Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-12

will surprise or hurt me in the least. I'm
prepared to pay a good lump sum to get
him clear of all his messes, then I'm go
ing to have one of the finest weddings
ever seen in town; I've had a special sum
set apart for it for years. Won't he make
a picture of a bridegroom? | never
dreamed that I should marry a man like
him"
Her cigarette being nearly consumed.
she lit another, while ] looked at her with,
! have no doubt. amazement in my eyes
and something like terror in my heart. |
had never supposed that there were such
women as she existing in the world. who
looked at what, to me, were sacred
things from such a point of view.
[ had nightmares because of Miss
Drawbridge that night-real nightmares.
| had a broken and disturbed night alb
s~olutely on her sccount and l got out
Of bed with the feeling strong upon me
that. if I could possibly help it, that, to
my mind, impossible marriage should not
take place. would do that unfortunate
woman good in spite of herself.
When ] got down almost the first per-
son / saw was Mr.. Cecil Armitage. look
ing so glum. so unhappy, SO desperate,
and, l could not but think. so ashamed OF
himself, that my resolution was strength
ened.
1t Is quite the thinb at Dieppe to go
down to the quay TO see the boat come in
from Newhaven. After dejeuner, as there
was a pretty stormy sea, l thought l
would go and see what the passengers
looked like. AS ! was going l fell in with
Mrs, Curtis, one of the dearest old ladies'
l have ever met. She was an American.
and. so far as ! could make out, had been
doing Europe very much on her own. al
though she had a husband who everybody
said was a millionaire. 1t seemed that he
was coming to Dieppe by that very boat.
sv Ia,vA-r --- -. - 1T . 49, hs--
more than six months. He's so occupied
with business that he hasn't time to
spare for such a trihe as a wife. except
between whites. | understand that he's
been making another million dollars. /
wish he wouldn't: every fresh million he
makes only seems to fill him with the
desire TO make more; and as we've Meth
er kith nor kin. and are just a lonely old
couple, what we're going to do with all
the money ! can't think"
When the boat drew up at the quay she
began to wave her handkerchief with all
her might to an elderly gentleman who
stood on the deck, and he began to wave
his to her; so l drew off in order that
they might meet without being worried
by a stranger. AS / vas strolling off the
quay after most of the people had gone.
a girl who had a small brown bag in her
hand looked at me as If she wondered
if | We're very dreadful. and then. as if
thinking that perhaps ] was not, sum-
moned up courage to speak to me.
Can you tell me- she asked. the
name of a cheap and respectable hotel
where-where l can go alone?'
/ told her of one which | thought an
swered that description-I offered to
show her where II was. She was quite
the prettiest girl l had seen for ages,
with a face, l thought. which had char
acter and strength, as well as being good
to look at. ! fell in love with her at
sight. She did not accept my offer TO
show her TO the hotel. but she thanked
me for giving her the name: and then.
after favoring me with a further inspec-
ton, she made a remark which took me
aback.
II believe that in these foreign places.
II they have been there any time, English
people begin to kno each other by name
as wei as by sight. WIN you pardon my
asking how long you've been here?' l
told her Then came a staggering ques-
ton; Can YOU tell me If there IL now
STAYING in Dieppe a gentleman named
Cecil ArmitaGe?"
! Informed her that 10 the best OF my
knowledge and belief there certainly was
| DO not know what there was In my tone
which she resented. but there seemed 10
bs something. because. barely thanking