The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-05

figure, with color flushing and fading,
which drew back, as though longing
to get out of sight.
Then this was the man who stood
between him and his love in both fig
urative and literal sense--this man
who had seized both his hands in firm
grip-who was looking at him with
eyes suddenly become misty.
"Well, | am glad to see you, boy ! !
thought you would come some day. /
am glad p 90. f.t-. Nt.
"Are you, father?" Archer might
have himself felt little moved, if it
had not been for that girlish figure
walking slowly away. Perhaps l
should have come sooner if L had
guessed l should be so welcome"
"You are looking featfully i'll
though, Archer T. and Mr.. Douglas sur
veyed him anxiously. "What have
you been doing to yourself?"
Nothing. Working too hard, pos
sibly; and 1 have had one or two
things to worry me lately"
" You must tell me everything hon
estly, lad; and l dare say l shall be
able to help you, whatever those
things are. And now-Don't 90.
Honor-now 1 must introduce you.
Archer, this is Miss Wyllie, my future
wife,"
Honor had turned back at once. She
extended her hand.
1t was taken in silence.
1--WE have met before" she said,
turning her face, suffused with color,
toward Mr.. Douglas.
That look was a revelation to the
elder man. His smile vanished, Civ
ing place to a strange, half-stunned
expression.
"Why did you not tell me it was
Archer?" he asked in low voice, of
Honor.
81 did not know he was your son."
she faltered.
81 congratulate you, father" Archer
said, with forced lightness of manner.
"And for the present l will leave you
to finish your tete-a-tete."
He was turning away, but his father
caught him 10y the arm.
NO." he said, almost harshly, cit
cannot end so! You and Miss Wyllie
have often met before?"
Archer inclined his head and looked
at Honor, whose face was averted.
''You asked her to be your wife?"
81 did. Is tits necessary"
81 think so. l don't want to give
either of you needless pain. Tell me,
Archer-was'h her refusal the trouble
you alluded to just now? Have you
other troubles?"
Archer hesitated, ground his boot in
among the pebbles and looked out to
sea, and finally said, slowly:
81 shall answer neither of those
questions. 1 am deeply sorry that l
came down here. All l can do is to
go again Goodbye. Heaven bless
you both !! Miss Wyllie, you have
made wise choice. l have no doubt
you will be happy"
He raised his hat; then pulling it
low over his brow strobe away, with
out needing his fathers OBTAINING
voice.
Hoaor's eyes followed him until he
was out Of sight.
"There is no train Just now" said
Mr.. Douglas, drawing her hand through
his arm, and walking slowly beside her
in the same direction. Il shall not let
him go. Honor, my dear girl, l need
not ask you if you love him."
81 love You" she answered, cling
ing to him. You shall not turn me
away. Let us forget all this, and be
us we were before"
"Do you mean this?"
81 do, Robert; you believe me, don't
you?"
He stopped to look at her, to find her
eyes meet him with a resolute and
steady gaze. Her face was paler than
usual, but that was all.
MY dear, do believe you" he said,
with quiet smile. "And now, will
see you home before"
He broke off and changed the sub
ject with some haste.
AS soon as he had seen her to her
door he hurried to his own home and
wrote two letters. Giving up his in
tention of preventing his sons de-
parture, he occupied himself in pre-
pairing for his own.
The next morning Honor received
one of the two letters. She dropped
over it many secret tears and held
long counsel with her mother upon
what it contained.
X X Y
Toward night, two Gays later, a
tall, well-made man came out of
hotel in Dover and took his way to-
ward the pier, with the intention of
going on board the night steamer for
Calais.
He had not gone far when there was
the sound of some one running be-
hind, and directly after he was caught
roughly by the arm. He swung
round and struck blow that sent his
fancied assailant staggering into the
road.
At the same instant the moonlight
chona IN tha lattar'S faca and ha Oava