News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-09-28

Jne rest. one was mere, ana returned
only to learn that she was about to
leave and that Captain Rolfe was her
accepted lover. Bearded, aged, uni
formed as | was, believed she would
not know me even if we were to meet
face to face, and believing, more, that no
vestige of the regard she once felt for
me remained, believing, too, that she
was to marry Captain Rolfe, was Bit
ter, brutal, mad enough to STRIKE to
carry out my vow. Twice / had seen
her on that balcony on the moonlit even
ings, and determined that the night of
her departure she should see me for the
last time. You know the rest. shaved
clean, so as to look as much as possible
as did in the old days, wore my civil
ian dress and-nearly killed her."
at was a fearful experiment" says
Holden gravely. about the maddest
thing you could have done"
81 was mad, doctor, when | heard she
was to marry him. God knows l have
's,iRed. it dSily. hourly, ever since.
And yet, how could she have seen mel
She never reached the door"
Simplest thing in the world. Moth
ing but the old principle in optics-the
angle of incidence and the angle of re-
Election. That mirror over the toilet
table did the job. / saw you in the
moonlight at the balcony window when
you couldn't see me in the dark hall, and
neither of us could have seen the other
had the mirror been away. Now here's
(N11fh,-in Mind -,
make amends for that harebrained per-
formance at Pawnee; so no word of re-
proach to him. He's old and broken"
Three minutes later the clerk has re-
tired, after ushering Holden and his
friend into the private Office. The in
slant the latch has clicked gray haired,
sorrow stricken man, tears standing in
his fading eyes, hands quivering and
trembling, totters forward and might
have fallen but for the strong arms that
catch and clasp him.
"My boys friendl my boys friend
whom | so wrongedT he falters, and
then for awhile there is solemn silence
"Is Mr.. PercivaIs confession complete,
and have you seen it?" asks Ellis gently.
81 have, my boy, at last"
"And it clears me, Mr.. GuthrieY'
"Utterly and entirely" the old man
cries. 81 thank my God was wrong
| was wrongr
One scene more. Pawnee again. The
night train has come from the east.
Holden's carriage is at the station, end
so is Brewster.
"All right?-aIl arrangedY' whispers
the doctor, as he springs from the car
and grasps the lieutenant's hand.
"All right Kenyon's just left him."
answers Curly, and then busies himself
lifting the merry children from the
step, welcoming Mrs. Holden and care
fully assisting Nita Guthrie to the plat
form.
"You happy fellowF' she murmurs.
"How can congratulate you? It's an
nounced, is it not?" And for moment
she seems, despite pallor and fatigue,
the old buoyant, radiant Nita.
"Announcedy" answers Curly. "My
mother-in-law elect-God bless her
says my face announced it before that
elevator could reach the lower floor"
They drive rapidly mp the winding
road, and, though plainly nervous and
excited, the fair guest never loses her
presence of mind. She has something
appreciative to say as they pass each fa-
miliar object-the lower gate, where the
spruce sentry stands at a carry in sa-
lutte; the guardhouse, where the relief
is just forming; the broad west gate; the
brightly lighted barracks across the pa
rade; the group of trumpeters in the
out under the tall, glistening
flagstaff. Then come the rush of Muir
ply and Kathleen to open the door and
assist them to alight; the rapturous
greeting between the children and their
Hibernian friends; the fragrance of cof-
fee floating in from the kitchen; the
hickory logs swapping and sparkling in
the fireplace; the old familiar rooms;
the swinging lamp in the hall.
"Welcome to Pawnee once more,
Nita," says Holden, clasping both her
hands. We've had enough of pale
cheeks and dropping spirits. We've
brought you here TO recall the roses-to
win you back to joy and health, and to
your own old room, Nita. Now will
you promise not to faint this time, no
matter what spooks you see?"
She is trembling violently. She looks
into his beaming face with eager, ques-
tioning, i1nploring eyes.
"Come, dear" whispers Mrs. Holden.
'Fm going up with you"
The doctor summons the children into
.he dining room to see the lovely flowers
on the table. Mrs. Holden twines her
lrm about her cousins waist, and up the
stair they slowly go. Nita trembles more
md more. They are within few steps
of the landing, and rs they come in sight
If the open door Nita shrinks closer to
ler cousins side. Three steps more and
N the dark chamber there CLEANS that
,ilvery shield of mirror between the dim
white curtains, rejecting the dazzling
from without. They reach the
anding and Miss Guthrie pauses, breath
ess, unnerved. She can go no farther.
"Nita, it was no ghost you saw" whis-
,ers Mrs. Holden. "Shall | call him"
One instant the blue eyes dilate, wild
With hope, incredulity, joy and fear, all
Then there is the sound
# quick, springing step along the hall.
tall, dark haired, dark eyed soldier
airly leaps toward them. Nita turns
uickly at the sound, and then with out
tretched arms throws herself forward
o meet him. No terror, no anguish
ow, but, as she is clasped to his heart,
oy unutterable in her stifled cry, in the
ne eword-"Harold"
THE END.