The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-02
A HAsTY CONCLUSION.


their departure left Clinton Villa I'M
tenanted; and it is not pleasant for =
maiden lady like myself, living alone
with one old servant, to have an empty
house next to her own-it engenders
feeling of insecurity. Twas therefore re-
lieved, after Clinton Villa had stood
empty for some months, to observe In
one of the windows placard with Let
printed on it in large type.
Stratton Common, the locality in
which my house and Clinton Villa are
situated, is just quiet enough to allow
one to take an interest in ones neigh
bors, while it is to near too London for it
to be absolutely necessary that the resi-
dents should know all about one another,
| may as we'll mention here, though L
am a maiden lady, do not love scandal.
l do not believe that every girl who is
handsome and high-spirited must neces.
sarily be unprincipled; nor do l think
that, because young couple are OBJ
served exchanging remarks about the
weather, they must be about to enter in
to a life long partnership. Perhaps these
negative virtues are attributable in a
great measure to the fact that, having
many resources in myself and large
circle of old and valued friends, avoid
as far as possible getting acquainted with
my neighbors.
Nevertheless, must admit that l did
feel curious about the newcomers at
Clinton Villa. My old servant, Bridget,
told me their name was Smith, the fami-
ly consisting of father, mother and one
little boy.
Although Clinton Villa is the next
house to my own, l could not have
watched the movements of the inmates
very narrowly, even had l wished to do
so, for the two houses stand some little
distance apart, and each is surrounded
by a garden we'll stocked with trees.
But had one vantage ground-my con-
servatory. Here, screened from view
myself, | could not only see the Smiths
when they were in their back garden,
but was often forced to overhear much
of what passed between them. Being
very fond of flowers, l spent much of my
time in the conservatory, and therefore
soon got to know the Smiths well by
sight, while doubt if they would have
recognized me had they met me away
from my own house.
have always considered a young mar
ried pair and baby the most uninter-
esting of neighbors; but, notwithstand-
ing this opinion, l found myself taking
an astonishing amount of interest in the
Smiths. Mr.. Smith was hardly hand
some man, though he was exceedingly
nice looking, being tall and we'll built,
with thoroughly intellectual face. The
child was very pretty, and his mother
thought one of the sweetest looking
women had ever seen. Her expression
was tritle sad when her face was in re-
pose; but when she smiled every vestige
OF sadness Disappeared; and was
pleased to see that she smiled very often.
In fact, they seemed thoroughly happy
couple, so happy, indeed, that as |
watched them l sometimes found myself
regretting my single blessedGess.
After while | noticed that, though
Mrs. Smith and her boy were as often in
the garden of an evening as ever, they
were no longer joined by Mr. Smith,
from which inferred that he was away
from home. Then began to wonder if
he was taking a summer holiday, and
why his wife wasn't with him. | sue
ceeded, however, in accounting for his
absence satisfactorily by deciding that
he was bent on climbing the Alps or
some such expedition, and that Mrs.
Smith, feeling that the boy would be in
the way if they took him, had volun-
teered to stay at home. didn't like the
idea of the young mother being left be-
hind, so | made up my mind that she
and the baby were going to the seaside
later on, where Mr.. Smith intended to
join them on his return from the CONT
nent.
One evening, as l was coming up the
hill, met Mrs. Smith accompanied by
gentleman. She was looking lovely in a
dainty white dress, and her face was
radiant with smiles. The gentleman
with her was handsome, with that mill
tary air which makes man so distingue.
He seemed well pleased, too, and was
apparently fully alive to the attractions
of his companion. OF course there is no
harm in a gentleman and lady walking
together. even when the gentleman is
handsome and the lady very beautiful.
Old maid as / am | admit so much.
And yet there was an indefnable some
thing about these two that made me I'M
easy, and l wondered that husbands will
leave their pretty young wives at home.
After that evening the strange gentle
man was constantly at Clifton Villa, and
Mrs. Smith appeared to grow brighter
and more beautiful day by day. Had |
lOb COACGlNtu dSdlhSJ bhO
stranger / should have said that he too
had good as well as a handsome face,
began to worry. Oh, how l wished
Mr.. Smith would come home! l felt
half disposed to send him an anony-
nous letter from "well wisher." IRE
turn at once-a burglar is planning to
break into your premises and steal your
treasure" or something equally tragic,
calculated to bring the tourist back with
out moments delay, and at the same
time not arouse his suspicious as TO the
real danger that was casting it's shadow
over his happy home. But "Mr. Smith,
Switzerland" would have been rather
vague address; moreover, | have always
had very strong prejudice against all
anonymous communications. And then,
again, was not quite certain that Mr..
Smith was bent OH climbing the Alps.
Then / scolded myself for being prone
to think evil of my neighbors. Might
not this handsome stranger be brother
OF cousin to Mrs. Smith? | had almost
persuaded myself that such indeed must
be the case, when nnntentionally over
heard fragment of conversation which
made it impossible that should cherish
such an idea any longer.
1t was a warm evening, so before pro-
ceeding to water my flowers as usual, l
opened the conservatory windows few
inches. Presently Mrs. Smith and her
friend came sauntering up the walk, APP