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YT. FREE PRESS, FllTDAY. NOVfiMBBR KO. I88S. "CRESSY," A Story of Western Pioneer Life, -IIY- FKANOIS BRET IT ARTE, Author of "Luck of IZonring C'ajiip," "M'IIbs," "'J'onnca eoe's J'arduoT," Etc. Copyrlftbt, "S3, by tho Author. When the door closed on Kupert the d: iter pulled down the bl'nd, and trim m'v.z his lamp, tried to compose himself by reading Outside, tlic "(ircat D.iy fo? Indian Spring" whs slowly evaporating In 1 alo joists fiom 1hc river, and the celb'ura (ioti itself Fpnim v.1 .wily taking Hiczht. here juid thero in r)rnan candles find rockets. An occasional outbreak from lovellors In tho bar room below, a stumb ling strag ler Along :ho piaukod sidewalk before the hotel only seemed to intensify tlv. rii3ttc nUHnesH. Kor tho future o.' In dian Sprint? wasstb'lio rer.-cdu that na ture insensibly reinvested Kb boundaries c -i tho slightest relaxation ot civic Inllu i! cc, and M r. Ford "iffed his head from rU glowing colum'wi'! the ; -ir to listen to tho far-ofl yelp of a cojute oa tbo oppo bitc shore. He was also coPClon of the recurrence of that vnc-ne, pieasuru'd" recollection, ao indellnlto that, when he sought to identify it with anyth'nof even the 'hiding of tho nn'rtlo Htiravs on hi dfk it evaiiod him. Ho tried to wort. with Hie .wme iiiterrnp- tUm. Then an uu"a.-j sensation that ho l.ai not bt-en biiltic uihy kind to Kupert 1 in his foolish love troubles remorsefully . t.zed him. A half pitVlic, half humor- ! ous picture ot tho mi-erable Unpen stag- I (.'erliiR under the double burden of his sleeping brother and a misplaced alTeo ' tion, or possibly abandoning the one or both In tho nearest ditch iu a reckless ac cess of boyish frtu-y and lleeing his home i I-irever, rose belotv, his eyes. He telzed nls hut with the intention ot seeking him 1 -nr fnrwpttlnrr him ill bOtlie Other OCCIIOH- . tion by the way. l'"or Mr. Ford had the (sensitive con'cietici' ot many imaginative people : an unlading moul'or, it was al ways calling his whole moral being Into play to evade it. As he cro-sed the palace he came upon Mrs. Tlipp.huoded and elaborately attired iu a white ball dress, which however did not, to his own laney, become her as well as her ordinary costume. He was passing her with a bow, when she paid, with com placent consciousness of her appearauce, "Aren't you i;oiag to the ball to night ?" He remembered then that "an opening lull" at the court blouse was a part of the celebration. "No,"' ho said Mulling ; "but it is a pity that Km ort couldn't have fceen you iu your charming array." "Kupert," said the lady with a slightly coquettish laugh ; "you have made him hj much a woman-hater as yourself. 1 of fered to take him In our party, and he ran away to you,'' She paused, and giving hiui a furtive critical glance said, with an easy mingling ot confidence and audacity, "Why don't, you go ': NobodyTl hurt you. 'I'm not so sure of that," replied Mr. Ford gallantly. "There's the melancholy example of Kupert always belore me."' Mrs. Trinn to-ed her chignon and de- Ecended a step ol the stairs. "Vou'd bet ter go," she continued, looking up over the bannisters. "You can look on if you can't dance." Now Mr. Ford could dance, and It fo chanced rather well too. With this con x'iousuess be remained slandiii!,' in half Indignant hei-ltation on the lauding a she disappeared. Wh --nouldu't he go .- Jt was true ho bad half tacitly acquiesced In the reserve with which he had been treated, and bad never mingled socially in the gatherings of cither sex at Indian Spring but that was no reason. Ho could at least dress himsell, walk to the court house and look on. Any black coat and white shirt was suf liciently (tc rujutr for Indian Spring. Mr. Ford added the supir'luous elegance ot a forgotten white waiitcoat. When he reached the side walk it was only 'j o'clock, but the windows ot tho to'irt house were nlready llariug like a stranded steamer on tho harreu b.mk where it had struck. On the way thither he was once or twice tempted to chauge his mind, and hesita ted even at the very door. But the fear that his hesitation would be noticed by the few loungers before it, and tho fact that some ot them were already heslta tlug through bashfuluess determined him to cuter. Thecletks' office and judges' chambers on the lower floor hud been invaded by wraps, shawls and refreshments, but the dancing was reserved for the upper floor or court toom, still unfinished. Flags, laurel wreaths and appropriate llor.il m trriptious hid its bare .vails , but the coat cl arms of the State already placed over tho judges' dais with its illimitable golden .iiiiiset, tls triumphant goddess, and its implacable grizzly seemed to figurativeiy typify the occasion better than tho in-t-oriptions. The room wan close and crowded. Tho fllckcing candle- in tin ', eoonces against the walls or depending iu rude chandeliers of Kuril hoops from the ceiling, lit up the most astounding diver- :-lty of female costume the master bad i ever t-ecu. Uowns ol bygoue lnshloin , ! creased and stained with packing and ills-1 ue, toilets ol forgotten festivity revised i with modem additions ; garments iu and ' ovtof season, a fur-trimmed jacket and a tulle skirt, a velvet robe under a pique w.criue ; irefh young faces beneath faded head-dresae, and mature and buxom charms in virgin white. The omall space cleared for the dancers was continually Invaded by the lookerHon, who iu tiles of three deep lined tho room. As the master pushe',1 his way to the front, a young Kir', who had been stand ing in tho