The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-17

:
"You are to speak in Dillingham; Square
tonight, aren't you2" Sylvia said, chang
ing the subject deity. Thomas is going
to drive me there"
''You must not think of such thing"
con, yes | will 90 in the barouche,
and | won't even stick my head out once
Now, papa, don't bother; Cousin Fred is
going with me, and you known I never
heard you make stump speech"
Sylvia had her way about this. Attic
hour appointed for the mass-meeting. she
was driven to the grand stand. Billing
ham Square was packed with people. BY
the light Of the blazing torches, carried
by the clubs who had turned out. Sylvia
saw such scene as she had never wit
messed before. Her carriage could not
get very near the platform, and, as the
wind was blowing the wrong way, Mr..
SCOTS speech was all lost to her.
81 can't hear a word, Fred, )" she said,
turning to her cousin
Across the sea of upturned faces, show
ing every graduation of virtue and intelli-
gence, marking every station in life,
touching every phase of depravity, Sylvia
saw her father haranguing the populace
with all the earnestness of enthusiasm.
"Oh | wish could hear what he
says" she cried, leaning forward. But
her cousin drew her back.
"You mustn't show your face, Sylvia"
he said, emphatically. There is per
feet mob around you, and you promised
that you wouldn't look out of the win
dow"
"But l can't hear" she retortcd, in
| iph
81 think it would be great deal bet
ber," said her cousin. But you cant
drive through crowd like this without
killing some one ; so there's nothing to do
but wait till it breaks up"
"If only had some chocolates. Don't
be disagreeabe, Fred. Won't you run
over to Marron's and get me box2"
/ Fred hcsitated.
Il won't stir, and it won't take ten
minutes. You're man, and you can get
through the crowd very easily. Do,
there's a dear boy"
Fred got out, and did as she babe him.
Sylvia sat in the carriage, looking curl
ously at the surging crowd. The horses
SHE'D a little at some passing torches,
and Sylvia leaned forward thoughtless-
ly. so that the light fell full upon her
beautiful face, with its misty glory of yell
low hair.
The crowd saw her
"Whew amt she stunnerl" cried
some coarse fellow, with leer in his eve
and in a moment several ugly faces were
peering in the carriage door making vul-
gar comments and shouting their approx
al
With low, frightened cry, Sylvia
shrank back into the carriage.
Il say, beauty, gimme kiss, won't
youl" cried low fellow, with his hand
on the door, and his foot on the step.
"This is Mr.. SCOTS carriagen she
cried, frantically. "IIelp! help'
A strong hand came to her deliver.
ance, The rutiian was dragged away by
the collar; there was fierce scuflle out
side of the carriage, and, covering in
one corner, Sylvia heard the cry of
"Policen' Then there was a roaring in
her ears, and she came very near faint
ing. Suddenly come one touched her,
and said, in low, tender tones:
"Sylvia, are you safeW
''Webster!" she sobbed. ooh, thank
God! Take me home-take me home p
He had gathered her in his arms, and
she was too much frightened to resist.
"Drive on, +" he cried to the coachman.
But this was impossible now, for the way
was fairly blocked.
In the crowd fight was in progress,
for the rowdies who had accosted Sylvia
resented the interference of some one
who had come to her rescue, and q
passage alarms followed. Two fellow.
in particular closed in q scufile, and, be
fore the police arrived, they had drawn
weapons.
The sharp report of pistol was heard
Unexpectedly. But, in the surge of {
7 scutlle, the course of the ball was changed
completely. Flying wide of its intended
victim, it sped over the heads of The
t crowd and struck Sylvia's father, whc
was still speaking He fell forward
blood gushing from a wound in his side
, "Mr. Scott is assassinated, ~ was the
cry that echoed through the streets
Sylvia heard it, and sank insensible int
a Webster's arms.
t That was an awful night. Fred, de
y layed in a scufile with thief who trie,
to pick his pocket, came home, wil(
t with anxiety, having failed on his re
T. turn to find either sylvia or the carriage
y Mr.. Scott was in a dangerous condition
but not dead 1t was singular sight
p in the weeks that followed to see the op
u position candidate spending all his leis
J.. ure time at the bedside of his antagon
ist.
: you'll beat me now, Arbuthnot,
e Mr.. Scott said, with the resignation @
:. extreme weakness. 'Ten days befor
n election make or mar candidate, and
haven't the ghost of show, lying her
t like helpless baby"
o II don't feel so sure, sir, ~ sand Wei
e stcr quietly. "You were very popula
d as controller, and a great many of III
7. opposition are going to vote for you"
t.Ns g I