Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-28

waiter had brought me what l ordered
two men, coming hurriedly in. took the
only vacant seats in sight-at little ia
bile next to mine. Something in their APP
pearance attracted my attention. One
was about thirty, tall dark. square faced;
the other was possibly nearly twice that
age, q little white haired man. who looked
as IL his health was failing. What caught
my attention chiefly was that he seemed
to be in such a curious state o. nervous
ness; watching him gave one the Jumps.
At last his companion commented on It
they were sitting sideways to me. 30 that
could see both their faces
"1f were you, hutton. I should take
something for IT."
"Ah, Walker. l wish / could take some
thing for 1t; but-who ,an minister to a
mind diseased? Mandragora would have
no effect on me-"
An unpleasant look came upon the 9TH
er's face as he said
II wish you wouldn't talk such nom
sense What do you suppose IL the good
Of it7'
For one thing. L am nearer the grave
than you are: perhaps that's why I'm so
much more disposed than you to think
I should go TO the Judgment Seat with
such a crime to answer for"
''1f you don't stop talking like that, TAX
ing up that pose. you and I will quarrel"
I'm not afraid Of that, walker; I'm
inclined to wish that you and had quar-
relied before. Rather Dartmoor with
Young than torment with you"
Hutton, I can't think what's come to
fnfp
illness II you don't look out"
I'm a sick man already-sick unto
DEATH"
like that. can't help It, can 7? Only let
me give you tip You played a trick
on George Young; don't you try to play a
second on me. 1t won't benefit you to go
to the Judgment Seat with two crimes
to answer for"
That's true. Don't l know it? I'd
have made clean breast of things be-
fore this II I were the only one who would
suffer-"
The younger man regarded his compan-
Ton fxedly, a savage something coming
into the expression on his face.
Hutton. We did this thing together.
but the first suggestion came from You
teal nonsense, or because your digestion
was out Of order. yor were medltatine
putting me wher, we put him. I'm not
sure that wouldn't kill you"
II wish you would kill me. Tom"
His sincerity seemed to impress his
younger companion, who looked at him as
If seeking words with which to answer:
then. as IL finding none. he summoned the
hei NJ
his chair.
They went out. They had got through
their lunch in very few minutes. Since
their entry I had barely touched mine. l
had. before I knew it, become conf
dante in tragedy in circumstances
which had deprived me of the little ap-
petite | had had
For days afterward I kept asking my
self what was the nature of the tragedy
which made that old gentleman so willing
that his companion should kin him.
In the late summer of that year I went
TO seaside town. which will call East
hampton. I believed it to be an obscure
hamlet. until on getting there I found it
impossible to rent bed and sitting-room,
either for love or money. When had
received the same answer for about the
was taking me from one likely house to
another, II there was still another he
could think or
II can't say. miss. that there is--at
least there is a cottage in the fields about
half a mile along the shore in which you
might find accommodation: but l can't
say that I know much IN its favor
''T told him to drive me to that cottage
dalton / was looking for. and to be quite
charming cottage In itself. Then
liked the landlady; she was quite a pretty
woman. possibly not more than twenty
six years old. She told me she had one
child. a girl Of six. and kept no servant,
but did all the work herself
was never in more comfortable quar-
tiers. And my landlady was most
charming person: no make believe lady
but a very real one. She told me that her
name was Mrs. Vinton. and that she was
n widow; her husband had been dead
three years Since she was practically
my sole companion. saw a good deal OF
her.
never met woman who had a finer
gift OF silence She would sit for hours
ard say nothing What cause she had
ior eiIeICe COul0 not Tell.
One evening as l was going to m,
room to change my blouse for dinner the
door Of the bedroom which she shared
with her small child was wide open. Sh,
was putting the maid to bed. The child
tneeling at her mothers knee, was abou
10 say her prayers, and the mother. bend
Ing over. said to her:
II want you. Nellie. to pray for papi
tonight very specially indeed: it's hi
birthday"
Tears fell from her eyes on to the child
fair hair. ] had left my walking shoe
downstairs and was moving very quietly
suppose that was why she had no
heard me come.
The very next day something else oc
Cured ! made another intrusion on he
confidence-I protest. quite unwillinsly
1t was when I was passing the kitche
window. which. like the bedroom door O
The previous evening. was wide OPEN
,ould not help seeing that Mrs. vinto
was on her knees beside the kitchen tabl.
that she had a photograph in her handi
that tears were streaming down he
cheeks. and that her lips were formin
words.
MY dear. my dear! May tho Lord 90
bless and keep you. and send you bac
to me before my heart is quite broken.
Plainly there was a skeleton In thi