Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-16

"Have you been to see herr" she
continued. II am anxious to know il
her goodness and bravery caused her
any-any discomfort Mt home"
you may set your mind at rest about
that returned Eugene. Il was there
when the judge came home to dinner.
/ suppose you fear he may have been
rough with her for taking my step
brother into the carriage. He was not.
On the contrary lie spoke very quietly
to her and went on out toward the sta
bles. But | haven't come to you to
talk OF Judge Pike either"
NO" said Ariel; II don't care par
tculary to hear of him. but Of Ma
nile"
"Nor of her eitherw he broke out. 81
want to talk of your
There was no installing him, no
possibility OF misunderstanding the
real passion that shook him, and her
startled eyes betrayed her comprehcn.
sion.
Eyes, see you understand" he cried
bitterly. That's because you've seen
others the same way. Cod help me-"
he went on. striking his forehead with
his open hand. that young fool OF
Bradbury told me you refused him
only yesterdays He was proud of even
rejection from you. And there's Nor
bert and half Il dozen others. perhaps,
already since you've been here" He
flung out his AIMS in ludicrous, savage
| dpspgir And hero nm r.
"Ah yes" she cut him Off. at is of
all. not Of me!'
Look here" he vociferated. Are
you going to marry that Joe Louden?
want to know whether you are or
not He gave me this and this today"
lie touched his bandaged hand and
plastered forehead. "IIe. ran into me
over me-for nothing when I was not
on my guard, struck me down-stamp-
ed on me-
She turned upon him, cheeks afame,
eyes sparkling and dry.
"Mr. Bantry," she cried, ''he did a
good thing! And now want you to
go home. l want you 10 go home and
try If You can discover anything in
yourself that is worthy of Mamie and
morning. If you can, you will have
found something that could like
She went rapidly toward the house,
and he was senscless enough to follow,
bahbling: What do you think I'm
made OF? You trample on me, ns he
did! I can't bear everything! I tell
YOU
But she lifted her hand with such
imperious will that he stopped short.
Then through the window OF the sick
room came clearly the querulous voice:
II tell you it was. heard him speak
Just now-out there in the yard-that
no account stepbrother of Joe's. What
if he Is a hired hand on the Tocsln?
He'd better give up his job and quit
than do what he's done to help make
the town think hard of Joe. And what
is he? Why, he's worse than Cory.
When that Claudine Fear first came
here, Gene Bantry was hangn' around
her himself. Joe knew 1t, and he'd
never tell, but I will. l saw en
: buggy ridin' out near Beaver Beach.
and she slapped his face fer him. 1t
ought to be told"
"I didn't know that Joe knew-that,"
Eugene stammered huskily. 1T was
: 1t was--a long time ago
"If you understood Joe she said in
a low voice, you would know that be
fore these men leave this house he will
have their promise never to tell"
{ His eyes fell mlserably, then lifted
again, but In her clear and unbearablc
gaze there shone such flame of scorn
az he could not endure to look upon
r For the first time In his life he saw a
r true light upon himself, and, though
the vision was darkling, the revelation
! was complete.
. Heaven pity you! she whispered.
. Eugene found himself alone and
I stumbled away. his glance not lifted
, He passed his own home without look
ing up and did not see his mother beck
onlng frantically from a window. She
ran to the door and called him. He
did not hear her. but went on toward
v the Tocsin Office with his head still
bent.