Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-23
petals OF which he had told her
"Chonped SO moDv tbinpsT'

petals OF winch lie nHU tOlO ner.
| Changed so many thingsT'
| The bars that had been between him
and half of his world were down. shat
tered, never more to be repIa ced, and
the ban Of Canaan was lifted Could
this have been save for her? And upon
| that thought he got to his feet. utter
| ing an exclamation Of bitter self re-
proach. asking himself angrily what he
was doing He knew how much she
gave him, what full measure Of her af
lection. Was not that enough? out
upon you, Louden Are you to sulk In
your tent, dour in the gloom or to play
a mans part, and If she be happy turn
a CHEEKY face upon her Joy?
And thus this pilgrim recrossed the
bridge. emerging TO the street with his
head up. smiling and his shoulders
thrown back SO that none light soc
the burden he carried.
Ariel was waiting on the porch for
him. She wore the same dress she had
worn that Sunday Of their tryst that
exquisite dress, with the faint lavender
overtnt. like the tender colors of the
beautiful day he made his own. She
had not worn It since, and he was far
distant when he caught the first flick
ering glimpse of her through the lower
branches OF the naples, but he remem-
bered. And again, as on that day, he
heard faraway, ineffab BILE music, the
elfand horns, sounding the mysterious
revelle which had wakened his soul to
her coming
Shn - t1N.,, -. LII, 4
gave him her hand in greeting without
word -- or the need of one from
either. Then together they set forth
over the sun fecked pavement the
naples swlshing above them. heavier
branches grooming in the strong breeze
under a Sky like a Della Robbia back
ground. And up against the glorious
blue of 1t some laughing, invisible god
was blowing small rounded clouds Of
pure cotton, as children blow thistle
down.
When he opened her paraso as they
came out into the broad sunshine be
yond upper Main street there was the
faintest mingllng Of wild roses and Gin
namon looscd on the air
Joe" she said, I'm very happy"
That's right" he returned heartily
II think you always will be"
But. oh. wish" she went on, that
} Mr.. Arp could have lived to see you
come down the courthouse steps"
God bless him." said Joe. Il can
hear the argument
Those dear old men have been so
loyal to you, Joe
No" he returned; loyal TO Eskew."
ITO you both" she said. I'm afraid
the old circle is broken up. They
haven't met on the National House cor
ner since he died. The colonel told me
he couldn't bear to go there again"
Il don't believe any of them ever
will" he returned. And yet | never
pass the place that don't see Fskew
in his old chair. | went there last
,, night to commune with him. | couldn't
sleep. and | got up and went over
, there They'd left the chairs out, the
town was asleep, and it was beautiful
moonlight
, ITO commune with him? VIVA,
about?'
you"
"Why?" she asked, plainly mystified
~ stood in need of good counsel" he
answered cheerfullv. "or friendly
| word perhaps. and as sat there after
awhile it came"
What was it,
ITO forget that was sodden with
seliShness. TO pretend not TO be as full
of mcanncss as | really was. Doesn't
. that seem to be ESkews own vOiceT
!. Weren't you happy last night, Ioe?'
"Oh, it was all right" he said quick
~. Don't you worry"
: And at this old speech OF his she
broke into a llttle laugh, Of which be
had no comprehension.
T Mamie came TO see me early this
morning" she said after they had
[ walked on in silence for a time. "Ev
erything is all right with her again
! that is. think it will be, Eugene Is
: coming home And" she added thought
= fully, lit will be best for him to have
his old place on the Tocsn again. She
showed me his letter, and liked it.
I think he's been through the fire.
Ioe's distorted smile appeared. And
has come out gold?" he asked,
NO" she laughed but nearer ii.
:, And | think he'll try to be more worth
4 her caring for, She has always thought
Il that his leaving the TOcsiu in the way
e he did was heroic. That was her word
k for 1t. And il was the finest thing he
e ever did"
l. Il can't figure Eugene out Joe
n shook his head There's something
d behind his going away that | don't
Q understand" This was altogether the
:, truth. nor was there ever 10 come n
h time when either he or Mamie would
Il understand what things had deter
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