Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-28
asked Pinckney sharply.

Frances Dursnt md Lieutenant Som
fners stood side by side I'm the dark
ness saying goodby Back OF them,
shut Off with the heavy hall doors. WINS
the lighted house. In front, for be-
low, showed the bright windows of
the steel works. where the night shift
tolled. Now and again, at irregular In
tervals the sky was lighted with n
rulden glare of the huge chlmneys
That blnzed up and then died abruptly.
leaving the night blncker than before.
For time they stood looking out ut
the distant lights and tho silence. At
Inst 1t was the girl who spoke.
"And tomorrow night you will be
down there toiling. watching. waiting,
ns they forge the gun which Is to make
your fame" she snfd softly.
And your he asked just as low.
In the darkness she looked up ut him.
| "And l." she sald--"I shall be up here
just where | am now watching the
lights and thinking and praying that
all will be we'll"
Again they stood IN silence for a
time.
! Then the man sighed.
Il am afraid to come bnck again" he
began unstendily. II think | had bet
ter say goodby TO yoM tonight"
She moved slightly closer.
"Afraid?" 1t was n taunt trcmuous-
~ given.
Yes" he blurted. ~ am afraid, and
you know why"
She did not answer and he rushed
on, speaking low, eagerly. yet bitterly
you know l can't tell you what
wish TO say haven't really the right.
] um penniless naval officer ard you
tho daughter of the biggest steel man
In the country. haven't the right"
what Is II you wish to say she
asked inslstently. She was SO close
their hands touched ms he turned to-
ward her. And. touching. the hands
chung together
You know what wish to say" he
exclaimed. "lf | had the right Id tell
you how much | love you. I'd tell you
how from the first moment ! saw you
! wanted you. and you only. I'd tell
you how ! never have lived until !
knew you and the rest Of my life
must be one dreary blank Of grinding
duty because must lose you. I'd tell
YOU that life with you would be more
happiness than any man has the right
to have. I'd tell you that I'd rather
have one year Of you than Il million
years on earth and all the honors that
men could give me. I'd tell yOu"-he
broke off bitterly for n second, then
repeated-''l' tell you enough to make
you realize what an absolutely dream
ing. idiotic fool | am. but I'd tell you
enough to make you know how I suf
fer because | haven't the right to real
ly tell you anything"
In the darkness the girl laughed q
low laugh Of pure delight.
You are an absolute, idiotic. dream
ing fool" she said. so softly SO ten
derby. that he could not but understand
"Franccsr'
lie barely breathed her name. Then
all reply was cut or for she was In
his arms with her own arms about his
neck and their lips were tight to-
gethcr.
1t was nearly half an hour later
when Frances Duraut her cheeks
flushed. her eyes misty with hnppi-
ness. opened the biz front door and
stepped back into the lighted hall.
SO much had happened in that short
time. She had gone out an anxious,
worried girl She re-entcrcd II glow
ing woman. loved and loving. sure of
herself and happily confident Of the
future They We're not engaged. No,
!, indeed. They had solemnly assured
each other Of that fact. 1t would not
do at all for the pcnnilcss naval officer
kings daughter. But when his gun
had been great success and fame
had como TO him then he was to come
and make his formal plea and ask her
. father for her hand. And she would
be waiting eagerly for her lover, ready
, with her answer and prepared. no mat
l ter what happened. to follow him to
r the ends Of the earth.
Edward Pincknoy looked MP with q
, snccr as she entered the library.
"Oh. he's gone has he:' he said
contemptuously.
The girl was too happy to mind the
= tone.
q. You mean Mr. Sommers" she said
affecting to misunderstood. Yes; he's
! gone"
''Of course | mean that naval whip
! persnappcr. Who do you suppose
, MEANT" he replied sharply. "Yor
p ought TO have more sense, Frances
. than to stand out on that cold porch
You're likely to catch pneumonia OF
anything"
The girl smiled slightly.
"Oh. | wasn't cold" she said.
eve been waiting to speak to you
began Pinckney again. ITS about
something important"
Frances was In no mood for long
dull conversation. She wanted to ge,
away by herself to think over the last
half hour, to feel again the thrill OF
his touch. to hear again In her imagi
nation the sound Of his voice. SO she
spoke somewhat impatiently.
Wont tomorrow do, Edward"
He shook his head with decision.
mo: tomorrow won't do Frances.
want to talk to you tonight about
something In which | am interested
and in which your mother and father
are interested also-somothing which
we all wish to bring about"