Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-07-03
A Bamed Crime.

Sadie Ranstead was my cousin, and
an angel, in my eyes, at least. [ was
an orphan without kith or kin in the
world save Sadie and her mother.
was child in short frocks and pima
fores, and Sadie was lovely young
lady. was not so young but that
knew she was an angel to at least one
pair of eyes besides mine. [ believe
Colin Balfour could have kissed the
ground she walked on. l did not like
Colin Balfour myself. He was too big
and black browed to suit my childish
fancy.
He was very humble until she had
promised to marry him, and then he
began right away to be so unreasona-
BILE that he made her life just as mis-
erable as could be.
Well, one day Colin Balfour went
off in one of his RACES and enlisted.
Six months, year passed and no
word from Colin Balfour. Other fell
lows came home on leave to see
sWeethearts and mothers, but Colin
heard of him through others often,
aud at last heard that he had married
a pretty southern girl.
Sauie gave one moan when she
heard it; then she took hold of me
and shook me in a sort of passion of
pain and outraged love.
Gle is a wicked man, Greta. He
has no more heart than stone. We
will forget him.
The next day she had promised
Gran'ther Mayhem, who came often
20 the house-little dreamed I what
6or-that she would be his wife. Child
as Z was, and little comprehending
the holy mystery of wifehood, I was
afraid of Sadie when I knew what she
had promised and would not let her
kiss me.
However, the kind old man was
great favorite of mine at bottom-a
genial, gentle, good man who thought
he was doing right and best in marry
ing d girl young enough to be his
grsudchild.
Mamma Ranstead Gas I always call
ed my aunt was in great trouble, and
was too proud to receive that aid
from Gran'ther Mayhem which she
would not refuse from her daughters
husband. l suspect that Mamma Ran
stead was more than little polite
He and Sadie were married very
shortly, and new house was built
quite away from the old one and on a
site OF Sadie's choosing. Gran'ther
Mayhem was very kind and very pa
tent, through Sadie must have tried
him sorely with her whims sometimes.
One day, when Sadie had been mar
ried about year, Mamma Ranstead
fell suddenly i'll, and, while Sadie and
might happen, the worst happened
that ever could Mamma Ranstead
was dead.
Six months after came the news
that Colin Balfour had been killed.
Sadie had not seen him for near three
years now, and she knew him treach-
arous and unworthy, but she shrank |
under the shock of hearing that he |
was dead, as though she had been his
wife and he the hero of her |
widest imaginings. Fortunately or
unfortunately, Gran Their Mayhem was
away from home on some important
BIZ siness matter just at that time.
One day, the day but one after the
news had come Of Colin Balfour's
death, there was knock at the door
Of the coy little parlor looking upon
the garden, which Sadie called her
garden room. 1 opened the door
cautiously, thinking it must be SER
gant, and 10. there was Colin Balfour
n the flesh. ~
He shot by me ike flash and
,aught the dropping figure upon the
ofa in his arms.
eMy poor darling," he cried, kiss
ny her amazed face between the
pords, 'sthat it should ever have come
o this.''
Sadie looked frighted, but she chung
0 him, and presently she tainted
way in his arms.
He did not lay her down even then.
lie held her until she was better, and