Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-12-25

package had been forwarded to the reser
walton last night, and must have passes
him on the way. Others had been waiting
for him at the mountain station until h
was reported by wire as arriving with hi
prisoners at the agency. Everything ther
had been sent thither, and there would b,
no getting them before starting. At Ora
ham the telegraph operator showed him
the duplicates of the kilograms that hae
come for him in his absence-only two
One announced Mr.. Clark's suicide and
Vincent's prostration and danger; the
other, two days later, briefly read, 'Alr
Vincent died this morning. Mrs. Vincent
and Mabel fairly well"
Both were signed Gordon Noel" and a
jealous pang shot through the poor fell
lows heart as he realized that in all their
bereavement and grief it was Noel's privi-
lege to be with them and to be of use to
them, while he, her aiiianced husband, was
far beyond hail He was ashamed of his
own thoughts an instant after, and bitter
ly upbraided himself that he was not
thankful that they could have had so at
tentive and thoughtful an aid as Noel we'll
knew how to be. Yet-why was not Regi-
maid sufIicients
He had torn into fragments the anony-
nous sheet that had met him ut the reser-
walton, and yet its words were gnawing at
his heartstrings now, and he could not
crush them down:
"Why was your engagement deniedf
Because she still cared for viii Rossiter
and hoped he might come back to her after
ALL
"Why did Gordon Noel stay at the other
hotel the second and third times he spent
Sunday at Deer Park Because she wished
to hide from her mother, as she did from
you, that he came at ALL
"Why does she meet him on the street
instead of at homer Because her father in
terposed in your behalf; but all the same
you were being betrayed"
These words, or Others exactly of their
import, were what met his startled eyes at
Chiricahua, but the instant he noted that
these carefully type written sentences were
followed by no signature at all-not even
the oft abused "A Observation-Disclosures
and wrath followed close on the heels OF
his amaze, and in utter contempt he hal
destroyed the cowardly sheet; but he could
not so easily conquer the poison thus in
jected in his veins. All the lone, long
journey to the east they haunted him,
dancing before his eyes, sleeping or wax
ing, and it WAS with haggard face and
wearied frame that he reached the Queen
City, and, taking a cab, drove at once to
her home
1t was a lovely evening in early October.
The sun had been shining brilliantly all |
day long, and almost everywhere doors and |
windows were open to WOO the cool air |
now gently stirring. The cab stopped be-
Tore the well remembered steps, and Lane
FASTENED 10 the broad doorway No need |
% ring; the portals stood invitingly open
The gas burned brightly in the hall and in
he sitting room 20 the left. He entered
and stood all alone in the
Dom where he had spent so many happy
lours listening to the music of her voice,
the play and animation In her
oyely face. lie caught glimpse of his
'wn, gaunt, haggar1, hollow eyed, Ii the
mirror over the old fashioned mantel.
What was he that he should have won a
reafure so radiant, so exquisites
There was heavy portiere that shut Off
he little passage to the library. His foot
all made no sound in the deep, rich car
citing II was there she welcomed him
hat wonderful Friday afternoon-that day
nat was the turning POINT, the climax of
is life. IIer'sl was that her voice, low,
weet, tremulous, in there nows Hush!
Vas that SODA womnn's sup
ressed wespingi Qlickly he stepped for
ard, and in an instclt had thrust aside
he second portiere. but he halted short az 1
he threshold, petrified by the scene before
i'm.
Mabel Vincent, clasped in Gordon Noel's {
MIRAGE, her arms about his neck, Gazing
p into his face with almost worship in a
ar weeping eyes, raised her lips 70 meet /
le passionate kiss Of his my darling" u
g murmured, ''whgt can you fears Have !
ou not given me the right 70 protect |
)Hy' And the handsome head was tossed y
'oudly back, and for one little minute &
as indeed heroic. Then, with instanta
sous change, every drop OF blood fed '
en- his face leaving it ashen, death like. q
"Gordonf' she cried, what is itg Are &
~ ilif''
Then, following the glance of his staring b
-es, she turned and saw and swooned b
way. &