sides ot a quadrille suddenly darted with a nymph-liko quickuess uinout; the crowd and was for an instant bidden. Without distinguishing cither f.u.e or figure, Mr. Ford recognized In the quick, impetuous action a characteristic movement of Cressy's ; with an embar rasidng instinct that he could not account for he knew she had seen him. and that for soma Inexplicable reason he was tho canto of her sudden disappearance. Hut It was oniy for a moment. Kyen while ho was vaguely scanning the crowd tiho reappeared and look hei place beside her uiystllled partner -the fascinating stranger of Johnny's devotion and Ku pert's dislike. Hho was pale : he had never seen her so beautiful. All that ho had thought distasteful and incongruous iu lior were but accessories of her loveli ness at that moment, iu that light, In that atmosphere, In that strange assembly. F.ven her full pink gi.azu dress, lioui which her fair youiiK shoulders slipped as from a sunset cloud seemed only the per fection of virginal simplicity ; her girl ish length of limb and the long curves of her ucck and back were now tho outline-j of thorough breeding. The nbienoo of color lu her usually fresh luce had been replaced by n faint magnetic auroui that seemed to him halt spiritual. Ho could not tako hit eyes from her ; ho could not believe w hat ho saw. Vet that was Ores fry McKinstry - -hi.s pupil l Had he ever really seen ler v )i ( llu know hev mm, ? tMilall wonder that all eyes were bent upon her, that a murmur of unspoken admira tion, or still more interne hush ot silence moved the people around him. Mo guticed uu-tli'dly at them, mid was oddly lelleved by thin evident participation in his emo tions. yiie was dancing now, and with that same pale restraint and curious quiet that had atlected him so Htrongly. She had not even looked in his direction, yet he wasawnro by the same Instinct that had fit llrst possessed him that she knew that he was present. Ills desire to catch her eyo was becoming mingled with a certain dread, ns ir in a single interchange of glances, the Illusions ot tho moment would either vanish utterly or become Irrevoca bly llxed. He fni ced himself, when the set was finished, to turn away, partly to avoid contact with homo aciualntauco who had drlflitl before him, and whom politeness wouhf have obliged him to ask to dance.aud p irtly to collect hie t.houghta. He determined to make a tour ot tho rooms and Uieu go quletiv home. Those who recognized him made way for him with missive curiosity : the middle-aged mid older adding a confidential sympathy and equality that positively Irritated him. For an l.-slant ho had un idea o seeking out Mrs. Triup und Uaiinlug her as a part ner, menly to mIiow her that he danced. Ha had nearly mado tho ciicutt of the room when he was mrprlsed by the first strains c a wait a Waltzing was not a strong fenutre of Indian Soring festivity, portly that, the church people hail serious dounta il David's s'lltatory performances before, the ark iucluded "round dances," and partly that tho young h.id not yet mastered its rilfllcullies. When ho yield ed to his impulse to look again at the dancers nc found that only three or four couples had been bold enough to tako the ilJur. Ciessy McKiustry und her tormcv partner wero one ot them. In his present exaltation he was not astonished to find that she had ei idently picked up tho art in her lato vi.sit, and was now waltzing with quiet grace and precision, but ho was bnrpriscd that her partner was far from being cquit'ly perfect, anil that after a few turns sue stopped ami smilingly ills eugageil her waisc trom his arm. As she ntcpptd luck she tinned with unerring lu st met to that part of tho room where tho master iood .mil raised her eyes through the multitude of admiring faces to his. Their eyes met in an isolation .is supteme as it they had been alone. It was an at traction the more dangerous because un formulated a possession without previous pledge, promise, or even intention a love that did not lequire to be "made." He approached her quietly and even inoro coolly than ho thought possible. "Will you allow mo a trial V he asked. She looked iu his face, and as if she had not heard the question but was following her own thought, said, "I knewyou would come ; I saw you when you first came in." Without another word she put her hand In his, and as it it were a uart ot an in stlnctive action ot drawing closer to him, caught with her advauclng foot the ac cent of the waltz, and the next moment the room seemed to slip away from them into whirling space. The whole thing had passed so rapidly from the moment he approached her to the llrst graceful swing of her full skirt at Ids side, that it seemed to him almost like the embrace of a lovers' meeting. He had otten been as near her before, had stood at her side at school, and even lean ed over her desk, but always with an irri tated instinct ot reserve that had equally affected her, and which he now under stood. With her conscious but pale face so near his own, with the faint odor of her hair clinging to her, and, with the sweet coufu-iou ot the half-lingering, half withheld contact of her hand nnd arm, all had chanced. He did not dare to reflect that ho could never again approach tier except with this feeling. He did not dare to think of anything ; he abandoned himself to the sense that had begun with the invasion of her hair-bound myrtle in the silent school room, and seemed to have at last led her to his arms. They were moving now in such perfect rhythm and ! unison that they seenieil scarcely con scious of