Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-07-31
Can it be I know you'll Say, George

@You took me to the village to bring
back yorr past keep you here. Long
ago these crumbling walls shook in the
rumble of heavy machines; now they
culver and quake in the faintest breeze.
In those days the walls of the little
room yonder drowned the hoarse voices
of four drunken gamblers. You and
were there. There we bowled on over
the road that has somehow brought us
back to the old mill yet never turned.
Put your hand in mine, old pardner,
the knife is back in my bosom"
Wait" continued the unseen, de-
tanning him whose hand he clasped,
"iust moment before we move. You
are yet minister"
SIN name"
Then a silence fell over these two OF
the brotherhood which the younger
broke reluctantly.
AOf course you remember the whole
story and how Jelikins and 1 came to
war. You remember pretty Polly and
how betrayed her. If you were me,
George, wouldn't you make it as near
right in Gods eyes as you could even il
the world never knew"
Yes, so near as l could.
@Thank you George. And now prom
Use me one thing, old fellow; swear it on
the memory of the past, on your life
your last hope"
Il swear-I don't care what" was the
response, your father and ruined you
boys and it is but right you should take
your turn. What is it?'
1At davhraal fo.dov y ,,,,,rn,,,~ad Az
younger, Il came into town from the
south. Here, near the old mill, 1 met
woman-friendless and homeless like
myself. / spoke and she answered.
The voice was like the whisper
of an angel from the far-off shore. The
eyes turned toward me with the old
look-the arms stretched out with the
old gesture"
YES. Paul, never mind the rest"
"She was what l made her, George,
and she saved my life by a timely
warning. Ter child-her child and
mine-has gone now and she has come
back from her sin to die where her love
died, Ito end it all in the crystal pond
upon whose willow-grown banks the be-
ginning came. Poor Polly. Say,
George, isn't it strange that should
come too-you and IL"
what can do, Paul?" asked the
elder, his tongue unwieldly with emo
ton.
Make MS what We should have been
long ago" quickly replied the other;
done it then. Polly, my angel wife,
come and let us be such before God as
we have been before ourselves.
George could not see who came out of
the Office at the call, but when he put
out his hand it met two clasped in
close embrace. One was rough and
scaly and one was soft and small.
Back to the fallen pastor came the
words of the ceremony so long since
last repeated. "Do you Polly Jelikins
take this man Paul Darken to be thy
welded -" do you Paul Darken
-" "Then by the power vested in
me now pronounce you man and wife.
What God has joined"
Hold on, George" whispered the
man before him. Then he turned to
her who stood beside him, Polly, Polly,
my darling little sweetheart, after all
these years of sorrow, sin, and never
dying love you are my wife,"
And you are my husband.
They were in each others arms now
and George heard happy kiss.
"Now Polly shall we keep our word?'
Yes, Paul, my loved one. Baby is
waiting for US. Let us go quickly"
Now George, your oath.
"Oh Paul, cried the other, release
me-" he broke off in a shudder,
for he guessed to what he had sworn.
"You are bound" came the voice of
the bridegroom intensely. Keep your
oath"
Across the hand of the executioner
was laid hilt and George knew the
blade was beyond.
"Yes," he answered slowly" and but
one thing will prevent me doing what l
was fool enough to promise"
"And that is what?"
death"
He turned the point of the knife upon
his own breast and in the darkness
Paul could not prevent.
But someone else saved him from the
deed.
Down from the hill came a blast Of
fierce, cold wind, shrieking and scream
ing in among the broken wheels and
shafts.
There was a trembling, creaking, a
crash and-the secret was swallowed |
up in falling timbers.
When Squire Hall tore out the debris
in the following spring, his workmen /
came upon the skeletons of three peo-
plea woman and two men.
The good people of Cherry Greek |
wondered and guessed and gossiped for
a season; and then the most improba-
BILE of the theories passed into the ira
dictionary history of the village. |
Wanted to Arrest St Paul.