Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-27

Pm sure | don't know" he said at
length. 81 suppose something ought
to be done"
"T don't care what the detective
says!" exclaimed Mrs Missioner, II
ON not going TO let Elinor Holcomb
think any longer that her friend Of
veara ho''eves her TO be a thief 1t
10 unbearable! Tho man told me
that I must not interfere in the case
II expected him to vindicate my SEQ
rotary; but am not going to be gov.
erned by anyone to that extent. I
am going to see Elinor today. I am
going straight to that terrible place
and assure her that even though
permit her to be kept there, refuse
to entertain for a moment the idea
That she has broken any law Of God
or mani"
Are you sure this Is wise, Doris 2"
inquired Sands grayely AS he stood
beside her, It was difficult to control
the impulse to pour out before her the
odoration he felt at sight Of her new
loneliness. She had never seemed
more beautiful than when she was
moved by sympathy for the girl who
at that moment, doubtless, was won
dering II she had forsaken her.
Wise or not" returned the widow,
shall do It, Something tells me
she Is In need Of sympathy this very
day. Why. Bruxton. how do We know
eel
uon might have upon her? 1t may
warp her entire nature; it may wreck
her health. Please do not try to dis
suade me. l have made up my mind
to see her. and l shall 90 there at
once"
1t was a short dash for the auto up
Broadway, up Centre Street to the
Tombs, and 1t was with little difficulty
that Sands obtained for Mrs. Mission.
er permission to see the prisoner.
Elinor came around the corner of
the corridor with more animation in
her step than it had shown in many
a day. She had hardly been able to
believe her eyes on reading Mrs. Mis-.
sloner's name on the card thrust
through the grating OF her cell. Long
ago che had made up her mind that
the chain of circumstances, or perhaps
an enemy, had sown In her kind
friends mind suspicion that she was
guilty. AS the days rolled on and she re
ceived no word from Mrs. Missioner
the conviction grew upon her. Even
this very day she had give up the
hope of rehabilitating herself in the
eyes OF her employer. Not that it was
an employer she mourned in loss OF
Mrs. Missioners confidence. The
rich widow was her friend; had been
her family's friend. and had been the
first to offer her refuge in the ter
rible days following discovery of the
fact that her Kindly, gentle father. aft
er lifetime OF high endeavor, had lef,
her without the provision she knew
he always intended to make.
Dear Mrs. Missioner" cried Elinor
Fastening toward the widow as she
read affection and complete belief in
her countenance. You have done
many lovely things for me, but this LIS
quite the dearest, 1t seems hard even
to picture you in such a place. cd
the reality"
You poor child" exclaimed Mrs
Missioner, hardly controlling hel
voice What about yourself? If il
is distressing to me to come here il
is terrible for you to be here. How
can you stand it,"
"One learns to stand many things,
she answered, when fate commands
yet II anyone had told me few weeks
ago that could SO much as retain my
reason in place like this, Now that
you are here, 1t seems far easier Oh
but 1t Is good of you to COME"
The widow took the girls hands IL
her own and patted them softly as
she whispered words Of encourage
ment She could not trust her voice
to speak for the first few mo
ments AS she looked al Elinor's slen
der grace and the deathless honesty
In her soft, gray eyes, the horror o
the girls situation came home to he,
with redoubled force. 1t was by
mighty effort, and by that alone, tina
she prevented herself from swcepin,
the girl into her arms and making
dash with her for the freedom be
yond the great steel door. For an in
slant that impulse almost got the up
per hand Of her common sense. HaC
not Sands been there. she might hav,
done something so foolish as to com
plicate her young friends position
still further in the eyes of all tn
citys newspapers and their readers
AS 1t was, she increased the tender
ness Of her caresses, and sought 4
soothe Elinor's agitation with littl
love words such as had long bee
common in their daily intercourse. Blu
this tenderness only recalled to Ell
nor all the affection, safety, and she
ter she had left behind her in Mrs
Missioners home. and at the though
she broke into uncomfortable sobs.
The millionaire's discomfort wa
augmented a thousandfo,d by tni
scene between the women. He shift
ed his weight from one foot to tn
other. crumpled the rim of his derb
hat until 1t bent like the brim OF a.
Alpine, and at length, unable to viey
the girls distress with anything lik
equanimity, he walked 10 the othe
end of the reception-room and stoo
tNOlyipU al lnttinovNnr