Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-24


to say that you wasn't invited. want you to "a
"Co!" echoed Tommy. why I'm having per-
fectly ripping tme!''
But" she limited delicately there are other
things to be considered than that"
"Oh!" he flushed Il understand. You mean it
would embarrass you-my being here without a
card, and all that. or course it would never
thought OF that! I'll go this minute
when you 60 home" she said at last, gently
Withdrawing her hand. you tell your mother from
me-no, from little stenographer that you
kind to one night-that you already are one"
THAT l already am what?" demanded Tom
Miss Belden turned away and began slowly
fastening her Sister Of Charity robe
II don't want you to co. she said then In
Nous voice. I've changed my mind. You prom
ised to give me supper, did you not? Put away
your absurd black domino am going to take you
in and introduce you to Mrs. vandervoort'
THAT would be nice" he said cordially Il
really owe her an apology suppose, for coming
here unlimited this way.
Oldcourt Is curious community. 1t runs
strongly to fads to lions. This time, beyond any
doubt. It Tommy Drtsco with his splendid
aertness. his magnificent good looks, his gay and
wonderful innocence and, most incredible OF all
about him, tho fact that he so obviously did not
want to get into society, who the of the
season.
But while his visit TO Oldoourt was prosperins,
Tommy was not anmindful of his promise to his
mother. who was not sharing these pleasant things
with him. On the seventh day, at twelve in the
morning his trunks packed and gone his ticket in
his inside pocket his mission In brief trumphantly
done. no for the second tme in tho Beden
dcawins-room to tell It's single other co." pant
goodbye,
,"Good-byo." said Miss Belden and her vsic. now
curousy r~n inscent Of tne little Sister OF
Charity.
And now" she went on, that you Lave done
halt of-of what your mother wanted of Jou--f for
she must feel that that part is finished
spendidy-I hope with all my heart that you Will
prosper we'll w1th-the rest of it.
Marrying a LADY," laughed Tommy. "Oh.
pshaw / lever think of that, Of course, I've al
ways felt that those things come in their time
All way. Haven't you?"
II always used to think chat did" said Miss
Belden. II suppose that think still.
He took her hand and sazed down at her from
his great height and there was affection in his hon
est eyes-real. deep, abiding a1ection-and Miss
Belden saw 1t and paled.
what brick you are." he said huskily. Ind
what luck for a chap like to have you tor
friend"
Goodbye" said Miss Belden Ard
Tommy OF to catch his train.
On the platform, he glanced at his watch; it
still ten minutes to tran-time, From his pocket
he produced presently telegram from Hathaway's
and read it again with pleasant senss lions; the mes
sage saying that his offer for the famous trade
mark accepted and that his portrait would
adorn the biil-boards He would Eever
have thought O. making tnat offer She had sug-
gested that, had told him how we'll worth doing it
Then suddenly he was rot glad any more. but
strangely aud terribly depressed, he had never
been before; in the wink OF eye, at signal,
heavy gloom, unaccountable, unreasonable, settled
down upon HIM. Vast dependency wrapped around
his being.
He sprang up and began pacing restlessy about.
The grzzled baggage agent eyed with some won.
der the respondent young man who strobe
frowningly about the platform, mutterng strange
things to himself. Presently Tommys eye fell up.
on him. and he drew near struck by sudden
thought.
Have a cigar my man. he said, striving C
speak IN n easy conversational tone. "Er-whaf
does It mean. do you suppose, when you're leaving
a place where you've only spent week, and 20,
feel. by George, ha ha as though you goini
to die?'
Well SIR, said the agent pleasantly, but pri
vatey marveling anew at the odd way OF cottagers
well, sir. II 1t was me- I'd say, begin your pardon
sir, as there was lady in the case"
"A lady In the CASE" repeated Tommy "A
lady in the CASE"
HI went back to his suitcase sat down again
and fell to thinking deeply :. and as when
lamp is flashed sharply into dark room, so nov
light, new and wonderful, suddenly flooded the hid
den corners OF his soul.
The way OF life and it's utmost meaning role,
out before him: face framed itself narveousl.
upon the green hillside where his eye was fastened
and Tommy face to face With the best of all hi
best things found himself at the end Of his expora
tons at last
In two nlinutes-for 1t took no longer than tina
he sprang up, laughing. and laid eager hold upo
his suitcase and when the train came pant
Ing in. the baggage agent wondering more tha
ever. saw the strange young who had rest
lessy waited for 1t, start hurriedly away
Hey. therel" he called good naturedly Here
your train, sr-going this minute"
Train! don't want train" cried Tomm
over his shoulder-never checking his swift pao
for It seemed to him that there not anotha
second to lose-"I want-the best thing gonR!"