Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-29

amending ucSOlatiOn that nurt; III was
the separation from you that punished
mo-the thought that some luckier fell
low might
"Nonscnse," Mildred was rcnlly In
diannnt. II told you to fix your own
time, and promised to walt. Even IL
l had no,--cared for you would have
kept my word. That Is II Wayland
principle. Az It Is, It wns-compara-
lively easy"
Then you do love me, my lndy9'
We leaned eagerly toward her.
DO you need to nskT she whisper
ed from tho shelter OF his arms. ut
Il the same old fascination Of our girl
ana boy days. DO you remember how
completely lost my head about you;"
Sho laughed softly. II used to think
you wore II football suit better than
anybody IN tho world. Sometimes
suspect that 1t is merely that same
eir.ish hero worship and can't last.
, Hut It has lastedso far. Three years
Is n long time for n girl like me to
wait, Isn't ~"
II know. know" he returned jeal-
ously.
But legions Of men are counting you.
oh, | know. Haven't | devoured So
cicty columns by the yard? The pa
pers were six mcnths old. to be sure,
when | got them, but every mention
OF you was Just like n knife stab to
/ me. | used to torture my lonely soul
with pictures Of you. You were never
out Of mind for an hour. My days
/ were given to you. and used to pray
! that M dreams might hold nothing
| but you. You have been my fetish
from the first day | met you, and my
/ Worship has grown binder every hour.
Mildred. Oh my lady. how beautiful
/ YOU are
And indeed she was. for her face. or.
! dlnarily go imperous. was now softly
Giicht her eyes. which other men
found cold. were kindled with a rare
warmth of understanding; her snrile
was almost wstfulIy sweet.
/ He recalled how excited he had been
in that faraway time when he had
first learned her identity. for the name
Of Wayiand was spoken eoundingly In
! the middle west. In the early stages
of their acquaintance he had looked
/ upon her aluofncsS as an aTectation.
but a close intimacy had compelled a
recognition of ii as something wholly
natural. lie found her as truly pa
trcinn rs Wayne Wayland her father.
could wish. The old mans domain was
greater than that of many princes. and
his power more absolute. His only
| daughter he spoiled as thoroughly rs
he rulcl his part of The financial world.
and willfuI Mildred once she had taken
an interest in the young college man so
evidently ready to be numbered among
! her lovers. did not pause half way,
but made her preference patent to all
and opened to him realm Of dazzling
possibilities
And when he lad graduated how
proud of her he had been. How little
Ar had realized the gulf that separated
tt"m. and how quick had been his
:Wn'icning
Il was Wayne Wayland who had
shown him his folly. He had talked
10 the young engineer kindly. If firmly.
being too shrcwd an old diplomat to
fan the fame of hendstrong love
with vigorous opposition.
Mildred is rich girl the old
dnancier had told Boyd. "a very rich
;;;r!. one Of the richest girls in this
part of the world. while you my boy
what have you to Offer"
Nothing, But you We've not always
what YOU are now" Emerson had re-
plicd Every man his to make Il
start. When you married you were
IS poor as am"
"Granted, Rut | married !: poor
girl from my own station in life. For
.unately she had the latent powcr to
develop with ne as grow, so that we
kept even and ! never outdistanred
her But Mildred is spoiled TO begin
with. spoiled her rurposely To pre-
vent just this sort Of thing. She is
bred to luxury. her friends are rich.
and she doesn't know any other kim
of life"
And so it was that Boyd Emerson
bad gone to .N.Hs!.a, to the KlOndil;e,
To win Il fortune and thus to win yhe
girl he hVcd. He fixed his own time
for returning. and 80 it WAS that NIL
dred Wayiand had awaited him.
II today. after three years Of dcrri-
walton. Sh, seemed TO him more beat
tiful ,han evcr-the interval having
served merely to enhnncc her charm
and strengthen the ycarning IF his
heart-she seemed in the same view
still further removed from his sphere.
Ills story finished. boyd went on to
tell her vaguely OF his future plans,
and 1T Inst hc asked her, with some
thing less than nm accepted lovers
confidence:
will you wait another year.
She laughed lightly. You dear boy,
! am not up for auction. This is not
the third and last call am not surc
! could induce anybody to take me
even II ! dcslrcd.'
Il rsad the rumor Of your engage
mcnt in Il San Francisco paper"
She mentioned Il number Of names,
counting them OF on her finger tips.
"Then, of course, there are the old
stnndbys, Mr.. Mackl!n. Tommy Tur.
ncr. the Lawton boys
And Alton Clyde"
TO be sure; little Alton. Hike tho
brook, runs on forever. He still wor'
ships you, Boyd. by the way"
us there any one in particular"
| RoVd dpmnn1o6