Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-16

Mammal" Her face was white and
her voice was pitched high, fraught
with excited intensity. Under my
window, In the rosebushes, at the back
of the house! They're hurting some
body frightfully, I am sure!"
She burst into the room with the
last word. Mrs. Varney stared at her,
understanding fully who. In all prob
ability. was being roughly dealt with
in me ,.osebushes. and realizing what
a terrible effect such disclosures as
ahe had listened to would produce
uron the mind of tho girl
Come" sam Edith, turning rapidly
toward the rear window; I'VE must
stop It."
Mrs. varney stood as If rooted to
the floor.
We'll" said the girl, in great sur.
prise, III you aren't coming, will go
myself"
These words awakened her mother
to action.
Wait Edith" she said.
Now, and for the first time, Edith
noticed Mr. Arrelsford, who had
stepped back and away from her
mother. She replied to his salutation
with cold and distant bow. The
mans face flushed; he turned away.
But mamma, the men outside" per
sisted the girl.
wait my alear." said her mother,
taking her gently by the arm; 81 must
tell you something. It will be a great
shock to you, am afraid"
What is it, mamma? Has father
or"
mo. no, not that" said Mrs. Var
ney. "A man we have trusted as q
friend has shown himself a conspira
tor spy, a traitor
''Who is it?" cried the girl, at the
same time instinctively divining-how
or why she could not tell, and that
thought smote her afterward--tc
whom the reference was being made
Mrs. Varney naturally hesitated &c
say the name. Arrelsford, carried
away by his passion for the girl ant
his hatred for Thorne, was not sc
reticent. He stepped toward her.
1T is the gentleman, Miss Varney
whose attentions you have beer
pleased to accept in the place o
NINE" he burst out bitterly.
His manner and his meaning were
unmistakable. The girl stared at hin
with white, naughty face. in spite o
her trembling lips. Mechanically sht
thrust the envelope with the commits
CT gpt0 hoi n
man who loved her and whom she die
not love, who accused of this hateful
thing the man whom, in the twinklinl
Of an eye, she realized she did love
Then the daughter turned to he
mother.
us it Mr.. Arrelsford who makes thi
accusation ?" she asked.
Yes said Arrelsford, again al
swering for Mrs. varney, "since yo1
wish to know. From the first hav
had my suspicious about this"
But Edith did not wait for him Il
finish his sentence. She turned ava
from him with loathing, and move
RAPIDLY toward the front window.
Where are you going?" asked Al
relsford.
For Captain Thorne"
Not now" he said peremptorily.
2 The color famed in the girls chez
( again.
1 'Mr. Arrelsford, you have said some
e thing to me about Captain Thornt
: Are you afraid to say 1t to him."
) Miss Varney," answered Arrelsfor
J holly, 'if you-if you--"
Edith" said Mrs. varney, "Mr. Al
relsford has good reasons for NO
= meeting Captain Thorne now"
81 should think he had" returne
| the girl swiftly; "for a man who mad
such charge to his face would no
live to make it again"
MY dear, my dear" said her moth
er, gently but firmly. you don't UT
derstand, you don't"
Mamma" said the girl, this ma
has left his desk in the war depart
ment so that he can have the pleasur
OF prosecuting me-"
Both the mother and the rejecte
} sutton noticed her Identification O
herself with Captain Thorne in tn
pronoun me-" one with sinking hear
and tho other with suppressed fury.
He has never attempted anythin
} active In the service before" contir
: ued Edith, land when l asked him t
face the man he accuses, he turns Tx
! coward"
, Mrs. Varney. If she thinks"
81 think nothing" said the girl II
riously; n know that Captain Thorne
g character is above suspicion"
D Arrelsford sneered.
i His character! Where did h
r come from-what ia her"
For that matter" said Edith fl
r tensely, where did you come from
and what are you?"
a THAT is not the question:" was tn
abrupt reply.
r Neither" said the girl. ''is it tn
D question who he is. II it were, I'd a,
4 swer it'd tell you that he is a so
T der who has fought and been woun,
ed In the service, while you---"
y Arrelsford made a violent effort t
s control himself under this bitter i'll
:, ing and goading, and to his credit SUI
?, ceeded in part.
@ we are not so sure of that, Mis-
X Varney," he said more coolly.
# But am sure" answered the cir
: why, he brought us letters fro,
Stonewall Jackson himself"
d Has 1t occurred TO you that Gel
- eral Jackson was dead before his lie
2 tiers were presented?r asked ARIEL