Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-10

II II word Strenuous" as if it were a noxous
- living thing, and yet every act and thought
HOG SNN Of his perfect exemplar of the princi-
S14SSA pie of srenuosity He worked hard, and
E9 R&sI played quite as hard as he worked. He
EES Y EJ8 had been 50 engrossed with study and
II eySSf&$ athletics while at college, and over
\ OB~ 4 driven with making good" ever since,
Es,yysygUv-H tat he had never had time to fall in
v love. Now, at the ripe age of thiry-four,
cy' he suddenly found himself 50 completely
SO overwhelmingly bewilderingly i'll
love with Ellen Lee, of his three
hundred fellow passengers the steamship australia,
that he could think Of nothing else.
When he went aboard the 4HsTlija he exhausted
but happy. Four years Of experiment followed by six
years of tedious litigation lad last given his firm
the best rain-prooi material in the world and fortified
their exclusive right to by patent. Now he was on
his way London to secure the foreign patent rights
and he looked forward to the six days OF slow
ship to restore him to prime condition Possibly was
his depleted resisting power no less than the ideness
OF life at that made him such easy victim to the
love microbc. At all events, lew days had reduced
him to such state OF mingled hope and despair that
he had been unable to cat more Than a morse of lamb
and take sip OF claret dnncr-bccause he was de-
termined this very evening ask Miss Lee the great
question
But he had rcconcd without the concert and its con-
sequences His goddess had sat dutifuly beside MAN.
ma throughout the long and deadly programme Now
mamma starting Tor her stateroom and the lair
Ellen was devotedly following. Good night, Mr.
Gardner" she said, gently, with the touch of
her small fingers on his burning palm Mother is
leaving. I must go The last words uttered in
involuntary response to the look Gardeners deep
lined face-a lool; such as have appeared the
face of lone martyr when very large lion APP
preached him
Nevertheless, she did 60 Gardner had bestowed on
her rcreatng mother glance that should have turned
continued her progress followed by the dutilul
Ellen, The depth OF his disappointment his knowledge
that after all the apprehension he had hitherto
durcd he still undergo another day Of the mental
and physical torture of expectation filled Gardner with
rage. He paced the boat deck smoking cigars that
seemed wonderfully bitter while he carefully bestowed
hearty ard separate each and every per-
former who had dragged cut the wreched pro-
gramme until past eleven o'clock.
"a pack OF idiots!' he growled. idiots! And the
wood-headed imbecies who encouraged em Blast
cm, I'd like to heave the whole outfit overheard and
let EN- sing to the fishes Gr-r-rh!'
The longer he walked the deck the hotter his wratl
grew His robust native energies restored to their
fullest power were concentrated in swelling the Aooc
OF he felt toward the entire ships company
He decided at last to drop into the smoking groom anc
soothe his wrath with drink Of Scotch and soda. II,
was driven bolt the drink and flee again to the deck
because he saw old Professor Weisman arfuly ap
preaching his table with the evident intention OF boring
him for hours with long dissertation on his pc
theory of the Cumean origin of ptarminographs
For half hour Gardner lounged against the rail
smoked outwardly calm but still boiling within as h
dwclt on his disappointment Again he approached tn
smollng-room intending to have nightcap, but TIL
loud voice of the boresome Herr Professor made hin
retreat growing 1t too cold to stay deck; 81
he determined to finish his cigar in his state-room am
return for his nightcap when the bore should hav
81 ,,ea1f final ko-
and for a few pufs enjoyed to the full the tran
QUILTING effect of the tobacco. Presently his eyed
dropped shut and he almost dozed.
Better get after that Scotch, I'll be too late,
he said to himself, He slowly climbed the compano
stairs made his way along the deserted deck, an
entered the smoking-room. 1t was empy
Gardner glanced about him. All the armchairs ha
remained in the picturesque disorder in which the las
smokers had left them; the tables strewn wit
ashes and cigar stubs while the wind which came
open port caught up the stale smoke and empha
sized the STIFFNESS of the place He was annoyed an
determined to hurry He pressed the button
The steward was apparently not far away, for almo
instantly steps heard in the corridor. Yes
Gardner heard steps in the CORRIDOR but they didn
seem inclined to enter, and presently they becan
fainter and fainter, and finally died away. Evident
it was not the steward Disguised, he got up ar
jammed the electric button He pushed it violent
and then dropped back into the cushions, grumblir
something about negligent service.
A minute passed-two-three! This becomir
unbearable. He got up again and gave several shar
impatient rings and then instead of reseating himse
he went toward the door, intending to welcome Il
steward with few plain truths
"Huh He's probably asleep somewhere. Well, he
hear from me-but through MedleyW Medley was Il
purser and perhaps the most afablc of all the hiI
officers.
But Gardner had not yet given up hopes OF i
wbiskev and soda As he made his way toward t
bar the dead silence that reigned aboard impress
him deeply Not a sound to be heard t
mufled thrum of the machinery and the splashing
the waves All the lights were extinguished exec
in the smoking ROOM, the library, and the bar. Fig