Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
v XhLN street already muflied by
MI the snow. added to It's quie
tude frozen hush where
4 Il the wonder hearing youth

straight way. None was there IN
whom imnertinence overmasterpd as
Constituent or who recovered from the
sight in time to jeer with effect. No
"1'rabs boy" gathered courage to en-
act in the thorOughfsre scene of
mockery and of Joy.
And now that expression he wore
the indulgont amusement Of man of
the world-began TO disintegrate and
show signs of change. 1t became fine
ly grave, IS of n high conventionality,
lofty. assured and hammered, as he ap
preached the Pike mansion"
IT was n big. smooth stone faced
house, productof the seventies, frowning
under an outrageously insistent man
sard capped by cupola and staring
ont Of long windows overtoppcd with
ornamental slabs Two cast iron deer,
painted death gray, twins Of the same
. old stood on opposite sides of the
'front.' walk, their backs toward It
md each other. their bodies in pro
file TO the street. their necks bent, how
ever, SO that they Razed upon the pass
erby, yet gazed without emotion. TWO
large calm dogs guarded the top Of the
steps leading to the front door. They
also were twins and Of the same In
teresting metal though honored be-
yoDd the deer by coats of black paint
and shelac IT was to be remarked
that these dogs were OF no distinguish
BILE species or breed. yet they We're
Enthusiastically dogs The dullest must
nave recognized them as such at n
glance, which was perhaps enough. 1t
was hideous house. important look
ng cold vet harshly aggressive, and
sat In the middle Of It's fat acre of
nowy lawn like n rich, fat man en-
,sced and sitting straight up in bed
70 swear.
And vet there wss one charming
hing about this ugly house. Some
Eorkneu We're inclosing a large side
porch with heavy canvas. evidently for
festal purposes Looking out from be
tween two strips OF the canvas was
the rosy and delicate face of pretty
girl smiling upon Eugene Bantry as
he passed 1t was an obviously pref
ty face, all the youth and prcttipess
there for your very first glance. elab-
orately pretty, like the splendid pro
fusion Of hair about and above il, au-
her colored hair, Upon which so much
time had been spent that circle of
large, round ctrlS rose above the mass
of II like Golden bubbles tipping a
cOronct
The girl, fingers were pressed
thoughtruljr a2aiu;t her chin As Eu-
gene strobe into view Immediately
her eyes widened and frightened. He
swung along the fence with the hand
soonest appearance Of unconsciouSncss
until he reached a point nearly oppo-
site her Then he turned his head rs
If haphazardly and met her eyes. At
once she threw ont he hand toward
him. waving uim greeting. gesture
which as her fingers had been near
her lips was Il little like throwing a
kiss. He crooked an elbow and with
one. two. three military movement
removed his small brimmed hat, ex-
tending II TO full arms length at the
shoulder level, returned II to his head
with life guard precision. This was
also new to Canaan. He was letting
Mamie Pike have il all AZ once.
Tho impression was rs large as he
could have desired. She remained al
tho opening in the canvas and watch
I'd lin until he wagged his shoulders
round the next corner and disappeared
into cross street. AS for Eugene, he
was calm with great calm and very
red
Tie had rot covered great distance
however, before his gravity was re
placed by his former smiling look Of
the landed gentleman amused by tn,
innocent pastimes of the peasants
though there was no one in sight OK
cept woman sweeping some snow
from the front steps of cottage, AND
she, not perceivng him, retired in
doors without knowing her loss. IL
had come to q thinly built part of th'
town, the perfect quiet Of which mad
the sound he heard as he opened tn
picket gate OF his own home all tn
more startling. II was scream, loud
raptc and terror stricken.
Eugene stopped, with the gate hal
)pen.
Out of the winter skeleton of crap
irbor at one side of the four squar
brick house a brown faced girl Of se'
enteen pracipitated herself through tn
air in the midst Of a shower of tor
cardboard which she threw before he
as she leaped. She lit upon her toe
and headed for the gate ut top speed
pursued by a pale young man who's
thin arms sTove systematically
reach her, Scattering snow benin
them. hair flying, the pair sped ON ILL
two uttered branches before II hiR
wind for, as they came nearer Eugen
of whom. in the tensity Of their fiigh
they took no note. it was TO be see
that both were SO STABILITY dressed ;
to be alI1os ragged.
The girl ran beautifully but fCet'
foot was behind her and, though 81
lodged and evaded like a creature
the woods, the reaching hand fell upG
the loose sleeve of her red blouse, N
fell lightly She gave a wrench of FIRE
~. The antique fabric refused Il
strain, parted at the shoulder seam
thoroughly that the whole sleeve can
away, but not to It's owners releas
for she had been gut round by Il
jerk. so that, agile as she had SHOW