Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-27

I'VE talking about Olive Nettleton-" she
began but Mrs Baxter raised warning slender fore.
finger
mo scandal until King gets out" she objected. "He
has yet learned that feminine gossip is pre-
cisely the his masculine Of humor--
both treat Of the other PERSONS msfortunes only we
take seriously what treat Joke"
Outside on the wide stone veranda Caroline was
standing with her slender arms behind her, erect
poised, ouwardy cold and sefcontained II the ques
ton in her eyes almost an appeal. she stood
there aoneif there tragedy in the corners Of her
mouth there instant relaxation when she heard
Kings step behind her
"The mater sent out tea" he said. land she
says you look tired and to be sure to drink It,
If you don't about it, can pour it the rail-
Shall trouble you If | stay here?"
you friendly light chasing away shadows"
she said slowly Kingsley stood by made absorbedly
sefconscious by the unexpected reference what
always in his mind The girl slipped her tea slowly
looking down the straight path with its Haunting Dor
ders to where the pergola wreathed with trumpet vine
and creeper framed the valley below.
Dear hoyhocks and four oclocks" she rhymed
land the lady slippers and larkspur and salviaeach
prim and spruce and bright little New
England lady in her Sunday gown. Do you know"
she said whimsically 81 am an anachronism am
not Californian. King; not truly bredn,t bone
at all. belong here in the East,
have the Puritan conscience"
Then | like the Puritan conscience he said,
smiling at her
Some ones voice raised in the music
"FOur years missing nv the voice said "and
Olive Neteton wandering the continent looking
into peoples faces on the street. everywhere; Rome
St Petersburg, Cairo! Oh 1t was creepy"
We'll 1t is Olives affair."" Mrs Osborne's comforta
BILE voice put in "and they to be beginning things
all again. But suppose she had married again.
"Oive had the Puritan conscience came Leila
Dixon's thin clear voice "She would never have mar.
red again. unless she had known he dead"
Caroline had been listening, her head slightly bent,
Now she looked up suddenly at the beside her.
q wonder if you understand King?" she said ITS
psychology suppose; the problem of small soul, at
that. Butt am like that-woman they are speaking
Of"
Kingsley took the cup and from her and put
it carefully on the rail Then he sat dove somewhat
awkwardly beside her
I'm glad you've given a chance to speak" he
said. I'm not very agile mentally, and can't fence
with shadows. But think know how you feel It's
the not knowing how why-ts sort of wound to
your pride that won't heal Don't tell me you still
love him. I don't believe IT. I don't want to be
brutal but people don't love the dead; they remember
them-you know that, Caroline-and everything
know of that awful time points to the one thing"
That he is dead!" she breahed But want to
know: I'Ea like my old nurse at home when her boy
was drowned. She didn't cry: she Just stood by the
river bank and waited day and night until they found
him And then she cried and they knew her mind
was saved"
King leaned over and took of her cold hands
between his warm brown ones
"You said little while ago that drove away the
shadows, he said earnestly "Caroline can't we face
this thing together? love you-God knows donr
want to divide you with any one, not even memory
but it's come to the point where I'm almost ready to
throw myself your pity. Caroline let me drive
the shadows away, always"
The girl dropped her chin into her two palms and
stared frowningly ahead
you like him. she said at last "and he loved
me- toe. Oh, yes. whatever people may think nothing
what If he should come back and find that have not
been faithful? In there'-she nodded toward thu
house-"they have been talking of some woman who
haunted the continent looking into the faces of the
people she / sit here look out over the hills
and say, Which way? Which way?'"
The young had folded his arms and leaning
back. he, too, gazed the hills. He was baNed
discouraged but beaten. "If you care about him.
Caroline" he said after silence, "he was not
scoundrel. accept that as accept the ghost that
stands between u.s. But suppose can lay the ghost?
Would there be chance for me?"
Gould you save my fath?" she asked sharply turn
ing to him.
Il will try" he pledged solemny.
Mrs Baxter came langudly to the window and held
the curtain aside with sweeping gesture
Dear me- how intense you look!" she Knocked
Caroline you have lost thirty dollars and Carrie Os
borne says your last make lost the rubber