good friend. Come back and ST.
down and talk. Let's talk about 1t
dear. Come back to the sofa"
1t was some minutes before Bes
sizes sobs would permit her to lis
ten, and then Nobel. with her armi