motion. Once when they neared the open window he caught a glimpse of the rounii moon rising aoove tae solemn heights of the opposite shore, and felt the cool breath of mountain and river sweep Ins cheek and mingle a few escaped threads ot her fair hair with his own. With that glimpse and that seusatlon the vulgarity ami the tawdriuess of their sur roundings, the sputtering candles iu their sconces, the bizarre llgures, the unmean ing faces seemed to be whirled far into t distant space. They were alone with night and nature ; it was they who were still ; all eNe had receded In a vanishing perspective of dull reality, in which they had no part. "Play on, O waltz of Strauss 1 Whirl on O love and youth 1 For you cannot whirl so swiftly but that this receding world will return again with nnriowiug circle to hem you in". Faster, O cracked clarionet ! Louder, O, too brazen bas soon I Keep back, () dull and earthly en vironment, till master and pupil have , dreamed their foolish dream I ' They are in fancy, alone on the river bank, only the round moon above them I and their lluked shadows faintly llutter ! ing iu the stream. They have drawn so 1 closely together now that her arm Is en- circlintr his neck, her soft eves uplifted i like the moon's reflection and drowning 1 into his ; closer nnd closer till their hearts I , stop beating aud their lips have met iu a I first Kiss, easier, u nine icet swing clear, O Cressy's skirt and keep the uar j rowing circle back They are again aloue ; the judges' dais nnd the em i blazoning of the State caught iu a single j whirling Hash of consciousness are ' changed to an nltar, seen dimly through the bridal yell that covers her lair head. There is the murmur of voices mingling two lives In one. They turn and pass ; proudly down between the aisles of won dering festal faces. Ah I the circle is drawing closer. One more quid: whirl to keep them back.O Hying sk'rt and dainty i winged leet 1 Too lato I The music stop-i. ! The tawdry walls shut in again, the vul I gar crowds return, they stand pale aud I quiet, the centre of a ring of breathless, ! admiring, frightened, or forbidding faces. ' Her arms fold like wings at her side. The waltz Is over. A shrill feminine chorus assail her with praises, struck hero and therewith a me tallic ring of envy; a dozen all-daring cav aliers, made reckless by her grace aud beanl y, clamor for her hand in the next waltz. Sue replies, not to them, but to him, "Not again," and slips away in tho rowd with that strange new shyness that of all her transformations seems the most delicious. Yet so conscious are they of their mutual pa&ion that they do not mini each other, and ho turns away as if their next meeting wero already an ap pointed trytit. A few congratulate him on his skill. Johnny's paragon looks after him curiously ; certalu elders shako hands with him perplexedly, as it not quite sure of tho profes-slonal consistency of his per formance. Those charinlug tide-waiters ou social success, tho fair, artfully ming ling expiration with compliment, only extract from him the laughing statement that this one waltz was tho single excep tion allowed him from the rulo ot his pro fessional conduct, aud he refers them to his elder critics. A single face, loutish, looming, and vindictive, stands outamong the crowdthe face of Seth Davis, lie hail not seen him sluco lie left the school ; he had forgotten his existence ; oveu now he only remembered his succe-isor, .Too Masters, and lie looked curlnnaly mound to bee if that later suitor of Cressy's was present. It was not until ho reached the door that he began to think seriously of Seth Davis'.s Jealous face, and was roused to a singular indignation. "Why hadn't this great fool vented his jealousy on the openly compromising masters," he (nought. He even turned and wnlaed buck with some vaguely aggressive In stinct, but the young man had disappear ed. With this Incident still in his mind lie came upon Uncle Hen and Hiram Mc Kiustry, standi m: among the spectators lu the doorway. Why might not I'ncle Ken be jealous too? and if his single waltz had really appeared so compromis ing, whv should not Cressy's father ob Jcct Hut both menalbeit, McKlnstry usually exhibited a vague unreasoning contempt tor Uncle Ken wero unanimous In their congratulations and outspoken admiration. "When 1 seo'd you sail In, Mr. lord," said Uncle Hen, with abstract reflective ness, "I sez to tho tellers, 'lie low.boy, and you'll seo stylo." And when you put on them first step's, t &ez, 'that's French the latest high-toned French style outer the best masters, and and outer the best books. For why V tez I. 'It's the fiamo long, sliding stroke you seo lu bis copies. There's that long up sweep, and that easy curve to tho right with no hitch. That's the sorter swing he he, lu readln' po'try too. That's why it's called tho po'try of morion,' sez I. fAnd you ken bet your boots, boys, it's ail In the traltilu' o' edu cation.' "Mr. Ford," nald Mr. McKlnstry Brave ly, slightly waving a laveuder-colored kid glove, wkh which ho had elected to con ceal his maimed baud, and at the same moment, mdicato a festal occasion : "I hev lo thank ye for the way you took out that child o' mine, like er. bho woz an on fried 1111 y. and put her through her paces. I don't (fsnce myself, panikly in that gait which 1 tako to be siithln' betwixt a lope and a canter and 1 don't get to seo much dancm' nowadays on account o' bein' worilted by stock, but seein' you two together Inst now, stithln' came over me, and I doti't think 1 ever felt so kam in my