Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04

And where would Stephen have her stay when she
stephen still, to have her GOMEZ
II was already month since Stephen had written,
ularly and of lover Who was at the same time 50
Sacredly occupied she was wiling to demand little
re could not know how hungry She longed to know
h!umbly in her letters letters in which She unnues.
tioningly assumed Marys cagerncss to see Wrayford
ana stephen home: in which she scrupuouslv re-
peated all the Wrayford fluctuations: and in which
se 'olr MN OF all her little occupations except
one one Inc story of the wedding dress She withheld
rom nm r. There would be time for that confess
sion after Stephen should have written to bid her
come.
no second letter had arrived when punctually.
crisp and beautiful in it, many folds Of It's sue-paper
me wedding dress came home. For several DAYS
satterward Miss Sophie held an informal reception
70, IN ner little par or Nothing wonderful she
i,t nad been brought into the house since Stephen
mad hrst come there. as little boy--nothing OF such
.mcb irag'ie loHeiness nothing that demanded
tuN, NlRaht Watch1unesS such revcrcnt touch. Miss
Sophies deep satisfaction in the dress by no means
came from the many. assurances that she would look
pretty in it, She insisted on regarding it "a, SYM
IT would enhance her insignificant, elderly person
she consent try it on II want it to look as fresh
ana lovely y! as It does now she would stubbornly
pneh ong,looked-tor second letter came. Sophie
was grateful that she was alone when they gave it
Gu' ' n be were d dng minutes when She held
men at iast she did, 1t held no surprise for her.
er sensitive d heart had felt its message before her
eyes mad seen its words. Like the earlier letter it
was Dref and rather cold but the blow dealt could
not De healed as readily Stephen had written on the
day of his wedding; small quiet wedding. he ex-
planned for his bride was in mourning They were
10 60 Immediately to live in Mary's house on
me lake shore Because OF the many responsibilities
tneyy would come East He hoped Sophie was as
wen as always and he thanked her for the good
To so op hec* w sns sc se"f 9 fhe
ut.y opened before her, revealing through their
rt, a gun the darkest OF the neither infaies. Oh.
1t was plan enough to her now, although no palmer
Ina, than 1t should have been six weeks before if She
,lad not weakly allowed their sophistres bndfold
,"nrd ana TO Gr3ve hat it was plain she put it into
tune she would not be tempted to gloss over the
b t"h h.o stephen mad deliberately deceived her He
money for it. He had been afraid that she would
ho% con H.. He did not wish her to know his wife She
nag LOST MN Life seemed to swirl about her like
thing OF cloud.
co Mhen few hours later. Evelyn Guest found her,
SOPHIE rose camly from her sewing and brought the
letter Tor the girl to read
we snail have to tell everybody she said. "I
snall not mind that now But there is thing you
can 90 1or me- dear. VIII you take the gray silk
WIN you, w when you go home. SO that may never
see E IL again again.
FOR many months after this Sophie Burchcll sat
s ana Sewfo ana thought perstenty OF Stephen
t e Itephen VINO was mature, triumphant, cruel; but
ln'.d nue. boy mat long ago had chung to her and
loved her Mothers may proc am that their JOY lies
NJ watEchihg strong sons gain independent fooholds
mss oophie knew that 1t lies in supplying the staff
IT was the baby Stephen still real than any OF
me Irien9s about her to whom She had turned after
tfle man stephen had cast her off. As she sat alone
ie1 u'flfnea eyes saw slender child sitting in the
uH,ky corner opposite; and her mind busted itself
WIN rehear sing countless tender nlarvels OF baby
preeoIity, she believed that this visionary solace
Vas Vas an she mad; and yet it was not altogether all
or news OF the Reverend Mr. Orth came now and
then 20 Wrayford and to Miss Sophies ears; and it
was mus she learned that year after Stephens
marriage MS wife had given birth little Stephen
ana ded; Into her heart there had therefore come
ne" ana hat-de licous torment. There were two
Stephen Orths in the world; and again one was a
paby ana mother!ess. Another little Stephen-un-
Thershed perhaps; ndiiterently tended. Still ar
dent and undiscouraged. the motherhood in Sophie
learned over this picture OF her own conurng
Through her lonely days and lonelier nights she
seemed to hear. atar off, the little Stephens un-
cries; and it was to this famarlv mag
ined child that her tooong empty arms we're
stretched continually
less than year after the first great piece Of in
telligence the second Stephen Orth was to
and shyy to tell Miss Sonhe thew inrrd b" my
fed. It did not so much matter now what STEPHEN
did--whom he married He was hers No Ioncer.
and the first agony Of that arrangement was an