The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-12-19
CoMrs wEI.I. REConTMrNDED

glittering in the moonlight, and beyond
that grove of trees, nodding and whis-
pering over deep, shadowy paths, to the
right of an old mill with wheel that
was a study7foF a painter, and, to,dthe
left long sweepipg lines of meadow,
cornfield and farms. On the piazza,
their boots elevated to the er levell otthe
railing, their chairs tilted back against
the posts, their mouths actively putting
twof very fragrant cigars, sat Frank
Hays and Rodney EdmQnds,J men just
starting out on life's broad battle field,
and lingering out their last days of boy
hood together. NJ, Schoolmates, college
chums, fast friends from childhood they
spent these days, when youth was melt
ing into manhood, in boating, fishing,
driving, riding, chatting and-smoking.
IL was Rodney's first visit to Gift Whar-
ton, and he was enjoying the free coun-
try life, home pleasures and social inter-
course as only an orphan boy brought
up in the city can do. .1sn ua l,lV
"a lawyer" said Frank, after long
silence. "Well," he musingly added
"that will do, but not for me-, You we're
always the bookworm, Rodney"
ut scarcely amounts to a choice, said
his companion, the family in direct
line have been lawyers, judges now and
then, for generations back, and my
guardian had me educated to commence
law from boy, as matter Of course.
You can bring me your first suit, old
boy ~ ......I. -t... e..Jl .
merchants do considerable Of that
sort of fighting, generally, | believe"
Another long silence; then Rodney
said
"When is the wedding, Frank :"
"Oh not very soon. must make
my way first. have not your fortune
TO start with, you know"
"She is very charming, but IT puzzles
me how could you ever go abroad to
seek wife, Frank, with such q sweet
bird singing in the home nest." "aIlf E
"You mean Susy. Susy is my very
dear sister, but Meta"
Eyes, know. I've heard it all tfty
times. You promised to tell me Susy'
story" . .-s
"There is very little to tell. My Uncle
Ray, as you know, is sea captain One
of his voyages eighteen years ago took
him to the coast Of Africa. Coming
home, when they were some tive days
nut, they found the remains OF wreck,
and, lashed to floating spar, Susy. My
uncle, being bachelor, brought the
baby to his sister, my mother, who nav
ing no child but your humble servant
adopted Susie. l think that to both my
parents she ia as dear as their own child,
and well she deserves it. She is as gen
tie and winning as she is fair and grace
full, full of talent and animation, yet the
most domestic, home loving little dar
ling. She IS housekeeper and child in
me. with her neat little figure and gold
en- curls. In short-"
''In Short said merry voice at the
window, "the most delightful person in
the world to recommend to a friend to
marry. Pray, who is your paragon
Frank ? Not Meta, for her hair Is black
as midnight without moon"
Here something in Franks merry eyes
and his confusion enlightened Miss Susy
as to the D ragon in question, and the
crimson flush on her cheeks deepehed
under her adopted brothers eye, Toe
we'll bred to betray her consciousness.
she turned the subject, and soon had
both the "boys," as her mother called
them, chatting easily on the thousand
incidents that make up college life, Be-
1t was not until later that Kidney
having retired, was sitting 81 his win
dow over the porch, that Miss Susie gave
vent to her feelings, Frank had left his
room to find a novel, and Susy. was on
the porch still, when she saw him enter
the parlor.
"Come here y said the little maiden
drawing her tiny figure toits full height
land answer for your sins.
Her tone OF laughing indignation hac
nothing very terrific in IL, 80 Franz
came.
What sin IN particular, Susy ?"
But Susy was very quiet again ,and oJ
the moonlight he saw grave, sad shad
ow on her face.
care you tired of me ?" she said, try
ing to resume her tone Of banter, tina
you are trying to get me new place oJ
good reference, or-oh, Frank how coulc
you ?" and she fairly broke down in
passionate fit Of sobbing. .,...
He was in love himself, and he gave
the affection OF fond brother to Susy
What, wonder, then, that he read hel
neart In the change Of face and tone, ,anc
his pitying tenderness was all aroused
"Susy, Susy, never dreamed OF this.
And the listener above softly ciosec
the window and crept silently to bed
But below, on the porch, Frank held hi
little sister In his strong arms till sh'
Law there quiet. Not one word wal
spoken for long time; then, as he ben
over her and pressed kiss upon he
forehead, she whispered softly:
"You will keep my secret, Frank 2
"As l would my honor" he answered
and she slipped away from him and pas
the room where Rodney listened for he
light stems TO gain her own room ant
chide her heart for it's weakness. Mem
ory was busy, too. From her earl!
childhood her home had been ID Uni
quiet country seat, where but Few Wis
ltors broke the regular routine that 90
mestic love kept from monotony. AnC
m this life came the visit OF Rodney I'd
munds. a man whose high lnteliect
graceful courtesy and free face were ou
!, the outward signs Of noble, true heart
\ keen, sensitive honor, and Christial
mind. lu.a.u rbl ...... .. O. 1r ~
And the simple little girl, while sh
felt that his attentions were sweet, hi
presence dear to her, never awoke Z
the knowledge OF her own love till tn
: calling suspicion that she was beinI
l forced upon bis notice told her hov
precious his own freely offered low
would have been to her. The next da.
he friends were in the city, and In tn
n demure little figure that stool upon th
X steps to wave them adieu1 there was Iii
trace of the wounded woman's hear
hat had passed the night in the agon.
of unrequited love.
Rodney Edmonds was a silent com
panion on the journey cityward, an
Frank gave up trying to coax him int
Il mis- old merry self again. He was think
ing of the lonely home thatawaited hin
II the long life of longing for companion
shin. the gifts of domestic love that a
his wealth could never buy; and in cor
rrast he pictured the home he had lef
the fairylike beauty, whose hand she
the peculiar charm on every spot; who's
voice made music 10 every room; who's
\ loving heart was broken by her adopte
j brothers love, for 80, in HE blindness
he interpreted the scene OF the night bt
!, fore. and his indignation was stron
:: sometimes, as he thought that her haI
piness lay 80 near the hand that ha
crushed 1t.
Two long years to,Susy parsed bsfof
|. she saw Rodney Edmonds. Frank wa
married and living in the city, and cam
, but seldom to Cliff Wharton. When b
4 did, his companion was Meta. Man
| times they had urged her to come
| their city home, but she. pleading he
| mothers loneliness, had refused, an
| Frank, knowing her secret, let her hay
| her way. He had tried many times
| win Rodney home with him, but will
i out success. A thousand pleas Of bus
ness, prior engagements and that nc