life." Tho blood rushed to the master's cheek with an unexpected consciousness of guilt and shame. "Hut." he stammered uwk wardly, "your daughter dances beautiful ly herself ; she has certainly had prac tice." "That," said McKmatry, laying his gloved hand impressively on tho master's shoulder, with tue empty little linger still more emnhasized by being turned back ward in the act ; "that may bo ez it ez.but I wanted to say that it was the simple easy, lamilv touch that you gev it, that took me. Toward the end, when you kinder gathered her up aud she sorter dropped her head into your breast pocket, and seemed to go to sleep, like ez ef she was still a little girl, it so reminded me of the times when I used to tote her myself walkln' by the waggin at Piatt river, that it made me wish the old womau was here to Fee It." Still coloring, the master cast a rapid, sidelong glance at McKlnstry's dark red face and beard, but lu tho alow satisfac tion of his features there was no trace of that Irony which the master's Belt-consciousness knew. "Then your wife is not here '" said Mr. Ford abstractedly. "She war at church. She reckoned that I'd do to look arter Cressy she bein', so to speak, under conviction. D'ye mind walkiu' this way a bit ; 1 want to speak a word with ye t" He put his maimed Band through the master's arm, after his former fashion, and led him to a corner. "Did ye happen to see Seth Davis about yer ?" "I believe I saw him a moment ago," returned Mr. Ford half contemptuously. "Did he pet oil anythlu' rough on ye i" "Certainly not," said the master haught ily. "Why should he dare ?" "That'- so," said McKlnstry medita tively. "You had better keep right on in that line. Thai's vour gait, remember. Leave him or his father It's the same thing to me. Don't you let yourself be roped in to this yer row betwixt me nnd the Davises. You ain't got no call to do it. It's already been on my mind your bringin' that gun to me in the Harrison row. The old woman hadn't onghter let you nor Cress either. Hark to me, Mr. Ford 1 1 reckon to stand between you and both the Davises till the cows come home only mind you give him the go by when he happens to meander along to wards you." "I'm very much obliged to you," said Ford with disproportionately sudden i color ; "but I don't propose to alter my habits for a ridiculous schoolboy whom I have dismissed." The unlust and boyish petulance of his speech instantly Hashed I upon him, nnd he felt ma cneeic uurn again. McKlnstry regarded him with dull, red, slumbrous eyes. "Don't you go to lose your best holt, Mr. Ford and that's kam. Keep your Kam ami you've anus got mo dead wood on Iujlu Springs. I ain't got it," he continued, iu his slowest, most passionless manner, "and a row more or less ain't much accouut. to me but to me but you keen vour kam." He paused, siepped back, and regarding the master, with a slight wave ot his crippled hand over his whole person, as if indicating some per sonal adornment, said : "It seta you oil !" He nodded, turned, and re-entered the ball-room. Mr. Ford, without trusting himself further to speech, elbowed his way through the crowded staircase to the street. Hut even there his strauge auger, as well as tho equally strange remorse, which had seized him lu McKlnstry's pres ence seemed to evaporate in the clear moonlight aud soft summer air. There was tho river bank, with the tremulous river glancing through the dreamy mist, as they had seen it from tho wludow to iether. Ho even turned to look back on the lighted ball-room, as if she might have been looking out too. Hut he Knew he should see her again to morrow, aud ho huriledly put aside all reserve, all thought of the ltiture, all examination ot his con duct, to walk home euwrapped in the vaguer pleasuro of tho past. Kupert Fil gee, to whom he had never given a secoud thought, now peacefully slumbering be side bin baby brother, had not gono home in more loonsii or more dangerous com pany. When ho reached the hotel, ho was sur prised to Hud It only 11 o'clock. No one iiad returned, the building was deserted by all but tho bar-keeper aud a lllrtlug chambermaid, who regarded him with ag grieved astoulsbment. He began to feel very toolish, and halt regretted that ho had not stayed to dauce with Mrs. Tripp : or, at least, remained iir a quiet onlooker npart from the others. With a hasty ex cuse about returning lo write letters for the morning's post, he took a caudle aud slowly remounted the stairs to his room. Hut ou entering he tound himself unpre pared for that singular lack ot sympathy which familiar haunts always greet our new experiences ; he could hardly believe that ho had left that room only two hours before ; It seemed so uncongenial aud btraugo to tho sensation that was still pos sessing him. Yet there was his table, his books, his armchair, his bed as ho had left them : even a sticky fragment of gin gerbread that had fallen from Johnny's pocket. He had not yet reached that stage of absorbing passion where ho was able to put the loved one In his own surround ings ; sho as yet had uo place In this quiet room ; ho could scarcely think ot her here, aud ho must thluk ot her, It he had to go elsewhere. An extravagant Ide.i of walking the street until his restless dream was over seized him, but oien in his folly the lackadaisical, moonstruck quality of suclra performance was too obvious. Tho school house I He would go there ; it was only a pleasant walk, the night was love ly, and ho could bring the myrtle spray from his desk. It was too significant now - -If not too precious -to bo kept