The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-03
MRS. uLMER,s PLOT.

married. III mdQe quite d SeuSdJlOu
among the boarders-who had long
ooked upon her in the light of con-
venient necessity-when Mr.. Bruce an
nounced their engagement, though to be
sure it was in many respects very suit
able match.
They were both young, good looking,
| and honestly in love with each other, but
Sansie was poor and worked like a slave
to save her mother servant hire, while
Harry Bruce vas the fortunate possessor
of 100000. He was perfectly sure, how
ever, that his money was no object with
Sansie and that she loved him for himself
alone. She was so sweet so prettyi Such
good, loving, helpful daughter that he
felt his heart warm towards her every
time he caught sight of her pink cheeks
and blue eyes. He insisted that Mrs.
Arnott should hire a strong, CAPABLE
woman, so that Sansie should have time
to go about with him. Then he took
her everywhere, loaded her with presents
and flattered her to such an extent that,
if she had not been Que of the most SEN
sible little women in the world, her head
would have been completely turned. AS
it was she took an innocent delight in
is.surprisingly long holiday, the new
and pleasant companionship.
Matters might have gone on thus i'd
detinately had not an unexpected event
occurred. Nothing more nor less than
the advent of a new boarder. Not only
was she strikingly handsome woman,
but she was also an old friend of Mr..
Bruce's. There was, moreover certain
episode of their acquaintance of a pecul-
iarly painful character, so painful, in
deed, that he had never mentioned to
Sansie that period of his life in which
she was concerned. He would have ac-
cepted an introduction to her, ignoring
any former meeting, but she made such
a course impossible by a very impressive
gesture of welcome.
"Ah! Mr.. Bruce, l am delighted to
meet an old friend" she said, with a
dazzling flash of her dangerous black
eyes.
If Mr.. Bruce shared her delight he said
nothing to that effect, but offering her
his arm, led her direct to the corner
| where Sansie sat, demure as kitten and
quite as watchful.
t'Mrs. Ulmer,', said- no, ,tthis 10 my
Sansie. We are to be married soon, and
anybody in the house can give you all the
particulars. l thought would tell you
that much myself, because l remember
you used to take kind interest in my
affairs. Sansie, want you to be very
good to Mrs. Ulmer, Oecause"-with a
sudden evil inspiration-"she once did
me very great favor"
For an instant anger and surprise fash
ed into her wonderful eyes, then they
were lighted by gay and careless smile.
"Why, so did," she said. II had
nearly forgotten it; it was ages ago."
Harry knew his little, honest, true
hearted love to be worth dozen accom-
plished flirts like Mrs. Ulmer, and SO one
day, when he caught her quite alone, he
told her the true story of his former ac-
quaintance with the lady.
ut was years ago." said he. II was
young fellow, headstrong and romantic;
she vas pretty and in no end of trouble,
all on account of being mixed up with
an ugly piece of scandal. The women
would not look at her and the men hard
ly dared to.
81 began by plying her; 1 ended by
falling in love andOffering to marry her.
She accepted me gladly enough, and for
a few weeks lived in FOOLS paradise;
then, the very day before we were to have
been married, she left me and ran away
with Bert Ulmer.
life, have heard; rather think she is
taking more comfort as widow than
she ever did as wifer / cannot help
feeling a trihe amused, when see what
a difference Uncle Halls money makes.
Without it did not deserve even fair
dealing and common courtesy; with it
am worth cultivating."
$50 1 perceive" said Sansie, with
much asperity; then, with a sudden
smile lighting her sweet, indignant face,
twas that what you meant when you
said that she once did you great favor?"
at was. would have told you be-
fore but was ashamed of the whole af-
fair, and did not know how the idea
that ever wanted another wife would
strike you"
Every favorable, seeing yOu did not
get her," laughed Sansie. And from
that time forward she held her own with
the Widow Ulmer.
Mr.. Bruce could not help an occasional
twinge of masculine pride in the self
evident fact that this very beautiful
woman deeply regretted her youthful es-
capade.
lie had such perfect confidence in his
own integrity rnd Sansie's devotion that
he never avoided her in the least.
One evening when most of the boarders
were attending a concert and Sansie was
so seriously indisposed as to be confined
to her room, he settled himself to a soil
tary chat with Mrs. Ulmer without any
serious misgivings.
To be sure, he would have left the par
lor Immediately when he found her its
only occupant, but she requested a mo-
ment's conversation so directly that he
found himself in manner compelled to
listen to her.
"MT. Bruce" said she, sWeetly flushed
and fearful, ~ am going away in the
morning; we may meyer meet again.
Perhaps l ought to let the dead past rest
in peace, but when look at Sansie and
think of my own wrecked youth, my lips
will speak"
Bruce bowed profoundly; he could
think of nothing to say.
mot many years ago." she continued,
girl young and fair as Sansie loved you
just as well; you won her heart and threw
it back to her with scorn, crushed, wound
ed, worthless. bore it. Mad with rage
and pain married Burt Ulmer and lived.
Sansie would die. The anguish that
drove me to despair wauld crush her into
the grave"
"Mrs. Ulmer," said Harry, somewhat
impatiently, II know that years ago you
tilted me. have lived down all regret
and fail to see how the act can have any
bearing upon the future happiness of a