Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-07

cigars and wines, it is really quite impos-
sible to drink or smoke anything inferior
ThSEe was only one thing to be done,
and the Company was going to do it.
1t called the lovely damsel who was in
the next room. 1t said to her, Take
letter, please"
4Anu uDI4O .uU company W..s UIOVauluss
the letter the clerk, who had served the
company for 10 years, was thinking over
49,, ,..-. c.,.- ,..- -. .--.- 80.
Fut where he only just earned enough to
keep himself and his family from hunger.
And then again he concluded by congrat-
ulating himself on having such good,
steady employment 1t was more than
many men had.
He looked up, some one having touched
him on the shoulder. 1t was the lovely
typewriter damsel, and she handed him
letter. He read this;
DEAR SIR Circumstances over which we
have no control necessitate a reduction of ex-
penses. Your resignation will be accepted on
the lst OF the month. THE COMPANY.
Tho clerk looked out of the window ST.
lently. Outside the people were hurrying
along the street ceaselessly. 1t was like
huge torrent He read the letter again,
smiling rather queerly. Then he opened
small drawer of his desk and took out q
very small tin box. 1t smelt Of peoples.
He poured the contents into his mouth
and threw his head back, swallowing with
a quick gulp. Then he looked out of the
window again, and waited fora certain
Circumstance.
One of the last things he heard was the
Company saying to the lovely typewriter
damsel, Wasn't this the night you were
going to take supper with mef"
There was great deal Of applause at
the conclusion Of this tableau. Tho king
came so near to smiling that the chairman
began to feel safe and reckless.
Hi will now present to you," he an
nounced pompously, 'ha Domestic Detail,
which will be the last hof hour hattrac-
tions for this day." He bowed very low,
and, still bowling ut odd moments, return
I'd to his chair
The king frowned as he watched him,
but he said nothing, for the play was be-
ginning.
These two, this young man and his
wife, had only been married little over a
year, and that year had been as a dream
of perfect happiness. These twain had
been one, in the most complete and de-
lightful way possible All their joys and
sorrows they had shared.
But now there happened to them Cir
cumstance that wrought q cruel change
in them both. The Circumstance was q
lovable one, and that was the pity Of it,
The young husband looked at the Circum-
stance and began to feel fearful bate to-
ward it, for the reason that he cHught his
wife looking at 1t with love in her eyes.
And there were moments when she, too,
looking at it, found her husbands eyes
fixed lovingly upon it, and then she hated
it flercely and blindly. AS for the Cir
cumstance, it kept smiling to itself
Jealousy and unreason reigned now be-
tween these two. They grew nervous,
touchy, irritable Each feared that the
Circumstance was robbing him or her of
tho others love. And then, again, there
came moments when, driven by pride and
vanity, each determined to conquer in the
fight and win the sole title to the Circum-
stances love.
One day fearful thought came to them
both. Each struggled with the thought,
but it triumphed. Then they gave way
to it. The thought, in each Of them, was
that if the Circumstance were out of the
way they might return to the old days
when they loved each other so dearly.
The Circumstance was lying up stairs,
asleep. Through the half open door tho
husband approached on tiptoe. He went
round to the other side of the couch, and
in his hand, which was shaking a little,
was q glass of water He had reached
the farther side of the couch and was just
pouring q white powder into the water
when his eyes took on q queer fixed stare.
Through the half open door came his
wife, and in her right hand was glass
of water. Her eyes were fixed upon the
face of the Circumstance, and in the lines
of her own face battle was raging be-
tween Love and Self Sacrifice and Hate.
The eyes of husband and wife met, and
two glasses of water went crashing to the
floor. Quick signs of shame dyed their
faces, and after an instant Of helpless con-
sternation they came into each others
arms, and for long time held each other
SO, silently.
When the Circumstance awoke, it heard
them speaking all manner Of strange
things
1--WE will never let it come between US
again." they were saying 1--WE will love
each other first, and for it we will have an
equal, though q secondary affection. But
first of all, we will love each other"
The Circumstance smiled to ITSELF
thinking they might have come to that
conclusion long ago without all this trou-
BILE and heartache. 1t did not know how
near it had come to never waking from
that sleep. And then, as the full purport
of their new resolution came to it, the Cir
cumstance clustered with mighty obiec-
tions. To be second in their affection
mean nothing more nor less than defeat
But they merely listened to its ragings
and smiled. Wait" they said; present
ly we will attend to you. Just now we
two have long fast to atone for" Then
in q delicious whisper, Come, dear, let
us go for a walk alone together as we used
to in the old days"
And they went out, leaving the Circum-
stance bowling with defeat and wounded
vanity.
For the Circumstance was their own
child.
A queer curl came to the kings mouth,
something between a smile and sneer
He called the chairman to him. you
will now receive the reward of Justice"
he said. "Kindly step down into the
arena" Then he gave signal to Cir
cumstance by his side, and this Circum-
stance went down into the arena with the
chairman, who was white and trembling.
The chairman, in o fearful apprehen-