Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-31

Oh inc lnlc ] nave Dccl Mt Il convent IN
Canada, whore I was known as Rosalind
lIartrldge. Rosalnd, you know. IS really
M name was named for Helen's
mother. The Sisters took pity on my
loneliness. and were very kind to me.
l}ut now I am never going to leave my
father again"
Sho spoke with no unltindncss Of BIT
tcrress, but with a gravity born Of deep
fcolirg I marked now the lighter tinlbre
~ her voice. TINT was quite different
from her cousins; and sho spoke more
RAPIDLY. M she had said, her naturally
qN'''. speech catching at times the ca
doncc Of cultivated French. And she was
simpler nntutc-1 felt that, she was
really unlike Helen.
"You manage 81 canoe pretty we'll"
vcntured. still studying her face, her
voice, hef WAYS, eagerly.
THAT was very foolish. wasn't IT,
my running IN behind tho procession
that way" and shc laughed softly at
the recollection. "But that was profess
sional ptlde That was ono OF my
fathers best canoes. and he helped mo
to decorate 1t. He takes n great delight
ir his work; rs all he has left! And
wanted to show those people at Port
Annandalo what II really fine canoe-a
genuine Hnrtrldge was Ike. did not
expect TO run into you or Aunt Pat"
You should have gone on and claim
cd the prae. II was yours Of right
when your star vanished ! thought the
world had come 70 an end
at hadn't you see put out the
lights so that ! could get home unseen
"YoG gave US a shock Please don't do
it again; and please, II you and your
cousin are to meet. kindly let II be on
solid ground I'm Il little afraid, even
now. that you arc lady Of dreams"
"Not bit of it, enjoy n sound ap-
petite; I can carry a canoe like a ca
madam guide; am as good IA fencer as
my father, and I'm not afraid OF the
dark. You sec. In tho long vacations UP
there IN Canada lived out OF doors and
shouldn't mind staying on here always.
Ike to Oaddlo a canoe. and / know
how to cast a ny. and I've shot ducks
from q blind You see how very highly
accomplished I am! Now. my cousin
Helen"
"Well-?' and I was glad to hear hor
happy laugh. Sorrow and loneliness had
not stined the spirit OF mischief in her,
and she enjoyed vexlng me with refer
ences to her cousin.
walked the length Of the room and
looked out upon the cheek that ran sing
ing through the little vale. They were a
strange family these Holbrooks. and
the rerplcxitles OF their affairs multi
piled How to prevent further injury and
hearta che and disaster; how TO restore
this girl and her exile1 father 10 tho
He from which they had vanished; and
how TO save Miss Pat and Heien,-these
things possessed my mind and heart. !
sat down and faced Rosalind across the
table She had taken UP a bright bit OF
ribbon from the work basket and was
slipping it back and forth through her
fingers.
The name Gillespie was mentioned
here last night. Can you tell me Just
how he was concerned IN your fathers
fairs" I asked.
He was the largest creditor Of the
IIolrrook bank. He lived at Stanford.
where We all used to i've"
This Gillespie had a son. 7 suppose
he inheri,s his fathers claims"
| She laughed outright.
| ~ hove heard of him. He as a remark
| able character. It seems. who does rid.-
culous things. He did as child; re-
member him very well as a drol boy at
stamford. who was always IN mischief.
! had forgotten all about him until |
saw an amusing account OF him in a
| newspaper a few months ago. He had
been arrested for fast driving In Central
Park; and the next day he went back TO
the park with a boys toy wagon ana
team OF goats. as a Joke on the police
man"
81 can we'll believe 1t! The fellows
here staying at the inn at Annandale.'
80 understand. To be frank. have
seen him and talked with him. We have
had in fact. several interesting inter-
views, and she laughed merr!ly
"Wherc did all this happen"
"Once, ont on the lake. whom we wers
both proving about in canoes talked
to him, but made hin. keep his distance.
I dared him TO race me- and finally pad
+ died off and left him. Then another time.
on tho shore near ST. Agatha's. was
taking an observation OF the school gar
den from the bluff. and Nr Gillespie
came walking throu5h the woods and
made love to me. He came so suddenly
that I couldn't run, but saw that no
took me Cor Helen, in broad daylight.
and -
"Woll, OF course vow scornei hir-you
told him 70 be gone. You did that much
for her"
"No. 7 didn't. 7 liked his love makinsi
It was unaffected and simple
THAT Is brutal Hes clever, end earn
est. and amusing. But" and her brow
contracted. but if he is seeking my
father"
Rest assured he IS not. He is IN
love with your cousin-that's the reason
VI