Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-31

"No; I'm too busy. must work to.
night and I'm not in a mood for such
things, anyhow"
You're not we'll" his niece said.
81 have noticed It for weeks. Is il
hard work or ARE you truly i'll? You're
nervous; you don't eat; you're grow
Ing positively gaunt. Why you're get
ting wrinkles like an old man" She
rose from her seat at the breakfast ia
BILE and went to him, smoothing h!s
silvered head with affection.
lie took her cool hand and pressed
It to his cheek, while the worry that
haunted him habitually Of late gave
way to a smile.
"It's work, little girl-hard and
thankless work, that's all This coun-
try IS intended for young men, and I'm
too far along" His eyes grew grave
again, and he squeezed her fingers
nervously as though at the though
ITS terrible country this. IL
wish we had never seen it,"
Don't say that" Helen cried spirit
edly. why, It's glorious. Think Of
the honor. You're a United States
judge and the first one to come here.
You're making history; you're building
state; people will read about you"
She stopped and kissed him, but he
seemed to finch beneath her caress
cor course I'll go II you think I'd
better" she said, though I'm not fond
Of Alaskan society. Some of the WON.
en- are flee, but the others She
shrugged her dainty shoulders. "They
% nd al oil bo irpo
think that a great clean. fresh. vigor.
Gus country like this would broaden
the women as it hroadens the men.
but It doesn't"
"I'll tell Mcnamara TO call for you at
0 o'clock" said the judge as be arose.
So, later in the day, she prepared her
long unused tinery TO such good pur-
pose that when her escort called for
her that evening he believed her the
lovelest OF women.
Upon their arrival at the hotel he re-
garded her with a fresh access If
pride. for the function proved to bear
little resemblance to mining camp
party, The women wore handsome
gowns, and every man was in evening
dress The wide hall ran the length
OF the hotel and was fanked with
boxes, while it's floor was like polished
glass and its walls effectively deco
rated
"Oh how lovelyw exclaimed Helen
as she first caught sight of It, "It's
just like home
"Tve seen quick rising cities be-
fore" he said, "hut nothing like this.
Still, II these northerners can build
railroad in a month and a city in q
summer why shouldn't they have sym.
phony orchestras and Louis Quinzs
! ballrooms?"
J II know you're a splendid dancer"
she said.
) you shall be my Judge and jury.
. I'll sign this card as often as | dare
: without the certainty of violence al
J the hands Of these young men. and ths
, rest of the time I'll smoke in the lobby.
, don't care to dance with any one but
, you
| After the first waltz he left her sur
rounded by partners and made his way
out Of the ballroom. This was his first
relaxation since landing in the north,
1t was we'll not TO become dull boy
he unused, and as he chewed his cigal
he pictured. with an odd thrill quite
unusual with him, that slender. gray
eyed girl. with her coied mass OF hair
her ivory shoulders and merry smile
He saw her float past TO the measure
of a two-step and caught himself re
senting the thought Of another mans
enjoyment OF the girls charms even
for an instant.
Hold on. Alec" he muttered
you're too old bird to lose you,
head" However he was waiting for
her before the time for their next
dance. She seemed to have lost part
of her gayety.
What's the matter? Aren't you en-.
Joying yourselfT
"Oh. yes" she returned brightly.
I'm having a delightful time"
, When he came for his third dance
. she was more distract than ever. As
!. he led her to seat they passed
: group Of women, among whom wers
Mrs Champan and others whom he
knew to be wives Of men prominent in
the town. He had seen some of them
Mt tea In Judge Stllman's house and
therefore was astonished when they re.
turned his greeting, but ignored Helen,
She shrank slightly, and he realized
that there was something wrong He
could not guess what. Affairs OF men
he could cope with. but the subtleties
Of women were out of his realm.
What ails those people? Have they
offended you"
II don't know what 1t Is. I have
spoken to them, but they cut me-"
"Cut you" he exclaimed.
yes" Her voice trembled, but she
held her head high. 1T seems as
though all the women in Nome were
here and in league to ignore me. II
dazes me. do not understand"
HAS anybody said anything to you?'
he inquired fercely ANY man, ]
meanT
NO, no! The men are kind. It's thu
women"
"Come, we'll go home"
Indeed. we will not" she said proud
ly II shall stay and face il out,
have done nothing to run away from
and l intend to find out what Is tho
matter"
When he had surrendered her, at the
beginning of the next dance, McNa.
mara sought for some acquaintance