The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-07-19
a mailman, as I was. The coat was

the stair-rail, and caught it Just in time
to support myself. Carrie came run
ming out, her face pale with alarm.
"Oh, Fred! are you i'll? Let me call
mother and the doctorl You are as
white as sheet"
mo, no, Carrie" l entreated.
"There, am better now"
And / was better. l was strong, all
at once-desperately strong. And what
brought about this change? That
simple receipt which | had in my
pocket. Anderson had nothing to show
that the money had been paid; and was
not my unaided word as good as his?
was foolish enough to believe that l
could brave it through, and l grew con-
fido mt and quite easy at once.
"There, Carrie, l am much better
now. The room was too warm, /
guess. So some sneaking thief has
lodged in and stolen my coat? Well,
let it go. 1t was an old one, and now
I'll have better one"
"But was there nothing in the pock-
ets2' asked Carrie.
1t is strange how suspicious guilt will
make us. / really thought Carrie sus.
pected me, and an angry reply was on
the end of my tongue. l suppressed it,
however, and uttered falsehood in
stead.
Nothing of consequence, Carrie. A
good pair of gloves and some other
trihing notions"
"I am glad it is not worse, Fred. Now,
if you will wait Just moment, | will
get you one of fathers coats to wear
home"
Thus equipped, left her. You may
guess that my slumbers that night were
not very sound, nor very refreshing.
| never passed more miserable night,
aud in the morning my haggard looks
were the subject of remark.
"Why, Fred, you look as though you
met legion of ghosts last night" said
Winston. "What is the natter"
81 had bad night oft" answered,
with sickly smile.
"And you'll have another if you're
not careful; you had better keep quiet
to-day. BY the way, did you write to
Anderson"
1 do not know how l managed to
reply, for the question set me SILVER
ing from head to foot, and l was so
weak that l could scarcely sit in my
chair. l must have answered in the
affirmative, however, for he said
"Then we may look for something
from him tomorrow or next day."
Immediately afterwards he added:
"Why, Fred, you SILVER as though
you had the ague, and you are sweating
like butcher! You're i'll, man.
Come, jump into my trap, and I'll
take you home"
1 was glad of the chance to get away,
and on reaching my room | locked my
self in.
Ali those were terrible hours that /
passed, and night coming on brought
me no relief. Can you not guess what
! was meditating? Coward that 7 was,
l had at last resolved on elf-destruc.
ton.
l commenced my preparation with
the same. calmness and elaboration
that / would have used in the most
common transaction. l wrote short
explanation for Carrie, another for Mr..
Winston, third for my poor mother,
and l inclosed the receipt TO Mr.. An
derson. All this accomplished, went
to my secretaire and took out the
weapon of death. 1t was simply a
revolver, small and insignificant enough
in appearance, but all-suflicient.
Having examined the cartridges to
make sure that there would be no fall
ure, sat down before the fire, and lift.
ing the revolver, / placed its cold,
death-like muzzle against my forehead.
In another second I should have been
lifeless; but just as my finger began to
tha f,tI tnYN
my door. 1t startled me, and, hastily
concealing my weapon, called out
that / could admit no one.
Not me, Fred?"
l knew Carries voice, and yearning
to look on her loved face got the mas
terry of me. Quietly slipping the tell
tale letters, which l had left on the
table, into my pocket, | opened the
door.
ooh, Fred, you are really I'LL" ex-
claimed Carrie the moment the light
fell on my face. "Why did you not
send for me? Aren't you better?'
Worse" answered, huskily;" but,
Carrie,-good heavens!
AS uttered this exclamation started
back, and then forward; and them
scarcely know what, for hanging across
| Carries arm was my overcoat! Re-
covering from my establishment, / drew
out eleven thousand seven hundred and
fifty dollars and twenty-three cents.
You have heard about, and perhaps
seen, the singular capers of mailman,
or the wild antics of those crazed with
rum, or the grotesque dancing savages.
Well, judging from the appearance of
my apartment after it was over, | am
led to believe that, were it possible to
concentrate the three above mentioned
species of demons into one, | was pos.
sessed thereby.
But cooled down after while, and
just in time to save Carries head a
thump from the chair which / had Sc
lected in my crazy waltz.
Then | asked for an explanation. Ii
was the simplest thing imaginable. |
do not know why had not thought of
it before. 1t was simply blunder of
Carries father. He had mistaken nv
coat for his own, and wore it down
town, never dreaming that small for
tune was lying idly in the pocket.
| Mr. l.: