The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-01-19

atlVeS TO project me, and when my over
seer handed me your note hesitate
about replying to it: but have decide
to trust you. You may write TO
MARION DALTON
He wrote Immediately, thanking her
for her confidence. and assuring her tina
she should never regret it.
Then then letters became regular mes.
| sengers, and Forsyth grew first to re-
spect and admire, then to love the pure
true character he saw reflected in heI
letters TO him.
They discussed books and famous AN
thOrs, also famous people; Forsyth sen
her papers containing reports of any
thing he thought she would care for, ,anC
at Christ-tide the most beautiful Xma
card she had ever seen was waiting n
the office for her. She wrote him say
ing l accept the beautiful Christina
token, though am sorry it ia such q. a.
expensive one, with many thanks; hu
please do not send me anything of the
kind again, my self respect will not al
low me to accept expensive presents.
FOrsyth's letters came TO be more lik'
letters from a friend, a true friend, thai
stranger, and what they were to Mabe
she had not realized until suddenly they
ceased coming.
Days and weeks passed and Mabel had
ceased looking for a lette- tbough sb,
did not recnver from the disa9noint.
ment al the suspense. Finally one ar
rived. To her fancy the handwriting
looked less firm than it used.
was thrown from a wagon and re
ceiyed varv serious inmries the Iettp,
said. went down 10 the dark valley
Queen Mab-as like hest 10 call Won
and wbilp there vour face shone ont lik.
A pure white star. ALWAYS inst beyon,
NV roach I've never asksd Won fo,
vonr photopranh because I knew Won
would not send il me: bnt have seen
Won now I must sneak with Won as sonr
asIam able to travel. which will he II
a few weeks the physicians say. | tolc
YOU would never seek to discover ever
YOUR true name. and | will not withou,
your permission. Give me that, say
that | NAV come. and will show YOU
references that will satisfy YOU of nv
respec ability and honesty. When /
have told YOU what | have to say, if you
| bid me go,I will without one wOrd-and
more until she was dazed and bewild-
cred.
After two days. in which she consid-
cred the matter in all its bearings, sht
wrote
You may come the Goth of June. and
| will hear what YOU have to saw.
Having a fancy to see him first in her
old house, though it was destitute of even
A chair, she gave him directions how to
reach IT and bade him to seek her there
The spring had been late and some O.
the apple trees were vet in blossom
when Mabel drove to her old home t,
keep her tryst. She could hardly re-
strain her tears as she walked over the
little grass grown path to the door into
which she fitted the kew: the door
swung open, but there was no dear
mothers face to welcome her, and NJ
fathers cheery smile as in the DAYS gone
by, She threw open the blinds and a
food of sunshine filed the sitting room;
,hen tearing a strip from a curtain IN
the pantry. she busted the wide window
seat in the western window and curled
herself up TO wait and think. but when
she thought how many. many times she
had nestled in that same window seat
while the now barren aud desoate room
was full of love and comfort for her she
sobbed aloud,
After the tempest of grief had spent
itself, Mabel felt that it had washed
away much of the bitterness she had felt
of late, and the miserable unhappy feel
lngs. She bather her face and hands
from the old well trough and felt re-
freshed and comfurted The soporic ef
feet of the sunshine, combined with the
exhaustion attendant on her recent pas
sion of grief were potenC, and, with H
long drawn breath she cuddled her head
against the case and closed her eyes
Twenty minutes later. an iron-gray
horse, ,harnessed to light buggy, troIted
down the road and slowed up to thu
barn; but the grass grown drive way
told no tales. Mr.. FORSYTH tied his horst
and walked TO the front door; il
was open and he thought She has been
here and gone; and stepped into the sit
ting room the door of which stood open
and there in the window was Mabel fast
asleep
He barred his head reverenty as he
studied the pirIish face upturned to the
full lieht, with a slant sunbeam touch
ing the brown halt, and turning IL tC
gold, A winsome face he found it
though there was wistful droop to tht
scarlet mouth which caused his own t,
culver as he noted it. He stole silently
ont the door and ringing the bell quiet
ly waited the neal echoed through The
silent. empry room, and wh-n it dIeC
away he heard a rustic. then a few un-
certain stems then silence for a littl,
space; a demure little figure stood
framed in the doorway. with dOwncas
.yes and yerv mink cheeks. He RAISED
his hat and said simply | am come
Queen Nah
Come in nlease she said, and led tn,
way to the sitting room. have no chai
TO offer you. but the window seat i
rIeasant will Won sit there?
Thank Won no: and he placed he
there: then, standing before her, h.
said Queen Nab. l loved YOU before
knew whether cor were old or Young
nvIv or beautifiIl for Yourself as yol
we're revealed TO me in ynur letters.
7 Iovsd Won then how much more Low
von now I NEED no. tell Won. offer vol
aII ,ha, 7 have. the davot,on of NV life
ond ask in rsturn your promise to b.
nv loved and honored wife. If YOU vii
refer me to some friend whom YOU tru It
u,ilI Give hin, Letters which will satisf,
MIN and take vonr answer after vol
haro CO., hin,! sbe howed with eve
whi,h we're hidden frnm him.
Sha hesitat.d a moment. then answer
o'S I'll = NJ,