The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-11-13

it is very pretty.
"Why, yes; pretty, but not-well-ex-
citing"
DO you like excitement" asked Miss
Granville, sweetly.
81 do not, but you door used to-"
''Did 1? l think l must have changed"
Probably; you are changeable," said
the young man very bitterly The young
woman made no reply. Marden looked
uncomfortably at his boots for awhile,
then he made third attempt: ''Will
you please tell me where you are going,
Grace?" he said.
Miss Granville turned slowly from the
window. 81 think you had better call
me Miss Grenville," she said.
every well. Miss Granville, will you
please tell, me where you are going?"
Certainly. am going to visit my
aunt at Wilmington. And you?"
81 am going to Wilmington, too-On
business.'~
Are you then you must know about
IllC oIttSSO NUN lNOtNNNopOlO'
"Well-er-the fact isl don't de-
cided to go very suddenly-that isl
couldn't find out about the stage from
Readsboro."
"Oh,' said Miss Granville.
81 have no doubt it will be all right
observed Marden, for want of anything
better to say.
"Oh, no doubt" said Miss Grenyillie,
perhaps for the same reason.
But when they arrived at the terminus
of the road they found that it was not all
right The stage was there, but every
available seat but one had been taken.
1t was growing late and Miss Granville
was in despair.
'You might 90, and let your maid
come in the morning." suggested Mar
den, herOically.
The maid was interviewed on this sub
iect, but was fearful and obstinate. Then
the young man made another suggestion.
The maid might take the available place
and he would drive Miss Grenville over.
He was sure he could get horse. He
would have to do it on account of his
business, anyway. Miss Granville de-
Tended her position but finally surren-
dered. The maid took the place in the
stage, and Marden went in search of a
horse.
Half an hour later. as the sun was go,
ing down behind the hills, cadaverous-
looking horse with almost a suspicious
dislike to anything like haste drew
single buggy out of Readsboro and along
the pretty road towards Sadawga and
Wilmington. They passed the outskirts
of the village, and the road began to
grow prettier and more closely hemmed
in with trees. The cadaverous-looking
horse moved on with an uncertain jog
that was a cross between run, trot
and walk. Miss Grenville made some
attempts at conversation, but her com
panion rewarded her with silence. She
made several uncomplimentary remarks
about the horse which were witty enough
for an ordinary occasion, but Marden did
not smile; he did not seem to be pay at
tention, so finally she subsidized into her
side of the carriage and said no more.
Presently Marden spoke.
Grace" he said, ''do you know why
| am here?"
Miss Granville looked up innocently.
"Of course" she said. You told me
you had to come on business"
(Which was not true, as you know.
came because followed you from Bos-
ton"
Frank, how dare you" said Miss
Grenville, Indignantly.
Marden went on quietly: "And while
1 was standing out there in the baggage
car
Il thought you were going to fall out
of the door," commented Miss Granville
suddenly. Marden looked at her and
then went on again quietly:
you did not see me. You were sur
pIised that | was on the train when
spoke to you"
"Oh!" said Miss Granville.
'When was standing in the baggage
car | made up my mind that you would
have to talk to me. am more sure of
it now. have beer trying to see you
for two months, and you have been able
to keep me from it. | know | am a
brute, and that you wanted to throw me
over and not tell me why, l ought to
stand it; but | can t, and I'm through
trying"
Miss Granville laughed uneasily. A
bough from one Of the trees that skirted
the road hung over within reach, and
she snatched a couple of its leaves as
they passed.
81 wonder what kind of a tree that
is?' she said. Marden took the green
bough from her hand and threw it into
the road
"Grace," he said, "why did you throw
me Over?''
Miss Grenville looked around for some
avenue of escape, but none presented
itself, and she leaned back again in her
carriage.
Perhaps" she said at length, "per.
haps it is better to talk it over. Though
(hurriedly) ''you know it can never make
any difference now"
"Of course admitted Marden, 81
never even dared hope that"
at is very hard to tell" continued
Miss Granville.