Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-22

oHS TsCOgUlz6u BTett presence DIV
a silent bow, and sank on to couch.
She was not acting, but really III,
overweight, inert, physically weak
from want OF food and sleep.
Helen ran to her side. and took
her in a loving clasp.
You poor darling" she cried.
why are you suffering so?"
Now there was nothing on earth
Brett detested so thoroughly as a dis-
play OF feminine sentiment, no mat
ter how spontaneous or well-timed.
AT heart he was conscious Of kim
dred emotions. A chlld's cry, a wo-
mans sob, the sroan of a despairing
man, had power TO move him SO
strangely that he had more than once
allowed a long-sought opportunity to
slip from his grasp rather than scar
his own soul by displaying callous
indifference to the sufferings Of
others.
The tears OF these two. however.
set his teeth on edge. What were
they whining about-the affections
OF a doll of man whose antics had
been rightly treated by David when
he proved to Capella that there Is
nothing Hike leather.
For the barrister labored under
no dolusion respecting either wo-
man. Margaret, who secretly feared
her husband. was only pining for his
rekindled admiration, whilst Helen.
though true as steel to David Hume,
-
Italisn's misplaced passion rs utterly
outrageous. No woman can abso-
lutely hate and despise man for
loving her, no matter how absurd or
impossible his passion may be. She
may proclaim, even feel vast
amount of indignation. but in the
secret recesses or her soul, hidden
perhaps from her own scrutiny, she
can find excuses for him.
Brett regarded Capella as an i'm
questionable scamp, endowed with a
too vivid imagination. and he deter
mined forthwith to stir his hearers
into revolt, defiance-anything but
languishing regret and coincidence.
Margaret soon gave him an oppor-
tunity. Recovering her self-posses-
sion with an effort, she said:
Il am glad you are here. Mr..
Brett Helen has probably told You
that We need your presepce---not
that I have much to say to you, but
! must have the advice of wiser
and clearer head than my own in the
present position of affairs"
cbeerily. "As n preliminary TO
pleasant chat. may I suggest cup of
tea for each OF us7"
The ladies we're manifestly aston
ished Tea When broken hearts
were scattered around, The sugges-
ton was pure bathos.
Margaret, with touch OF sever
ity permitted Brett to ring. and
coldly agreed with Helen's declara-
ton that she could not think Of
touching any species OF refreshment
at such a moment.
Then" said Brett. advancing and
holding out his hand, II will save
your servants from needless trouble,
Mrs Capelia. am equally en-
phatic In my ins!stence on food and
drink as primary necessities. For In
stance. cup of good tea just now Is
much more important in my eyes
than your husbands vagaries"
Surely you will not desert me?"
appealed Margaret
"Mr. Brett, how can you be so
heartless?" cried Helen.
I,
he answered, with an easy smile,
but in this matter 7 must he ada
mont. My dear ladies. pray consider.
What world We should live in II
people went without their meals be-
cause they were worried. Three
days of such treatment would end the
South African War, give ireland
Home Rule, bring even the Ameri-
can Senate TO reason. A week of It
would extingu.sh the human race. n
the system has such potentia lities,
is It unreasonable to ask whether or
not any single individual---even Mr..
Capelia--is worth tho loss of cup
Of tea because he chooses to go to
Naples?"
"A servant entered.
"Ie it to be for three, or none?"
inquired Brett. compelling Margaret
to meet his gaze.
James. bring tea at once" said
Mrs. CapeIla.
The barrister accepted this partial
surrender. He looked out over the
park
What lovely weather." Brett ex-
claimed. How delightful It must be
mt the seaside just now, Really,
am greatly tempted TO run mp to
Whitby for a few days Have YOU
ever been there, Mrs Capella? Or
you. Miss Layton? No, Well. let me
recommend the north east coast Of
Yorkshire as a cure for all Ills. Do
you know that, within the next fort
night. you can, II energetic enough,
see from the cliffs at Whitby the sun
rise and set In the sea? 1t Is the one
place in England where such a sight
Is possible. And the breeze there!
When 1t blows from the north, It
comes straight from the Polar Sea.
There is no land intervening. Naples
-evil-smelltng, dirty Naples Pah!
Who but lunatic would prefer Ma
pies to Whitby in July!"
Margaret was now incensed, Helen
surprised, and even slightly amused.