Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-02


Thorne laughed, as he lighted his
cigar and stepped out onto the orch
and thence into the darkness of the
garden path.
"Oh," said Caroline to herself, he
is splendid. If Wikred were only like
that!" she pouted. But then-our en-.
gagement's broken off anyway, so
what's the difference. II he we're like
that-Id-- No--I don't think I'd"
Her soliloquy was broken by the en-
trance of Mrs. varney, who came slow,
ly down the room.
why, Caroline dear! What are you
talking about, all to yourself?'
"O-just---I was just saying, you
know-that-why I don't know what
was Do you think it is going to
rain?" she returned in great confu
sion.
Dear me, child; I haven't though,
/ about 1t. Why, what have you got on
Is that n new dress. and in Rich
mondF'
"a new dress? Well, should think
SO. These are my greatgrandmoth
er's mothers wedding clothes. Aren't
they lovely? Just in the nick of time
too. / was on my very last rags, or
rather, they were on me, and I didn't
know what to do. Mother gave me a
key and told me to open an old horse
hair trunk in the attic, and these we're
| in It," She seized the corners Of her
dress and pirouetted step or two for
ward to show it off, and then dropped
| fashioned courtesy. 81 ran over to
show them to Edith" she resumed
Where is she? want her to come
over to my house"
Upstairs, 7 think. am afraid she
can't come. | have Just come from
her ROOM" Mrs. Varney continued as
Caroline started to interrupt, "and she
means to stay here
Il will see about that" said Caro-
line, running out of the room
Mrs. Varney turned and sat down at
her desk to write a letter, which evil
IDENTIFY, from her signs, was not an
easy task. In short time the girl
1 9.
up from writing and smiled at her.
you see it was no use, Caroline"
she began.
mo use," laughed the girl; well,
you will see. l didn't try to persuade
her or argue with her. | just told
her that Captain Thorne was waiting
for her in the summerhouse. Yes"
@
her establishment; "he ia still here,
and he said he would take her over.
You just watch which dress she has
on when she comes down Now
will go out there and tell him she'll
be down in minute. have more
trouble getting people n1ed so that
they can come to my party than it
would take to run blockade into Ga,
vannah every fifteen minutes"
Mrs. Varney looked at her depart.
Ing figure pleasantly for a nome nj,
and then. with a deep sigh. resumed
her writing. but she evidently was not
to conclude her letter without further
interruption. for she had scarcely be-
gun again when Wilfred came into the
room with bundle verv loosely done
up In heavy brown paper. AS his
mother glanced toward him he made a
violent effort to conceal 1t under his
coat
What have you got there, Will
fred?" she asked incuriously.
That? Oh, nothing; 1t is only
say, mother, have you written that let.
ter YETI"
mo, my dear. have been too busy
have been trying to write 1t, though,
since came down. but have had one
interruption after another. think I
will go into your fathers Office and do
1t there" She gathered up her paper
and turned to leave the room. 1T Is
a hard letter for me to write, you
know" she added as she went away.
Wilfred, evidently much relieved at
his mothers departure, took the pack
age from under his coat. put 1t on the
table, ana began to undo It. He took
from 1t a pair Of very soiled, dilapi
dated. gray uniform trousers. He had
Just lifted them up when he heard
Carolne's step on the porch. and the
next moment she came into the room
through the long French window. VIII
fred stood petriied with establishment
at the sudden and unexpected appear
ance OF his young beloved. but soon
recovered himself and began rolling
the package together again, hastily
and awkwardly, while Caroline
watched him from the window. She
coldly scrutinized his confusion while
he made his ungainly roll, and, as he
moved toward the door, she broke the
silence.
"Ah. good evening. Mr.. varney." she
said coolly.
Good evening" he said, his voice
as cold as her own.
They both Of them had started for
the hall door and In another second
they would have met
Excuse me-" said Caroline, I'm In
a hurry"
That's plain enough. Another par.
ty, suppose. and dancing"
What OF It? What's the matter
with dancing. I'd like TO know"
Nothing Is the matter with dancing
II you want to. but l must say that II
Is pretty way OF going on, with the
cannon roaring not six miles away"
We'll. what do you want u to do
Cry about It! have cried my eyes
out already: that would do a heap OF
good now, wouldn't IT."