thoro. Perhaps he had not examined it closely, nor the place where it had lain ; there might bo an additional sign, word.or token he had overlooked. Tho thought thrilled him, even while he was calmly arguing to himself that it was an instinct ot cau tion. The air was quieter and warmer than usual, though Rtlll characteristic of the ocallty In its dry, dewless clarity. The grass was yet warm from tho day-long sun, and when he entered tho pines that surrounded the school house, they had scarcely yet lost their splcey heat. The moon, riding high, fllled the d.irk aisles with n delicious twilight thnt lent Itself lo his waking drams. It was" not long before to-morrow ; ho could easily man age to bring her hern in th grove at re cens, and would speak with her there. It did not occur to him what he should say, or why he should say It ; It did not occur to him that he had no other provocation ttian her eyes, her conscious manner, her eloquent silence, und her admission that she had expt cted him. It did not occur to him that all this was inconsistent with what ho knew ot her antecedents, her character, and her habits. It was this very Inconsistency that charmed and con vinced him. We are always on tho look out for these miracles of passion. We may doubt the genuineness of affection that is first hand, but never of ouo that is transferred. He approached the school-house and un locking tho door closed it behind him, not so much to keep out human intrusion nx the Invasion of bntrf and squirrels The nearly vertical moon, wh le it perfectly lit the playground and openings lu the pines around the house, left tho interior iu dark ness, except the rellectlon upon the ceil ing from the shining gravel without. Partly from a sense ot precaution nnd partly because he was familiar with tho position of the benches, ho did not strike a light, and reached his own desk uner ringly, drew his chair before it and un locked It, groped In its dark recesses lor the. myrtle spiay, felt lis sol t silken bind ing with an electrical thrill, drew it out, aud in tho security of tho darkness, raised it to his lips. To make room for it iu his breast pocket he was obliged to take out his letters - among the u tho well worn one ho had tried to read that morning. A mingling ot pleasure nnd remorse came over him as ho felt that it was already ot the past, and as he dropped it carelessly Into the empty desk it fell with a faint, hollow sound as if it wero ashes to ashes. What was that The noise of steps upon the gravel, light laughter, the moving of two or three shadows on the celling, the sound of voices, a man's a child's, aud hers ! , Could it be possible Was not ho mis taken t No! the man's voice was Mas ters', tho child's, Octavia's ; the woman's, hers. He remained silent In the shadow. The school-room was not far from the trail where she would have had to pass going home from the ball. Hut why had she come there ; had they seen him arrive ? aud wete mischievously watching him ? Hut the sound of Cressy's voice and the lifting of the unprotected window near the door convinced him to tho contrary. "There, that'll do. Now you two can step aside. 'Tave, take him over to yon fence, and keep him there till I get in. No thank you, sir I can assist myself. I've done it before. Itain't the first timo I've been through this window, is it, 'Tave ?" Ford's heart stopped beating. There was a moment of laughing expostulation, the sound ot retreatiug voices, the sudden dnrkeulng of tho window, tho billowy sweep of a skirt, the faint quick Hash of a little ankle and Cressy McKlnstry swung nerseit into the room and dropped lightly on the floor. She advanced eagerly up the moonlit passage between the two rows of benches. Suddenly she stopped ; the master roso at tue same moment with outstretched warn ing haud to check theory of terror he felt sure would rise to her lips. Hut he did not know the lazy nerves of the girl be fore him. She uttered no outcry. And even iu the faint dim light he could see only the same expression of conscious understanding come over her face that ho had seen in tho ball-room, mingled with a vague joy that parted her breathless Hps. As ho moved quickly forward their hands met ; she caught his with a quick signifi cant pressure and darted bacic to the win dow. ,'Oh, 'Tave!" (very languidly.) "Yes." "You two had better wait for mo at the edgo ot the tiatl yonder, and keep a look out for folks going by. Don't let tnem see you hanging round so near. Do you hear i I'm all right." With her hand still meaningly lifted, she btood gazing at the two figures until they slowly receded toward the distant trail. Thou she turned as he approached her, the rellectlon of tho moonlit roml btrikiug up into her shining ejiw and eager waiting face. A dozen quenUons were upon his lips, a dozen replies were ready upon hers, nut tney were tnyver uttered, for the next moment her eyes half closed, she leaned forward and fell into a kiss. Shft was the tlrst to recover, hnlilimr hfsi , i ,, ,,.,., ,.,..i ', r.. - lno0nlight. her own in na.sslouate shadow. "Listen," she said quickly. "Thev think I came here to look tor bomethiug I left in my desk. They thought it high fun to come with me these two. I did come to look for something not in my desk, but yours." "Was it this f" ho whispered, taking the myrtlle from his breast. She seized it with a light cry, putting it flrst to her Hps and then to his. Then clasping his face again between her soft pidms, she turned It to the window and said : "Look at them and not at me." He did so seeing the two figures slowly