The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-07-24

white fingers, and kissed them; then
walked away. She heard horses hoofs
presently, at furious gallop.
The lodge keeper touched his hat as
Gerald rode up, and he saw with sur
prise there were great tears ON the old
mans rugged cheeks.
"What is the matter, Williams ?"
"Have you not heard, sirP I Thought
you knew from the rate you came, and
the look Of your face"
"No-no-what is it?"
Williams whispered a few words.
Gerald swayed to and fro in the saddle,
and would have fallen, but that the old
man supported him.
"Strange news |" said Captain Hall
to a friend that night. "Old Sorth-
wick is ruined and has shot himself"
"Nonsense, man; he is as rich as
Crossus."
"Yes; fabulousIy so, that is, he mort
gagged every acre years ago, and bought
Turkish bonds; that accounts for his
large income. They have just stopped
payment, you know, and other specula-
tions have turned out much worse. The
young cock will crow less loudly now,
will he not ?" And an evil light cleaned
in the speakers blue eyes.
Silvery moonlight flooding a farm
house, and an unusually large garden
appertaining thereto. Up and down the
graveled walk PAGES Gerald Sorthwick,
moodily smoking fragrant cigar. On
the air is borne sound as if an irregu-
lar bass solo, varied by the occasional
squeak of shriller stringed instruments.
1t denotes that half mile off, in the
little town of Sorthwick, an archery ball
is being held. The committee. in view
of his fathers recent death and his own
social ruin, had decided not to send the
customary reminder; but Gerald, with
poor mans morbid sensitiveness, mis-
interprets the kindness. With an inn
patient movement, expressive of dis
gust, tosses away the half-smoked cigar.
It alights on the soft turf of a small
croquet-ground and lies smoking. Then,
with q curious smile. he crosses and
picks it up carefully.
"I had forgotten myself" he mutters ::
"the last of the box, and brand am
not likely to taste yet awhile"
So, with the cigar between his teeth,
he passed through the gate, and across
green meadowland toward the town.
The music grows distinct rs he ap-
proaches.
"I think I am wise, ho reflects Bit
terly.
The cigar burns close to his lips; he
spits it out and hesitates.
"I must see her face, once" he groans
"my vow Notwithstanding, and as the
church clock strikes ten he stands in the
black shadow of some trees, looking
across a bowling green at the great
doors of the Assembly Rooms, to which
heated couples come from time to time
to inhale the soft, pure air, and perhaps
draw inspiration from the moonlight.
At length he sees her, leaning on Cap-
tain Halls arm, and laughing gaily.
A bitter imprecation rises to his lips,
but he suppresses it. "Are you con-
tent now, stupid p he asks himself.
a bird twitters on bough near him,
and by force of subtle association, in
strange mockery, the recollection comes
how he had once startled Maud by q
| perfect imitation of her doves cooling; it
was when they were most friendly, be-
fore Captain Halls advent.
"It shall be your signal when you
want me, and I am talking to disagree
able people" she had said. He Won
dered whether she would remember the
incident, and wish grew upon him to
try the experiment.
They had ceased talking, Maud an6
her partner, and were gazing straight
toward him; but there was safety in the
shadow, he knew.
"Coo-o-ol' A soft note, thrice re
peated.
He saw Maud start violently, ant
tremble. Captain Hall thought it wal
with cold.
"The night air is too chill, he said
'1et us return"
ssNo, I cannot leave the moonlight
but you may fetch my wrapper, if yol
will be SO good"
The watcher beneath the trees say
him vanish; saw Maud's gloved ham
pressed to her heart, as though to still
it's beating. Then he marveled for
moment whether sight were playing hir
false, for white figure glided toward
! him through the moonlight, needless Q
the dew that soaked flowing robes an
, satin slippers.
"Gerald |" it cried.