Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-09-15

his way slowly toward he, he saw the
sudden smile of welcome in her eyes,
as, one by one, the other men fell
back, to make place for him.
ssThis is my waltz, is it not?" he
said.
eyes," she answered.
ssLet us take stroll on the piazza
instead. Are you willing?"
ssMore than willing" she replied.
st is too warm for dancing"
He had meant to speak the decis-
i've words to-night-to ask this girl
to be his wife. Could he doubt her
answer? Had she not betrayed it!
But, looking down on her pure love-
liness, his purpose failed him, and
stern and harsh came the words in
stead:
"Miss Hathaway, l must thank
you for a very charming summer.
Had you heard / was to leave to-
morrow? The train goes at so early
an hour that 1 feared l should not
see you to say goodby.'
"Good-by?" she questioningly fall
tered. SIS not this sudden deter
mination on your part?"
sSomewhat hut retrieved honor
and restored manhood depend upon
carrying out my resolution"
The girls face paled.
Had this man but Knocked her, after
all? Was she to be robbed of the one
sweet revenge for which she had liv-
ed since she had first heard his voice
breathe her name-the revenge of
leading him on to the step he had
declared himself about to take, then,
with bitter scorn, reveal to him that
she had known all from the first !
But what meant this sudden pain ?
In playing her part, had she forgot
ten that it was not reality? Was her
heart the penalty of his cruelty? All
her pride, all her womanhood came
to her rescue, as she courteously
murmured her regrets, and then plac-
ed her little hand lightly in his, with
hope that they might one day meet
again, ere she slipped it within the
arm of her partner for the next
dance, who had come to claim her.
'Some richer woman has come
upon the scene," she thought, as she
at last gladly hailed the solitude of
her room. 'May she be warned as
/ have been p
But even with the words came a
bitter burst of sobs.
There was great hustle and excite
ment, and terrified confusion, in the
hotel the next day, for the early
morning train had met with serious
accident but a few miles distant, and
the wounded passengers were brought
back. Among them was Vinton Ro-
maine.
1t was some internal injury, the
physicians said. They could not
state the extent just yet, but they
feared for the worst.
In the afternoon, Fred Salisbury,
coming to Miss Hathaway, told her
that Vinton begged to see her.
Without hesitation, she accompa-
MED him; but at the door of his
friends room he drew back, and clos
ed it after as she entered alone.
Very white was the handsome face
which looked up with a smile of well
come as his eyes rested ON her.
ssThis Is kind" he said. 81 had
something / wanted to say to you. I
have bitter confession to make.
| The doctors say there is little hope
for me, and perhaps it is as well !;
life has suddenly grown worthless to
me, and I lave made 1t so. Listen,
Mabel A month ago came to this
place Ooh, my darling, how poor and
miserable plot it seems now y to
marry you-or, rather, to try to win
you for my wife. Not that | had
seen, or known, or loved you, but
because / thought I would win you
and your money. Why do you not
start from me in scorn? l meant to
be good husband, but l saw no rea-
son why l should not try for the heir
ess. You wonder why l did not ]?
Because, Mabel, lost sight of her in
the woman; because, / learned to
love the beautiful girl whose face
haunted my sleeping moments, and
whose voice was the music of my
dreams because, beside her noble
womanhood, my purpose showed
forth base and contemplate. until |
knew l had slain my own happiness,
since / had made myself forever un-
worthy. Darling, l meant never to
tell you, but in case things turned
out for the worst with me, thought
1 could die happier if your lips had
told me I was forgiven"
But, in answer, Mabel fell sobbing
on her knees beside the bed.
s'Live, Vinton-live!' p she moan
ed, 81, too, have been acting all
these months. was sitting in the
window next to yours on that first
night and heard all. / determined
then to have my revenge, and tried
to make you love me, only to scorn
you. But / forgot that, in teaching
the lesson, / might learn it. Ah,
Vinton, though an heiress, | have
been poor all my life! Make me