The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-10

did make mistake in loving you.
Keep away from me. No, you shall
not take my hand. l loved you once
because | thought you were brave and
chivalrous. l suppose if Gray had in
suited me you would have refused his
challenged"
II would have killed him on the spot. "
every likely. No, Mr.. Brindon, it is
useless to talk to me of love. / cannot
marry a man who refuses a challenge"
GLOW can one so fair be 30 blood
thirsty}"
ut is not blood ,thirstiness. 1t is love
of chivalry."
"You are curious girl. Good even.
ing"
Late one evening Jassamine and | were
strolling in the woods not far from her
fathers house. | had not spoken to her
of love since the time of her refusal. /
knew that she would never alter her de.
cision, for | could read determination in
every expression of her face.
"Let us return. We have walked far
enough"
"No, let us 90 to the brow of the hill
and look down on the river.
had scarcely finished the remark
when four men sprang from behind an
enormous log. Each man wore a mask.
Jassaminc tremblingly graspcd my arm.
"What do you want" | demanded,
drawing brace of pistols.
eve have come after that woman"
replied one of the men.
Raising both pistols l fired in rapid
succession. The rascals fired at me, but
luckily their shots took no effect. JAS
samine tainted Just as the rufians closed
upon me in hand hand encounter.
When she regained consciousness the
ruiiians had gone. She looked up CRATE
fully, and when supported her in my
arms she placed her head on my breast.
All, delightful moment of love.
~ have judged you hastily" she said,
as we drew near the house. "Tour
bravery surpasses anything | had ever
hoped to see"
kissed her.
The entire country rang with my
praises. There were no sensational daily
papers in those days, or l would have
been indeed far famed hero. The
Judge took me warmly by the hand when
| tod him how | loved Jassaminc, and
SAID
"You have made a noble fight, my
boy. When you presented those letters
of recommendation, | knew that you
were generous and brave, even though
others thought differently. have for
some time known that Jassamine loved
you, but l knew that with her foolish
ideas of chivalry, she would not marry
you after your refusal of the challenge
unless you could do something TO redeem
yourself.
Jassamne and l were married with
great ceremony. All the neighbors were
invited. Whole calves were barbecueu !;
and it seemed whole distillerics were
turned loose. Shortly after our marriage
we moved to Little Rock, then a flour
ishing town. My business prospered,
and within year l owned a well fur
nished house.
One day, about six years after our re-
moval to Little Rock, Jasper Patterson.
with whom l had been intimate during
the days of my courtship, paid me a
visit. | was delighted to see him, and
late at night he and | sat in the library
talking over old times, as we termed the
first days of our acquaintance. The lamp
was burning low. We sat by the fire.
place. My wife had gone to bed, l
thought, but | afterward discovered that
she was doing on the sofa.
81 never saw anything work so we'll, "
said Jasper. "You not only secured a
wife but it made you hero. Your wife
has never suspected anything, has sheF'
mo, not a thing. The boys played
their parts well. | was afraid that Nick
Jones would ruin everything, for after
Jassamine tainted he snorted. lie was
so full of laugh that he could hardly run
away. I"
Bip. Something struck me on the
head The room swan. | saw Jasper
getting out of the way; l saw my wife
standing near me, and then | sank 10 the
floor. When l recovered l was lying on
the sofa. ia sapine was bending over
me.
sob, don't die she was saying.
"Dont die, for didn't mean it. found
the paper weight in my hand and threw
before knew it. But it was cruel to
treat me that way"
yes" replied, "but it was because
loved you"
eyes, l know, dear" slipping her
hands under my head. There, now,
it's all right"
| As | lay there in a semi doze thought
/ heard Jasper lean against the house
and laugh.-Ar%daSaD Iraceler.