walking in the trail. And holding her thero flrmlv against his breast, it seemed I ji hbisnhemv is nsk tho ouestlon Thnt. hiui been upon his lips. "That's not all," she murmured, moving his face backward and forward to her lips as if it were something to which sho was giving breath. "When we camo to the woods I felt thnt you would bo here." "And feeling that, you brought him ?" Bald Ford, drawing back. "Whv not!'" sho replied indolentlv. "Kven if ho had seen you, I could have I managed to have you walk homo with me." "Hut do you think it'e quite fair? Would he like it "Would he like it '" sho echoed lazily. "Cressy," said the young man earnestly gnzlnginto her shadowed face. "Have you given him any right to object Do you understand mo ';" She slopped as it thinking. "Do you want me to call him In t" sho said quietly, but without the least trace of archness or coquetry. "Would you rather he wero here or shall wo go out now and meet him ? I'll say you just came as I was go ing out." What should he say ? "Cressy ?" ho he asked almost curtly. "Do you love mo." It seemed such a ridiculous thing to ask holding her thus Iu his arms, if it wero true; it seemed such a vlllaluous question if It were not. "I think I loved you when you first came," she said slowly. "It must have been Unit that made me engage myself to him," she added simply. "I know I loved you aud thought only ot you whon I was away. I came back because 1 loved you. I loved you the day you camo to so Maw even when I thought you camo to tell her ot Masters, aud to say that you couldn't take mo back." "Hut you don't nsk me If I lovo you f" "Hut you do you couldn't help it now," she said confidently. What could ho do but reply as llloglcally with a closer embrace, Hlbett a slight tremor as If a cold wind had blown across the open window, passed over him, She mny have felt It too, for sho presently said, "kiss me and let me go." "Hut we must have a longer talk, dar llug when when- others are not wait lug." "Do you know the far barn near the boundary i" she asked. 'Yes.' it "1 used to take your books there, noons to to be with you," bho nfter-whis- pcrcd, "and Paw gaveonlers that no one wn-Uo come nigh it while I was there. Come to-monow, just before sundown." A long embrace followed, lu which all that they had not said seemed, to them at least, to become articulate on their trem nloiis and clinging Hps. Then they sepa rated, he unlocking the door softly to give her egress that way. She caught up a book from a desk In passing, and then slipped like a tosy shaft of the coming dawn across the fading moonlight, and a moment nftcr her slow voice, without a tremor of excitement, was heard calling to her companions. (To lie continued.) lmumr husinkss lM'.osrrxT.s. Chniineoy AI. Deprnv l'reillrl i l'bo uumetiitt Uuvlvul in Trade, In relation to the result ot the election as regards tho business ot tho country bo twecn now and the 1th of next March, when a republican president and a repub ileau Cougress will take the reins ot gov ernment Chauncey M. Depow thus ex pressed himself the other day : Huslness is going to bo better. Now that the lanir question has been settled for four yeurs, tho money In the country, aud there is plenty of it, will promptly "eel; opportunities of employment. Amer icauaarealways willing to speculate on leg itimate business chances. Hut they won't 'peculate on politics. They want to be certain that their calculations will not be disturbed by legislation ; they have been waiting for an election dectslon.oue way or another, and they have got, It. They know the. tiivitf schedule won't be changed and cau make their forecasts accordingly. There will be no Mills bill passed, at uuy rale, and there will contiuuo to be a sur plus. And this surplus the secretary of the treasury will cuntinuo to distribute among the people by buying bonds. The same causes at worn to improve geneial business by reassuring cupltal will tend to enhiuiib the value of dividend-paying properties. Kallrond bonds and stocks are tho great reservoir of the surplus capital of the country. They are the investments first to be cho-en. And it Feeni3 to me that all classes of railroad securities are shortly going to be In better shape, with the natural result of attracting additional Investment. CONDUCTOR KUUl'S UUATII. Tlio Itiillroiid CiHiiinlHsl'iiiurH Stntemeut Ht to How It Occurred. Tho report of the board of railroad com missioners In the matter ot the accident resulting in tho death of Conductor John Eddy is as follnws : John Eddy of St. Albans was conductor of a w ild freight running west past Water bury, at about 4 o'clook p. ru., October 30. isss. His train was long, loaded in part with granite blocks from the Barre ' quarries, and Included some empty coal 1 and box cars. At a point about a mile above or east of Waterbury station, the grade Is slightly descending. As Eddy's train was passing this point which is near Stephen Graver's honse, he was seen by Mr. N. H. Lauion da, who was plowing within a few rods of him, as he was In the act of climbing down from a high box carton platform car in front. As he came near the base of the laddei ou the hoK car he turned and under took to step forward aud down to the lloor of the plntform car before him, but made too short a reach, aud, Instead ot landing on the car lloor, fall between the cars and was instantly killed. Mr. La monda rnu to him instantly and found him lifeless, and crushed as to his left arm, thigh, leg nnd head. .Mall train -no. uo, uounu west, was soou due, and it was bagged by Mr. Graver, and the