Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-08
creatures of whom the less said the bet


creatures OF whom the less said the bet
ter"
That these words referred to me I had
not the slightest doubt Yet while they
were still on her lips. presuminG on her
conviction that they were hidden from
me, she nodded and smiled as if she We're
wishing me a friendly goodnight.
That was sleepless night. 1t was hours
before I got between the sheets, and when
| did il was not to slumber The feel
ing that I was so entirely alone, and that
there was not n soul within miles and
miles to whom I could turn for help,
coupled with the consciousness that l
had scarcely enough money to pay the
hotel bill and, what was even worse,
that Mr. and Mrs. Travcrs had gone of
with the return half OF my ticket to Lon
don, so that 7 could not 20 back home
however much I might want to--these
things were hard enough to bear; but they
seemed to he as nothing compared to that
man and woman's treqchcrv What was
their motvo. what could have induced
them, was beyond my comprehension. II
was a problem which ! strove all night
TO solve. But the Tuition came on the
morrow.
After lying for hours in troubled wake
fulness I had some broken sleep, from
which I awoke not only without any SEN
sation of being rested, but with an IN
comfortable consciousness OF some I'm
or.1ine hidden danger
soon knew what had happened when
wen downstairs Miss Cooaridgc had
told her story Of the pendant, and Mr.
sterndalc had circulated his lie about his
clerical friend. Everybody Stunned me
Some persons had the grace TO prctcnt
not TO see me: others looked me fun tr
the face and cut me dead The only per
sors who We're disposed to show any per
ccntion Of nv presence Woro tho stern
dales As. entering tho hrealfast-room
7 PASSED their table, they both smiled 0nC
nodded. hut 7 showed no consequences m
them. As took my scat at my owl
table. I saw him say to his sister:
"Our Young friend seems to have go
hor back uD-little IDIOT"
Little idiot was I? Only Yesterday h
had called me- something else Tho feel
ing that he was saving such things he
hind my back hurt mo more than II he
had shouted them TO my face ! averte,
my gaze, keeping my eyes fixed on my
plate. I would learn no more OF what h
said about me, or of what any one said
| Later In the morning matters turned
out so that did see, so that practically
| I had to see what the Stcrndalos saiC
| to each other. And perhaps, on thu
| whole, II was fortunate for mo that
| did. had spent the morning out OF doors
on the terrace tho Sterndales were stand
! ing close together, talking; so enErosse,
We're they by what they were saving tina
they did not notice me; while, though
ala not wish to look at them, somcthinl
made me.
They both seemed to he rather ex
cited Tie was speaking quickly and will
emphasis
81 tell vow" no was saving, re pause,
to watch. I'VE will do it today"
His sister said something which as sh
was standing sideways, was lost to me
lie replied:
THE little idiot hrs cooked her owr
goose; there's no need for rs TO vast
time In cooling il any more-she'- done
I tell YOU we can strip the house Of all
contains, ana they'd lock- her up 70
doing IT,"
Again his sister spoke: without he
cause of her positlon, Giving herself ava
to me. He went on again:
"There are only two things In N
house worth hnvinF-I could give you
catalogue of what every ono has got
Mrs An9truthor's dlamonds-the noel,
lace IL frst-rate, and the rest of ther
aren't bad; ana that American woman
pearls Those five ropes Of pearls ar
WORTH hope thcyll be worth a goo
deal to MS. The rest of the things yo
may make n present Of to our youn
: friend The odium win fall on hor-you'
see, We shall be able to depart wit
tn only thinFs worth having, ut our dis
tlrguishcd leisure, without stain upo
our charactqrs."
; He smiled-some people might hay
thought It pleasant smlle-to me
seemed a horrd one. That smile nnishe
met reminded me or traitors lty,
J What he meant by what he had sal
} did not clearly understand. The onl