Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-10
ISLAND POND, VERMONT. APRIL 10, 1885.

Keep away from me. No, you shall
not take my hand. ! loved you once
because l thought you were brave and
chivalrous. l suppose if GRAY had in
suited me you would have refused his
challenger
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 challenge"
Chow can one so fair be so blood
hirstyp
'It is not blood thirstiness. 1t is love
of chivalry"
"Yod are a 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 weuld never alter her de-
eision, for could read determination in
every expression of her face.
"Let us return. We have walked far
enough"
"No, let us go 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 mask.
Jassamine tremblingly grasped my arm.
"What do you wantl" | demanded,
drawing brace of pistols.
owe have come after that womanf'
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 ruflians closed
upon me in hand-to- hand encounter.
When she regained consciousness the
ruf1ians 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.
81 have judged you hastily" she said,
as we drew near the house. "Your
bravery surpasses anything l had ever
hoped to see."
kissed her.
X 4
The entire country rang witt my
praises. There were no sensational daily
papers in those days, or | would have
been indeed far-famed hero. The
Judge took me warmly by the hand when
l tod him how loved Jassamine, 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. l have Tor
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"
Jassamine and I were married with
great ceremony All the neighbors were
invited. Wrole calves were barbecued /;
and it seemed whole distilleries were
turned loose. Shortly after our marriage
we moved to Little Rock, then flour
ishing town. My business prospered,
and within a year owned we'll fur
nished house.
One day, about six years after our re-
moval to Little Rock, Jasper Patterson.
with whom I 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,
thought, but afterward discovered that
she was doing on the sofa.
81 never saw anything work so we'll, y
said Jasper. "You not only secured a
wife, but it made you hero. Your wife
has never suspected anything, has she9"
"No not thing. The boys played
their parts well. / was afraid that Nick
Jones would ruin everything, for after
Jassamine tainted he snorted. He was
so full of laugh that he could hardly run
away. /"
Bip! Something struck me on the
head. The room swan. saw Jasper
getting out of the way; saw my wife
standing near me, and then sank to the
floor. e. When l recovered was lying on
the sofa. Ja:samine was bending over
me.
"Oh, 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 tc
treat me that way"
Eyes" replied, "but it was because
I loved you"
Eyes, l know, DEAR" slipping hel
hands under my head. There, now
it's all right"
AS lay there in a semi doze thought
I heard Jasper lean against the house
and laugh. -ArhanSaa0 15aoeler.