Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-01-31
Tt Louise I hat
Tiral Built
By Nellie Cravey Gilmore

Francesca laid down the paper with
quick flush of color. Then she
picked it up again and reread the ad
vertisement breathlessly.
FOR RENT-One up-to-date cottage, |
five rooms and bath. Can be leased
to right party Situated corner Ninth
avenue and Maple street. Apply next
door.
Their house! The girls eyes filled
suddenly with burning tears. After
three years he had at last consented
then to let the place to stranger
anyone who might prove respectable
enough to be the right party" Had
he forgotten ?-ceased to care? There
was only one answer or he would
never have been willing to take this
step. 1t couldn't be lack of money
she knew that; the truth came to her
like a knife-thrust; he was done with
the past forever.
How many times had she passed
and repassed the little green house
into which had been wrought all their
hopes, and thanked heaven from the
bottom of her heart that it was still
vacant, still sacred to him. Every
single and rafter stood for a heart
throb; every tree and flower had been
planted with loving hands. And now?
1t was all Francesca could do to keep
her self-control Visions surged into
her brain-visions of the old, dear
days James Langdon's face was the
center of them all. So distinct was it,
she almost felt that she could have
put out her hand and touched it. She
strangled a little sob and dashed
away the tears What a fool she was
! to be going to pieces like this on &C:
count of a man who had found it SO
easy to forget! Gradually a change
came over her feelings. In place OF
the old wearying ache, a hot rebellion
famed into her heart. She rose, tossed
aside the paper she had been reading
and crossed the room to her mirror
Her eyes, sparkling defantly looked
back at her with a new purpose in
their gold depths. She, too
would-forget!
Robert Thayer's letter still lay un
answered in her desk. She reopenec
it with fingers unsteady from excite
ment. The lines danced before hel
eyes for an instant; then her gazt
steadied and she read:
Dear: May l come to you to-mor
row night? There is something
want to tell you, to ask you. I won
be patient any longer. Say that yo'
will be expecting me at eight.
"Sincerely,
BOB"
Francesca seated herself unhesitat
ingly at the desk and scratched
hasty reply
Dear Bob: Come by all means. Pn
always glad to see you; you knoV
that. | shall be looking for you at tn
appointed hour
Cordially
, FRANCESCA"
She had just sealed the note whe
, her brother entered the roOm littl
flushed, an expression of anxiety o
his face. Yielding to a sudden in
pulse, she thrust the envel0p quickl
into a drawer and locked it.
Bad news, Kid" he said, droppin
into chair.
The girl turned with a startle
glance, an unspoken question on he
lips. Young Graham anticipated he
and said abruptly:
"Got to move out in a week. Owl
ers have sold the place-which sign
e fies move on for US"
2 Francesca sat and stared at hil
blankly. A terrible feeling of hom
f sickness swept over her. We've bae
: here so long!" she said wistfully.
That's it, I knew you'd feel a
: cut up about it, just as l do. b
g there's no help for it, grille. We
have to be looking around at once"
;, where will we look?" she que
G. toned helplessly.
Get the papers-thats ALL And
E the meantime l shall have to make
. run down to Washington for four {
five days. That leaves the job
you. I'm sorry, but it's unavoidable
% But the girl scarcely heard his la
words. A sudden, wild thought hs
darted into her brain; her blood WI
e racing r1OCOuSly IuIOuSH Hel 'ClHS.
centered all at once in two crimst
spots in her cheeks.
y Don't bother, jack" she said, 81
city st shan't have any trouble. Lea
it all to me. II think I already knC
a. a place we can get" She was devol
=, ly thankful that her brother had b.
off at college during her betroth
i, days and the building of the house. I
- need never know the truth.
ir They talked things over for lit
after which young Graham get up a.
- went out again. Francesca swallow
no a cup of tea and hurried upstairs
or dress In half an hour she was spec
ing toward Ninth avenue and Maj
street. ev> ry nerve a-tingle with val
m ing emotions.
nd She stepped out on the paveme
oy and stood for a second looking abe
her. Apply next door," There W