Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-01-08

before, ana was usually awarded with u
smile. saw her. | think, II half dozen
times in ~ many woe, 49,, but only from the
street while she seemed always busy in her
room with her household dutj.s One
morninp mile was on d..ty .,. attracted
my attention by rappng sharply on the
window pane with her thimble
"As looked up she said just loud enough
for me to hear, If you've time, come
through the back alley, up the steps at left
entrance at II o'clock this morning.
AT the appointed hour was sitting in
an entry leading to the stairway, and she
was with me AS you may know she be-
gan, there's a dreadful mixture of people
in this house, with whom | have nothing
to do, and they in turn hate me for it, One
under this roof is an unpleasant looking
man, whom my father wishes me to marry
on account of his business prospects, and
suppose, his attachment for me. He has
annoyed me so with his attentions that
almost hate him, and he knows it. He is
jealous and has very mean disposition. |
dare not go out Mt any time without his
knowing it and speaking of the fact in
such way that my father, who is dread
fully strict, hears him and gives me a lee
ture If he sees me walking home with
young man, or sees me get letter or hand
course father wants to know all about it.
"'The rest of these delightful people are
forever spying too. The consequence is |
am forever ia hot water. Now on Lehigh
street. $50, there's "a man whom like very
much. Robert Barring is his name He
knows you quite well by sight. | will
thank you exceedingly if you will give him
this note and stop there when you're on
your way here, so if he has any message
for me he will give it to you. You see
father doesn't allow him t. visit me, so we
don't see each other very often-only when
| can slip out for IN hour or So when he
joins me and we take walk. If you'll be
our letter carrier we'll get along much
better. Then by being liltle careful
George Birch will be so nicely o1twitted
When he has no more tales to tell | won.
der what he will do. Well, suppose you
are willing to be our mutual fr,end, aren't
your
she was standing there and had laid her
hand in mine 1promised to serve her. then
left her by the way I'd come In the
months that followed | saw her many
times and carried to and fro many mes
sages between the sweethearts. had been
their mail carrier for six months and had
given her start up the pole almost as
course her lover went to see her then as
often us he liked, so there was no more
need of me. One morning about two
months after her fathers death she ran
down stairs and overlook me as turned
the corner. She told me she was to be mar
ried that night at the minister's residence
and that she and Robert wanted me to be
one of the witnesses.
Il consented, though wondered if she
didn't know what hard request she'd
made of me. | stood up there bravely,
though it took all my power to do So and
saw Katie Allen give herselfto Robert Bar
/ ing, and wondered if he did then or ever
would love her as devotedly as did. Short
| ly afterward doubted it very much He
was not overly kind to her, staid out at
clubs late and was not as considerable for
her feelings as he should have been. | saw
her just often enough to know she was
very unhappy, though only a bride of ter
months.
George Birch became very sullen. He
never spoke to Barring except to tantalize
and when he'd been married one year Bircl
so grossly insulted him that there was al
alteration in which both were wounded
Barring died within twenty-four hours, but
Birch lived to suffer awhile.
ale had IL lingering spell, then improved
only to get worse later. Katie had been
widow for year, when she sent for me t.
tell me that George was dying and wanted
to see her. She was very nervous and mis-
cradle, she dreaded going, yet had no wisl
to refuse. advised her to 90 and wen
also, at least as far us the steps. | wouldn'
90 in the room. When she came out ther
were tears in her eyes and she looked pal,
and frightened She told me i'll Il low voice
almost in whisper, that he was dead.
walked with her to her door, then left he
alone with her unhappy thoughts. He
husband left her but little wealth, so sh
went back to the northwest room of tn,
red tenement, the one in which I'd frs
seen her which she rented quite cheapl,
and managed very well, with her bah,
girl for company and a small hired cir
for help.
81 visited her only occasionally until sh
left off her garb of mourning, then | wen
there more frequently. In time she prom
ised to be my wife, but three years went b,
without her setting our wedding day. Sh
told me that George Birch had said that i
she married me or any one else he'd Civ
her no peace, but haunt her day and night
She did not want to believe that he could
but weeks before the day set for our mar
and declared she'd seen George in her doc
every night for n month.
THE evening before we were to be maj
ried | was sitting in the room holding he
child on my knee and thinking of the brigh
morrow when the back door opened sud
!. denly and she screamed: Look at Georg
Birchl 1t is not his ghost, but him, him
self. See how he looks at me! My Godl
can't stand it, | can't marry you, Simon
, | can't can't. Save my child; don't lie
her see that faceP She moaned, wrung he
hands and looked mad
81 went two blocks for physician, bu
when | returned Katie was gone. | locke
. for her, and others, too, but we never foun
, her or heard any tidings bearing on tn
subject. The general opinion was that i
her fright and excitement she had destroy
ed herself But how, without there bein
some evidence afterward. am puzzled t
know.
Il sold my new home, or the place tina
was to have been our home, and taking he
child | took up my abode in my same oil
3 lodging house and there I've lived eve
, cinca for this child who will ha n Sacon