Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-13

| Warnlhgiy, ana they Doth looked at
me. Then they detached themselves
and moved away. There was some one
on the farther platform whom they
wished to see. and Taylor. not under.
standing their maneuver-he was real.
ly anxious. think, not to be left alone
with me--started down the platform
after them. ! following. Mrs. Taylor
and her s,ster walked to the end Of
tho platform and looked across, q big
cult toss away, to where Etoddard
stood talking to the girl had already
heard described as wearing a gray
coat and carrying an umbrella.
The girl In gray crossed the track
quickly and addressed the two women
cordially. Taylor's back was to her
and he was growing eloquent in a mild
well-bred way over the dullness of our
statesmen IN not seeing the advGn-
tages that would accrue to tho United
States In fostering our shipping indus
try. His WIFE, her sister and the girl
in gray were so near that l could hear
plainly what they were saying. They
were referring apparently to the girls
refusal Of an invitation to accompany
them to California.
$50 you can't go--it's too bad! We
had hoped that when you really saw
us on the way you would relent," said
Mrs. Taylor.
But there arc many reasons: and
above all Sister Theresa needs me-"
1t was the voice Of Olivia, a little
lower, little moro restrained than l
had known It; but undeuiably It was
she.
But think OF the rose gardens that
are waiting for us out there" said the
other lady. They were showing her
the Difference that elderly women al
ways have for pretty girls.
Alas, and again alas!" exclaimed
Olivia. please don't make 1t harder
for me than necessary. But I gave my
promise year ago to spend these
holidays in Cincinnati"
She ignored me wholly and after
shaking hands with the ladies returned
to the other platform. wondered
whether she was overlooking Taylor
on purpose to cut me.
Taylor was still at his lecture on the
needs Of our American merchant ma
rine when Pickering passed hurriedly,
crossed the track and began speaking
earnestly to the girl in gray.
"The American flag should command
the seas. What We need is not more
battleships but more freight car
rie1s-" Taylor was saying.
But l was watching Olivia Gladys
Armstrong. In long skirt. with her
hair caught up under a gray toque that
matched her coat perfectly, she was
not my Olivia Of the tam.o'-shanter,
who had pursued the rabbit; nor yet
the unsophisticated school girl, who
had suffered my idiotlc babble; nor,
again, the dreamy rapt organist Of the
chapel. She was a grown woman VITA
at least 20 summers to her credit, and
there was about her an cir of knowing
the world, and Of not being at all q
person one would make foolish speech
es to. She spoke to Pickering gravely.
Once she smiled dolefully and shook
her head, and l vaguely strove to re-
in her eyes before. Her gold beads.
which had once carried in my pocket,
we're clasped tight about the close col
lar Of her dress: and l was glad. very
glad that l had ever touched anything
that belonged to her.
Who was Olivia Gladys Armstrong
and what was Arthur chickering's bust.
had said to me that evening when I
had found her playing on the chapel
organ? So much happened that day
that I had almost forgotten, and, in
deed, had tried to forget that made
fool OF myself for the cdiflcation of
an amusing little school girl. Then
you prefer to Ignore the first time I
ever saw you," she had said; but IL 1
had thought Of It at all it had been
with righteous self-contempt. Or, |
may have flattered my vanity with the
reelection that she had eyed me-her
hero, perhaps-with wistful admira-
ton across the wall.
Meanwhile the Chicago EXPRESS
roarsd into Annandale and tine private
car was attached. Taylor watched
the trainmen with the COO! interest of
a man for whom the proceeding had
no novelty, while he continued to di.
late upon the nations commercial op-
portunities. l turned perforco. and
walked with him back toward the sta.
ton. where Mrs. Taylor and her sister
were talking to the conductor.
Pickering came running across the
platform with several kilograms in his
hand.
I'm awfully sorry, Glenarm. that
our stops so short, and Pickerins's
face wore a worried look as he ad.
dressed me, his eyes on the conductor.
'How far do you go?" asked.
California. We have large interests
out there and | have to attend Soma
stockholders meetings in Colorado in
January"
"Ah, you business men. You bust.
ness mem" | said reproachfully,
wished to call him a blackguard then
and there, and II was on my tongue to
DO SO, but concluded that TO wait
until he had shown his hand fully
was the better game.
The ladies' entered the car and
shook hands with Taylor, who threat.