Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-12-26

L1Ili1O W JOItAoOAA' q - ~ 0SoOAAo'
"What will you do with them?o
present them to my wife on my
wedding day, or that failing, to your
husband on yours"
l could have sprung into the room
and throttled this cowardly threatener
of woman, but instead slipped
sash of the veranda, and leaping down
among the flower beds, hurried out of
sight and hearing. Half an hour later
I saw a handsome, rather distinguish
ed looking man stalking through the
garden path toward the road. [ made
a turn and met him. The distinguish
ed look CHANGED to be sort Of dare
devil recklessness of air and manner
as [ approached him, and he seemed
decidedly out Of humor.
I lifted my hat courteously as we
passed; he did the same, with half
/ impudent stare, turning to look after
me as sauntered up the walk.
I found Richard Dunkirk, esq.,, ang-
/ ling in the trout stream below the
house the next morning. [ angled
! too-not for trout, but for his &C
quaintance He scowled at sight Of
me, but I baited my hook cleverly
and presently he became civil. [ saw
that he was trying to discover who
was and my relation with Miss Bon
ange.
/ We separated with apparent mutual
pleasure in each other. We encount-
| fo11 To
like old acquaintance, and invited
him to dine at my aunt's. He gave
sort of startled stare, but assented.
It was too good an opportunity to be
lost.
can acquaintance ofyours, [ believe,
Miss Ruth" I said simply as careless
ly announced to her and my aunt that
Mr.. Dunkirk had come to dinner.
Miss Bonange had seemed out of
sorts for a day or two. She gave me
half desperate look at the announce
ment.
''You see I am not jealous, Miss
Ruth,'' said in an undertone.
"You are certainly generous" she
replied coldly.
was half Of the opinion that she
would not come to dinner; but she
did. We were on the whole quite a
pleasant party. Dunkirk spent the
evening, rather at my solicitation.
Once or twice I saw Miss Bonange
change color at something he said, but
she staid in the parlor and maintain
= oh III,
ingly well. He offered hand at
parting, but she shook her head. He
bent toward her then saying some
thing in whisper that made her face
Written.
CHANGING into the parlor as Ipassed,
after seeing Dunkirk out, [ saw Miss
Bonange standing as he had left her,
hands clasped behind her, and her
beautiful face expressive Of hope
lessness and despair that smote me to
the soul.
The look gave impetus to half
formed, altogether wild scheme had
in my brain. In my chamber [ hast
ened to lock the door change my light
clothes for dark ones. l adjusted
plain mask to my face, selected from
several old hats the most battered,
took tolerable stout walking stick
in my hand and swinging myself down
| from my window outside that the
| household might not discover my alb
sence, set forth.
By taking short cut, which L was
sure could not be known to Richard
Dunkirk, esq., reached certain lone
spot, as hoped, before him. He came
in sight presently, sauntering along IN
the moonlight; I waited and wonder
ed if Richard Dunkirk, esq.,, was the
coward I took him to be.
Just as he came opposite me level
ed my walking stick, resting it as
would musket across convenient
stump, while I called in as deep
voice as I could muster:
"Halt for your life!"
Mr.. Dunkirk muttered an oath, but
he stopped stock still in the path, with
eWhat is it you want fellow?"
sStep there into that strip of moon
light. Be so good as to deposit the
contents of your pockets upon the
ground" He hesitated, but I shifted
my walking stick slightly, intimated
that was in no humor for trifiing,
and he proceeded to obey me.
He had a knife,a watch case,a silver
toothpick,a few loose coins, a shrunk-
en- pocketbook and a collapsed purse,
and there he stopped.
ssThat is not all, - said sharply.
With groan he took out a small
parcel.