Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-05
CHAPTER XIX.
Wherein Philip Ammon 10 shown LIN
bsrIost VjoIets.

most girls OF her age he knew. Sne
differed in other ways. This vast store
of learning she had gathered from
field and forest was wealth or at
traction no other girl possessed. Hef
frank, matter of fact manner was an
inheritance from her mother, but there
was something more Once. as they
talked he thought sympathy" was the
word to describe it and again "com
prehension She seemed to possess
large sense Of brotherhood for all hu
man and animate creatures. She might
as well have been boy. so lacking was
she In any touch Of feminine coquetry
toward him. He studied her wonder
ingly.
AS they went along the path they
reached large slime covered pool sur
rounded by decaying stumps and logs
thickly covered with water hyacinths
and blue flags. Ammon stopped.
"Is that the placer he asked
Elnora assented.
1.-THE doctor told your"
Eyes. 1t was tragic. Is that pool real
~ bottomless?"
$50 far as we ever have been able
to discover"
And you were born here?"
He had not intended to voice that
thought.
yes" she said looking into his eyes.
"Just in time to prevent my mother
from saving the life Of my father. She
cane near never forgiving me. A
little farther along is my violet bed. l
want you to see it"
She led him into a swampy half open
space in the woods, stopped and step
ped aside. Ammon uttered a cry Of
surprised delight. A few decnying logs
were scattered around, the grass grew
in tufts long and fine. Blue flags wav-
ed, clusters Of cowslips nodded gold
heads, but the whole earth was purple
with a thick blanket Of violets noddins
from stems foot in length. Elnora
knelt and slipping her fingers through
the leaves and grasses to the roots,
gathered few violets and gave them
to Philip.
Can your city greenhouses surpass
them?" she asked.
Ammon sat on log to examine the
blooms
They are superb" he said. ~ never
saw such length of stem or such rank
leaves, while the flowers are the deep
est blue. the truest violet ! ever saw
growing wild. They are colored exact
ly like the eyes of the girl am going
tc marry"
Eln0ra handed him several others to
add to those he held
"She must have wonderful eyes" she
commented.
mo other blue eyes are quite so
beautiful" he said lin fact, she is
altogether lovely"
1T IS customary for a man to think
the girl he is going to marry lovely.
wonder If l should find her So"
you would" said Ammon. mo one
ever fails to- She Is tall as you. very
slender. but perfectly rounded; you
know about her eyes; her hair is black
and wavy, while her complexion is
clear and flushed with red"
Elnora knelt among the flowers as
she looked at him.
"Why, she must be the most beauti-
eul girl in the whole world" she cried
Ammon laughed.
mo, indeed" he said "She is not q
particle better looking in her way than
you are in yours. She Is a type of
dark beauty. but you are Just as per-
feet She Is unusual in her combina-
ton Of black hair and violet eyes, nj
though every one thinks them black at
a little distance. You are quite as un.
usual with your fair face, black brows
! and brown hair. Indeed, know many
| people who would prefer your bright
I head to her dark one. It's all ques-
ton Of taste-and being engaged to the
GIRL" he added.
Edith has birthday soon. If these
last will you let me have box of them
to send herY'
II will help gather and pack them
for you, so they will carry nicely. Is
she interested in naturei"
"What interests Edith Carr? Let me
think. First, l believe she takes pride
I in being just a little handsomer and
better dressed than any girl of her set
She is interested in having beautiful
home, fine appointments about her, In
being petted, praised and the acknowl
edged leader of society. She likes tc
find new things which amuse her and
to always and in all circumstances
have her own way about everything"
Good gracious" cried Elnora, star
ing at him. But what does she do
How does she spend her time?"
Spend her time!" repeated Ammon
well. she would call that joke. Hel
days are never long enough. There II
endless shopping to find the pretty
things, regular visits to the dressmak
ers, calls. parties. theaters, entertain
ments. She is always rushed ! neve
get to see half as much OF her as
would like"
But mean work." persisted Elnora
I'm what is she interested that Is use
full to the world?"
"Mew cried AmmOn promptly.
II can understand that" laughed FL
nora. What can't understand Il
bow you can be In She stoppet
yhort In confusion. but she saw that h,
had finished the sentence as she hal
Intended. II beg your pardon" sh
cried. II didn't mean to say that. Blu
cannot understand these people
hear about who live only for their owl
amusement. Perhaps 1t Is very great