The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-17
HE WON his WIFE SIMPLY BY KEEP
ING sIBENT.

II believe" he said, "that the man
who is doggedly persistent win achieve
his aim nine times out Of ten, however
unfavorable circumstances may be at the
outset. recall case which was par
ticularly interesting to me because in a
slight measure was mixed up in it.
tom Goodwin asked me 10 spend a
couple weeks with him few years ago
at his place in Massachusetts. It's a
beautiful place, just what l wanted for
a two-weeks loaf in terribly hot sum-
mer. We used to play little tennis,
drink mint juleps on the veranda and
walk-that was about all. Toms cousin
one of the handsOmest young women in
the State, was visiting Toms wife and
think fell in love with her At any
rate was on the point Of losing my
head when | noticed something which
changed the whole situation. The next
place 10 Toms was owned by young
fellow who lived all alone, save for his
servants, in very large house. He was
always at my friends house, and never
knew him TO say anything. You cOnld
not get that man to talk. He had a
habit of lowering around Toms cousin
which made me feel uncomfortable
when | was with her, but she did not
seem to pay the slightest attention to
him.
"A party of us armed with light rifles
went out into the woods one afternoon
to shoot at targets. Up to this day my
interest in Toms cousin had been grow
ing apd / was in her company the greater
part Of the afternoon. All this while
that internal dumb creature kept dog
ging our steps. He never got very near
us, but stayed about thirty yards in the
rear with passionless expression on his
smOoth-shaven face. When we moved
up or went forward to note the effect of
shots, he also moved, always maintain
ing his relative position.
"After the rifle practice we went for
walk to the top of the hill beyond the
woods. When we reached the summit
after rapid walking, looked back and
saw my shadow still following us. He
was very pale and a bright spot was in
each cheek. called Miss MS atten-
ton to his pallor and she said very in
differently
"'Oh, yes, he has heart disease
1t made me nervous to have the man
eternally at my heels; besides there was
about yet. believed then in thought
VI ldAACANu llltb OOAh
looked upon me as an interlOper. l got
so uneasy over the whole affair that l
determined to withdraw and leave an
open field to the other man. When got
the opportunity l slipped away and then
watched to see what lhe would do. He
did not change muscle nor did he ap-
proach her. Some one else slipped in to
take my place. and had the grim salts
faction Of seeing the dumb man on his
trail for the rest of the walk.
tom was smoking his pipe in his den
that night when broached the subject
to him.
"'NOnsense,' he said between his
teeth, after sending out great cloud of
smoke. of course the fellow is infatu-
ated with her. but she doesn't care
snap of her finger for him. How could
she? He never says a word and / know
that he worries her half to death; only
she tries not to show it.
"'Well,' l answered. L believe in
thought tIansference and | always think
that he is communicating with her men,
tally, so to speak.
"'Bosh!' he said, sucking at his pipe
stem.
'''rhen,' = l said further, i always i'm
agine when turn around and see him
near us that she wishes | were not there.
Are they engaged?'
YOU'RE crazy he said.
"'Are they in love with each Otherg
"'COnfound it, no, he said with We
lemence.
Nevertheless 1 avoided Toms cousin
whenever the man with heart disease
was around. He always shadOwed' her
however, when she was with any other
the same speechless stick.
after that visit | did not see Tom
again for three years. Happening to be
thrown int9( Boston by an unexpected
chance, kdropped into his Office Tom
was glad to see me. He was always
glad to see old friends. After chatting
With him for awhile l asked about his
His face darkened
g Hang it, he said, don't talk about
it,
"'Do you know, 1 said, when l left
you that summer, l suspected that that
fellow would marry her.
Tom had nothing to say.
There was something ominOus about
his Manner l added.
Tom began to get red in the face,
" She did marry him, he said with an
path.
" Il told you so, cried.
"'And | couldn't stop her, he con.
Iinued. I raved and threatened and
IwoIe; and yet she married him. | do
not believe he could talk enough to ask
Ter, but they got married in spite of me
ind my wife,
TON began to swear again.
Where are they now? asked.
"'Oh, they live next door to us. He's
ust the same. He never has anything
o say, but she seems to understand
lim.'
They're happy, aren't they?' 1
.sked.
"'Yes, they are. That's what makes
ne mad, he said, kicking at the leg of a
able.
Thought -transference,' l said, but
lie only swore and called her little