remains were carried to Water bury, where they were taken in charge by the undertaker, encoHlned and sent on the evening express to St. Albans, where his wife unil children lived. It was not known to the trainmen that the conductor was oil the train, aud so far as can be as certained Mr. Lamonda was the only per son who saw him wheu the fatal accident occurred. No blame attaches to the railroad com pany tor this accident. It is a consequence of that familiarity with train service, which among the most experienced some times begets carelessness, and invites dan gers which those of less experience would avoid. OOIJ l'ELI.OlV.S AT ST, AL1IANS. The rourth District .ilcol Ins with Clratid Ofllcurs J'reHout and Dpjzroos Worked. from the Me33enper.l The Odd Fellows of the 4th district held u meeting with the St. Albans lodge, No. 31, Wednesday, nnd exemplified various phases of the work. The meeting was called to order at 2:;:0 p. m. by 11. C. Sper ry, D. D. G. M., and the nfternoon was taken up by the St. Albans lodge in the exemplification of the initiatory and first degrees. At the evening sessicu Kichford lodge, No. 17, exemplified the second de gree, nnd Green Mountain lodge, No. 1, ot Hurlingtou worked the third degree. This lodge does not belong to the 4th dis trict, but was preseut by invitation, nnd Its exemplification of the 3d degree was particularly interesting to all present. When the work was completed, the Odd Fellows ni'sjourneil to the American house, where they "exemplified'' a good supper as provided by laud.ord Stroud. The Grand officers present at the meet ings were Grand Master H. W. Hall aud Grand Kepresentatlves Henry audWilsou. Visitors were also preseut lrom North Held. St. Johns and other lodges. Mr. J. 12. Fox of Burlington served most acceptably no organist. After tho bau- quet a team ot tho St. Albans lodge cop lerred the Oriental degree upon seven Odd Fellows lrom St. Johns, lu a manner highly creditable to the team and to the amusement ot the oiilookitig brothers. ELECTION ECHOES. Tho OllU'lul I'lcurex un tho Electoral ' T'lcliot in mv York State. Ai.r.ANY, N. X., Nov. 23. Tho electoral vote ot New York State as canvassed by the State board Is as follows, the highest and lowest iinmber ot votes being given : Republican, highest 0"o,337. lowest Ol1,- 757 ; democrat, highest ti33,SU j, lowest 0 !.",- i sod; prohibition, highest 30.231, lowest ."J, 222 ; socialist, highest 21 Os, lowest 2022 ; union labor, highest 020. lowest?M ; united labor, electors at large, Kedpath 20ts, Wilder 2147. Ilarilnou's J'lurallty lu Kalians. Toitika, Kan.. 23. Ofilclal figures to day show Harrison's plurality lu Kansas U 5:0,170. Houth Carolina's Olllrlnl Vote. Columwa, Nov. 23. The olllclal canvass of the South Carolina voto shows; Cleve land 05,825, Harrison 13,710, democratic majority 52.035. Democratic congressmen are elected in all the districts. (icnorul Ramsay Honorably Discharged. Jmtsi.'Y CiTV, Nov. 23, General John Kamsay, manager ot the New Jersey Statu republican general committee, charged with having induced a man to falsely register lu the place of a sick voter, was nonorably discharged to-day In tho Supreme Court. llorHf'oi'd'.s Acid Phosphate ICocommemlud by I'liyslcliitm of all schools, tor tho brain, nerves and stomach, TREASURER'S REPORT. THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY'3 FINANCES. benntiir Qimy Will I'lKbt tlio Undated Itepiilt ot the Ktectlnii lu Virgin In In tliu Court l.x-Oiivernor I'loctnr iiirulu illeutlnned for it I'laeo In tlio (Jiihlntt. Wamiinctox, Nov. 'ii United States Treasurer Hyatt's annual report gives tho net revenue of the government for the last fiscal year, f3?,2(i(i,07l, net expenditures. &f;7 !j,H)l, Furpllts available for the re duction ot the public debt, ?1 1 1 ,34 1 ,"J73, an bi( reaae of ?7,S70,17" over the year before. Compared with 1W the revenues were 1 siij.or greater, and the expenditures 81,H7.s less. Tlio treasury balauce was increased during the year from -i;!', t,.;7'.i t" il. '),)! ,'u. The net change m" 4Mj,."T'.j, Win in liilauco was produced by tho in crease of A'lt.-'iM.JOs iu the assets, and a decrease ot &;,aV!.:i!il In the liabilities. The silver balance (ell oil' more than $T4, 000,01)0. Tho principal lucrease of assets was In United States notes and dep'Mlts In th National banks and the pnneip'il dcciease in liabilities 111 tho public debt and lunds for tho redemption of National bank notes. There was a net decre-ise of i7l.7ss,:U) in the principal ol tho iuterest beanng debt. The total pr.rchaae of bonds for the slnl.ing lund aud out ot surplus revenues were ..")l,ll,aoi), the net premium p'lid f xclusive of accrued Interest bemg -s,j7u.-SJ 10. Gold and silver coin and bullion m the country aud all kinds of notes ami certificates outstanding on June :w, lssT, amounted to il,0,25,'J.VJ,,s:j aud on Juno 'M. lfcs.s, to t'J,ij0'l,r,(5i,07a. The stock of gold aud silver bus increased dining (tie year from $l,oo7..jl3,oai to Sl.irtK.aui.GUuy.lI, most ly lu gold. VKItMONT IN TNi: CAIJINKT. E-Gov. Proctor niiiv MtMitliniei! for Sec reliiry of tbo Interior. Nl.w Yoiiu, Nov. 12.'