Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-09
II wiz thiAk anything you do Is al!

"Iou mean 1t will commend me De-
cause I'm thought rich?"
"No. no." he said meditatively, "it
isn't that. IT'S because everybody will
be in love with you"
"Quitc everybody" she asked.
"Ccytainly." lie replied. Anybody
who didn't would he absurd"
"Ah. Joe" she laughed, you al
ways were the incest boy in the world
my dear
At that he turned toward her with
n sudden movement. and his lips part
ed. hut not to speak She had rested
one arm upon the desk AMI her check
upon hor hand; the pen she had pick
ell up. still abienty held in her fin
gers. touching her lips, and it was
given TO him 10 know that he would
always keep that pen, though he would
never write with 1t again The soft
lamplight fell across the lower part
of her face, leaving her eyes, which
were lowered thoughtfully, in the
shadow Of her hat. The room was
blotted out III darkness behind her.
Like the background of an antique
portrait. the office. with its dusty cor
ners and shelves and hideous safe,
had vanished. leaving the charming
and thoughtful face revealed against
an even, spacious provinces. Only
! Ariel and the roses and the lamp were
clear, and n strange. small pain NOV
ed from Joe's heart to his throat as he
thought that this ugly office. always
before so harsh and grim and lonely
loneiest for him when it had been
most crowded-was now TRANSPORTED
into something very, very different
| from an Office that this place where
he sat, with Il lamp and flowers on n
desk between him and a woman who
called him my dear must be like
like something that people called
home
And then he leaned across the desk
toward her as he said again what he
voice trembled:
Ariel it is your
She looked at him and smiled.
you'll he here always. won't you ?
You're not going away from Canaan
again.
For moment 1t seemed that she
had not heard him. Then her bright
glance at him wavered and fell. She
rose turning slightly away from him,
but not so far that he could not see
the sudden agitation in her face.
ALI" he cried. rising, too, II don't
to Ia, 70, 4
or that meant l should ever ask you
to stay here. l couldn't mean that.
You know | couldn't, don't you? You
know | understand that it's all just
your beautiful friendliness, don't your"
ut isn't beautiful; it's Just me, Joe, "
she said. 1T couldn't be any other
way"
ITS enough that you should be here
now" he went on bravely, his voice
steady. though his hand shook Moth
ing so wonderful as your staying could
ever actually happen. It's just light
coming into dark room and out again.
One day long ago. l never forgot IT.,
some apple blossoms blew by me as |
passed an orchard. and it's like that
too. But. oh, my dear, when you go
you'll leave a fragrance in my heart
that will LAST
She turned toward him, her face suf-
fused with a rosy light You'd rather
have died than have said that to me
once" she cried. I'm glad you're
weak enough now to confess it,
He sank down again into his chair,
and his arms fell heavily on the desk.
Confess it, he cried desparingly.
And you don't deny that you're going
away agaln-so it's true. l wish l
hadn't realized it SO soon. | think I'd
rather have tried to fool myself about
1t a little longer"
Joe" she cried in a voice of great
pain, you mustn't feel like that How
do you know I'm going away again
Why should | want the old house put
in order unless | mean to stay? And If
/ went you know that / could never
change. You know how I've always
cared for you
YES" he said II do know how. 1t
will be, won't it?'
| i've SHOWN tnat, Sne returned
quickly.
"Yes. You say I know how you've
cared for me, and l do. l know how
It's just in one certain way-Jonathan
and DAVID
isn't that pretty good way, Joe?'
Never fear that don't understand
He got to his feet again and looked a,
her steadily.
Thank you. Joe" She wiped sudden
tears from her eyes.
Don't you be sorry for me- he said
'Do you think that passing the love OF
women isn't enough for me?
NO" she answered humbly.
"I'll have people at work on the old
house tomorrow" he began. "And for
the
, 1--WE kept you so long" she inter.
rupted. helped to meek sort OF gay.
ETY. by his matter Of fact tone. Good
night, Joe" She gave him her hand
II don't want you to come with me. II
isn't very late. and this is Canaan"
II want to come with you, however,
: he said, picking up his hat "You can't
go alone"
"But you are so tired, you
She WAC iptarr,Inte1 Tbora vyarn