Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-10-05

could she see her young brother take
his place among felons?
1t was terrible struggle, if
short one.
1t is but my own life am sacri
ficing," she thought. 81 will pray
to die when 1 have saved them, and
God will hear my prayer"
She lifted the boys head and laid
her cold lips on his burning forehead.
4Charley," she SAID family, 81
think you would do it for me. will
save you my darling. When will
he
The boy sprang up with pang of
bitterness.
ST will not stand it I will kill
him first !" he cried. But she drew
him back and calmed him.
s'He will come tonight, Charley
told her through meeting teeth. ''He
gave me little time, sister,"
1sT will see him when he comes
was all she said, and then she bade
her brother leave her.
Who can understand the agony of
the next two hours to Jessie Dale!
They left shadow in her blue eyes
forever after.
But when her brothers tempter
came she gave her answer calmly
and clearly. and when he had gone
she placed the forged check in the
flames and turned faint and cold
when her eyes caught the glimmer of
gem upon her finger. He had
tru sted her enough to give the paper
to her IN return for her promise to be
his wife, knowing we'll that she would
die before she would break it.
Three weeks went by and then the
poor girl had other things to think of
besides that great numb pain at her
heart, the new horror on her life.
There had been five days and
nights of heavy rain, and the village
below them was hourly threatened
by the steadily rising water. Many
had left their homes and flown to
higher lands for safety. One cottage
had been swept away in the night
and babe and mother had been
drowned in it. Watching the suffer-
ers about her, Jessie almost forgot
that she was miserable, and she was
like an angel of mercy to the poor
frightened creatures who fled from
danger. She went among them with
gentle words and soft touches, COM
forting and encouraging, not needing
the falling rain.
Then at the close of darkened
day, the waters had their own mad
way, and what had lbeen cluster of
pretty cottages was but seething,
tossing mass of merciless water, fill
ed with fragments of cherished
homes; "a wailing cry went up from
many drenched people who watched
it from the heights.
When night came down, dark and
terrible, Rob Vennor who had scarce
ly left her since her betrothal, anG
who strove for more than toleratlor
from her, watched her long in silence
'You are thinking of the river ane
all it has destroyed" he said. "Bu
it has spared all save two lives. Ont
might be thankful for that
"Oh, she cried, in sudden wilt
chatting against the chain that bount
her lips. ''How merciful it would
be had it taken mine -
He paled little.
"You hate me so?" he asked be
low his breath.
81 am so miserable" she faltered
And he turned slightly away. Whel
she looked for him again he wa
gone, whittier she knew not, but ou
into the terrible darkness of tn,
stormy night. In the morning cam
a perfect calm. The sun shone dow
on the sullen waters and the worlC
with all Its scars, looked fresh ant
fair.
"But my life has lost its sunligh
forever" Jessie thought, watchin.
the rain-washed earth.
She did not heed the crowd of 81
| lent people, who, with somethin,
, borne in their midst, halted hefor
her fathers door, but when her eye
at last fell on them some impulse fore
t ed her from their midst.
: They made way for her, and pres
e emily she saw what their burden was
3 In all her sickly horror and womanl
pity, and great regret that she ha
: said no kind word to him at the last
[ she realized that they had brough
: her-freedom.
"We found him in the river,
: somebody said. sit was a bad nigh
to be out in, and the gentlema
[ must have been without light !;
= false step" But she heard no more
of all the false steps of his rockies
life had this been last and worst?
; But God had sent her freedom an,
) her brother safety; and-the montl
! had not yet gone by.
She was Lees wife almost year
f when her brother came to her on
} day with white face and tremblin,
, hands and laid a paper on her knee
| 1t was from one of Rob Vennor'
old companions, who had died ant
left this brief note for Charley.
ssIt was all hoax about that forg
] ed check it ran: ssRob and | dit
l - lNv