The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18


question an ancient lady, whose dress sug-
gests connection with some charitable in
stitution
AT first she seems inclined to treat my
thirst for information with contempt but
finally desire for gossip ovcrcomes her
reticence, and she condescends to tell me
all in ono breath that this 'erc is to be
the weddin o. Miss Athelwood Not but
that 'er name amt Athelwood, but Kel-
larey. 'Er rs 'dow'd the amls ouses down
the street-which times bein bad an n lone
widder as ad no husband an whose son is
dom is last stretch bein as innocent as
babo unborn An rheumatic ben that
bad, she could curse, only she wouldn't.
An Miss O'Sullivan as lives in No. 8,
said ms low Miss Athelwood was worth
we'll nigh 'alf million of money if she
was worth n penny-not but that she
shouldn't be- seein us 'ow she had been
born on the gold diggins, an every one
knowed them was good times. An
prettier an better lady never stepped, beg
gin 'er pardon for sayin So
The old woman, once started, was hard
to stop. But l was interested in Miss
L,helwood, SO 1 ventured an inquiry as to
her parentage
"Ah, well may yer say that; not but
low ye're a stranger in these parts. The
poor young dear never lad no father to
know but Mr.. Athclwood, the lawyer. l
'eard tell she were just fetched up from
them goldflelds by a Teller called Kellarey
"a miner chap, who give Ter to Mr. Athel-
wood along of Il fortune which e said was
'ers. That's 20 year or more now-tho
same year as my good man was took by
the perlice for the Orange bushrangin case,
an i'm not never so much as 'avin 'alf-
penny of the money, butt
l stopped the dear old lady's family his
tory by asking whom Miss Athelwood was
about to marry. AS l put the question an
old and villainously dirty swagman placed
his roll of blankets down at the church
door and pushed his way toward us.
In begin yer pardon, my old lady
went on, Miss Athelwoods agoin to
marry, as it's not in my mind to remember
ID dock ora hearl, but L can t say which on
'cm. Haid dc camp to the governor, they
do say he is. But look, look, ere they
cOmcan'
Carriagc after carriage rolled up to the
;hurch door and set down its load of fash
enables. Then amid continuous cheer
ny M. and Miss Athelwood arrived. She
.Jcrcd surprisingly beautiful, and no
'iNNN Tau bllc Olu SNuUllllH was SO over
come with establishment that he kept his
eyes staring at the door long after she had
passed through it and all had rushed into
the church to see the ceremony.
My whole attention was devoted to
watching the bride. l could not drive her
romance out of my head. She went up the
aisle nameless girl, the product of gold
field, and returned to the music of Men
delssohn's Wedding March" a countess
and member of one of the Oldest families
in Europe.
After all the carriages had rolled away
and l was turning to go the old swagman
touched my arm, saying:
Mister, I'm agoin to get yer to do me
favor.
Asking him what it was, he replied:
Lets go somewhere out of this where
we're alone, an III tell yer"
When we had adjourned to more fit
ting place, my companion spoke.
Il guess you'd call me liar if I told
you that l was the man as brought up
that girl as we've just see married But
1 amin Dog Kellarey, sure enough,
i'm as give 'er into Lawyer Athelwood's
lands 90 years ago, with 'er share of the
mine tibet panned out so rich"
why don't you go to her then? hear
she's been hunting gh and low for youl'
That's just it. l know she has But
dyer think Pm agoin into the company o.
the likes O. 'er friendsp Not mel I'd be
maxim fool o. the girl, an she'd be
ashamed O. erself. No! I've tramped
close on 400 miles to see her married, an
now Pm agoin back into the bush to-
night for good. l want you to write this
ere in letter for met amt much
10 tT, ii.,1 Inc
on 'er weddin day, an put in the corner
L amt forgot yer, mind!'
wrote as he directed, and inclosed-
what do you Think A baby's little wool
en- shoel The old man had kept this relic
as his most Sacred treasure for nearly 20
years.-Guy Boothby, in Pail NAL Magazine.