Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

II have thought Of II often. Every
one else that know just iiVes inc
way things happen-there are only
few people who grasp Things ana
make them happen. That Is real
work; SO many Of US are just given
work We do not want che broke
or.
'1f We do not want the work. 1t 10
probably not our own" SAID Le'
strange. Unless we have brought 1t
on ourselves by a fault we must I'm.
do need not speak Of that to you.
One must not make tho mistake OF as
cunning some one else's work"
He spoke gently. almost as II with
clairvoyant reading Of har tendency
to self.immolation.
But may not some one else's fault
be given us to undo?' she asked Gag.
crly. "May not their work be forced
! on us?'
NO." he answered.
Nor" bewildered.
II don't think SO. Each one OF us
has enough with his own. at least 30
1t seems to me. Most OF US die be.
fore we finish IT,"
Emily paused, contendiDg with the
loneliness and doubts which impelled
her to speech, the feminine yearning
TO let another decide her problems.
This others nonchalant strength of
decision allured her uncertainty.
Il am discouraged" she confessed.
and tired. I-there is no reason
why l should not speak OF it. You
know Dick how he can do nothing in
the factory or business, or in the
places where Ffrench should stand.
All this must fall into the hands Of
strangers, to be broken and forgotten,
when my uncle dies for lack of some
one who would care. And Uncle
Ethan seems severe and hard but It
grieves him all the time His only
son was not a good man; he lives
abroad with his wife, who was an &C.
tress before he married her You
knew that" as he moved.
Il heard something Of it in the vii.
lage." Lestrange admitted gravely.
Please do not think me fond Of COS.
sip; / could not avoid it. But should
not have imagined this family likely
to make low marriages"
ut never happened before. never
saw that cousin, nor did Dick; but he
was always disappointment, always
Uncle Ethan has told me. And since
he failed, and Dick fails, there is only
me-"
YOU"
She nodded. her lip quivering.
only me. Not as substitute
am not fit for that-but to find a sub
stttute. I have promised my uncle tc
marry the first one who Is able to be
that"
The silence was absolute. Lestrange
neither moved nor spoke. gazing down
at her bent head with an expression
blending many shades
1T Is duty: there is no one ex
cept me-" she added "Only sometimes
] grow-to dislike it too much. ! an
so selfish that sometimes hope a sub
stttute will never come"
Her voice died away It was done;
she. Emily French. had deliberately
confided to this stranger that which
an hour before she would have be
lfeved no one could force from hel
lips in articulate speech. And she
neither regretted nor was ashamed
although there was time for full reali
cation before Lestrange answered.
II did not believe" he said, "tha
such things could be done. It is non
sense! 1t is the kind of situation
Kiss French. where any man is JUST
/ fed in interfering beg you vii
leave the affair in my hands and thinl
no more of such morbid self.sacri
! fee"
stupefled Emily flung back he,
head, staring at him.
"ln your hands?"
"Since there are none better, it an
noars. Why" his vivid face questioned
her full and straightly you didn't i'm
CINE that any man living could heal
what you are doing. and pass on?"
"My uncle knows"
"Your uncle-is not for me to criti
CHE. But do not ask any other maj
to let you go on
Her ideas Keeling. she struggled TO-
comprehension.
you, what could you do?" she mar
veled 1.-THE substitute"
There won't be any substitute" re
piled Lestrange with perfect GOODNESS
II shall train Dick French to do hi
work"
you"
~ can. and will"
"He can not"
"Oh, yes, he can; he Is Just lido ant
spoiled" the firm lips set more firmly
HE shall take his place, can haudl,
him"
Emily sat quite helplessly. her eye
black with excitement Slowly recol
lection flowed back to her Of a chang,
in Dick since his light contact Will
Lestrange; his avoidance of even oc
cas!onal highballs, his awakening IN
terest in the clean sport of the races
and his half-wistful admiration for thu
virile driver-manager
II almost believe you could" sh'
conceded
II can" repeated I.estrange. Only.
no openly smiled, ut will be hard OF
Dickie"
" was the touch needed, the anti
dote to sentiment Emily laughed
l ~. HI