. The Tribune's In dianapolis despatch says : A new sug gestion regarding a probable cabinet ap pointment conies from high authority to make it worthy of some consideration, and it is really a little strauge thnt In all theories as to who would be rewarded tor important campaign services Kedfleld Proctor, ex-governor of Vermont, has been entirely overlooked. Tlio Vermont delegation was one of the llrst that came to the support of Gen. Harrison iu the Chicago convention, and its lo votes were cast solidly for him through many ballots preceding the nomination. It was largely throuah the influence ot Kedlleld Proctor that this important support was thrown to the Indiana candidate. It received grateful attention from Gsn. Harrison at the time, and alter, when Mr. Proctor called upon the nominee at his home in this city, he was given an exceptionally warm welcome. Vermont hn3 not been represented iu the cabinet since IMP, nnd it, is not improbable that the president elect may determine to appoint Mr. Proc tor secretary of the interior. If he is not called into the cabinet he will certainly be given a position of importance. riOlITINC FOR VIKOINIA. Tlio Itisht of tlio Electors to Voto In tlio lllocloral Colics" yomtlouod, Wasiiixotok, Nov. 2-J. Asa result of tho recent conference between General Mahone aud Senator Quay it is announced proceedings will be begun in the Virginia State Court and the United States District Court for attacking the right of the dem ocratic electors of that State to cast votes for president in the electoral college. Ollltbil RoUirm, DHTr.oir, Mich., Nov. 'J2. Tho official canvass ot Michigan gives Harrison a plurality of 2'J,'J0G. Kaixigii, N. C Nov. 22. The oHiclal count gives Cleveland 13, US plurality in the State. "Then let tho moon usurp the ruloot day. And winklni; tapers show the aim his way; For what ray souses can perceive, I need no revelation to believe." Ladles Mitreiini? lrom any of tho wenknes. ees orniiminn pixullurtn their sex. and who will use Dr. I'leice's Favorite Prescription according to directions, will OTpcnrnco a (tetiuiue revelation fa tlio benefit they will re ceive, it la a positive cure lor the most com plicated nnd objtinule cases or Icucorrheu, ex cessive lljwinif, palnlui menstruation, unna tural suppressions, proluinus. or failing of the womb, weak bacV, "female weakness." nntcvcrslon, retroversion, bearlnir down sin sUions, chronic conireslion, intlammiitioii and ulceration of fie weitih.inllninmatlon.p on slid tenderness in oiaries, accompanied with 'in ternal heat." AIIVICU TO MOTHERS. MltS. WlNSLOW'S SOi'TIII.NO SVIllT 6b0Ulrl nlways be used lor children teethimr. It soothes tho child, soothes the turns, idlnya n! pain, cures wind colic, and is tho best remeiir for diarrheal. Twenty-live cents - TW& .(lil ', 1 r. -'th Wi.old- COK.II KlI.I.r.K. mis. si san" APiiorr. FAtni.EE. Vr. , tec. and Sl.eO. v -r r4 n rn 1 Vil'.INfT It. IV iii.u ,.u..uu-lii i.kn h, relntlvo to WlNOflESTKK'.s hl'Kl if If I'll I.-. nrmnnt and ii.'m iri-i t c i" for Ncn mil lemlr WlNClILslbU I'?-, riirrnim. 16; Wlll'.im Sin rt. v flood responsible men to solicit for our pub lications; j'uaranteed salary ot lrom two to thtco dollars per day : (roods shipped on cred. It; exclusive riKht ot territory allowed. To tlrtt-clnes men wo offer rcrmamcnt positions. Applicant most bo ntilo to devst cash for nmplce. For 1'hII particulars lu'dicss Tho linos IMibliHliiiij; House, 2,dfcw.im AIJ1ANY. N. V. 2 Pfl Pan l'KIt AMNUai, net, to roi VOL investors. anarutiea HKAinst loss W. RODMAS WIHSLOW, 133 Nassau St., (Vandcrbilt Building;,) NEW YOltK CITY. Kitah Phcl Fob. 1, 1S77. Unqweptlonable MU-rccsta ffr.ie vr can lor particulars. URiliwly m m 'vIHn aSn m H WATCKSPRING BB la EVERYWHERE f r. , i.th.s&wOru 111 l. 31 . Crfdorbt oe!eciK. J-'latijI'1 Ktcrna'ii, I ' ir: i -i, - 1 i Thus Hei c i..M U l ...i. i. -i j, li ' , sleep jinturnl. Cftstoritt !. . ,j Morphine or other narcotic pn , i . " r.iRtorltt In sn well adopted lo .1. ..; t I wroMimetirt It ni superior to me Luuwu lo inc." II. A. Aiioi n-. , ' 8D Portland Ae., Uru.jL i , 1 . "I ifiB rvtnrla In my prnrtler. t 1 ; ' ,i pfcialljradui.ie. I., .-rr.rt ..ni..f . I i Ai.fci.. J'.r.in-ns, .v. li ;'i'. -M A':, Trns Cr.rrrxrn Oo 77 Murray St., X. V. 3Gi'tj C5ouis. CORTICELL! r s 5 !J9 lra rA t;a not Eta. t.,0 It-Ucn to wirm eoip. So.d in f jm di Bu-JS.- O., cxtri ( CilltMRopo, ET " railed Kmbronlr-v CrOO, ri'viium, ' li mo, an i nfliif 1 Thu 1 1 mm ' hi i ii? r ia sold l'i t.i c r VONol i n brttTvt on opoola K fa LK r j., i ' n r Str IV 'nn. only. Burlington, Nov. 20, 'SS, Nearly All About Ribbons : Just now while everyone is doing all they can to push their regular goods, ourselves among the number, we shall offer as 3 flyer on Wednesday morning, November 2 1 st, at 9 o'clock, the finest, handsomest, most fashionable and most desirable lot of Ribbons ever put on our counters. They would be good value at 50 cents a yard. We bought a lot large enough to make a noise with them and propose to do so by selling them at a yard. We joined with a large retail house in New York in buying these goods. Let ters received state that sales fiom their table of this rib bon, first day of sale $3, second clay of sale $400, Tins is an opportunity to buy rib bons for making up holi lay pretty things never before of fered in Burlington. Our lines of regular ribbons are complete. We have puf in during the past week moie than one thousand pieces. Do not for one moment think that we are neglecting the other branches of our business for this ribbon sale. Our Dress Goods, Silks, Fan cy Goods, Hosiery, Glove, ami Underwear Departments are full of good things. Our Cloak Department is the busiest in the store. La dies of taste and judgment say our line is by far the largest and handsomest in the city. We buy no job lots in cloaks. Respectfully, Lyman & Allen. promntci XJlr-':-n, ' li mm fcffilW;, Tx.S' ' ft j GUARAN TEED' To"o U7VYEAR H JANY CUSTOM-MADE CORSET I 8 MAYER. STROUSZ & CO. Twenlflise Mi