Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-31

could have made me what you pleased, and
nothing short of your own purity and
sweetness and goodness would have salts
fled you. My saint, it may be that beyond
the tomb l may rise to your level and
stand beside you when you follow mel
Dearest Violet, this is the last letter you
will receive from me. In kindness to you
it will be best that I should not see you
again before / go. Another communion
tion you will have respecting certain
-, -, - nina r,,+ +h'~ &c +hn lHrt Letter
you will have from me- Farewell, my
love, farewell
''T rencat 7 am doomed To die. There
can be no doubt have had symptoms
which should have disquieted me-for
some time past. 1 have now consulted
physician-Sir Christopher Fairlight. He
says that l shall be dead in three weeks.
shall go away, therefore, and take lodg-
ing somewhere and die atone. Do not,
my dear, try to see me. Do not answer
this letter Say to yourself, He is dead
And so saying try to forget me and be
happy again. Say He is dead and be
happy again. That is all. FAREWELL"
Violet received this letter at breakfast.
She read it with an expression of the
greatest bewilderment, but not the least
grief, dismay or affection. George" she
said to her brother, tossing him the letter,
''read that"
George did read it.
Well" asked his sister, "what does he
mean? He was here the day before yester-
day as well as a man can be. And as usual
full of his stupid ambitions What does 1t
mean2"
1T MEANS" George replied "either
what it says-in which case, Violet, I
must see him at once, because, you see, he
ought to do something for you. It's very
sudden Poor beggar! wonder If it Is
really-upon my word, it's very sad let
ter-but you don't seem to mind much.
He's very fond of you-this letter shows
that he's fool about you"-Violet nod
dcd--" and-and-I think he ought to do
something very handsome indeed for you.
Or perhaps-but l can't think-it means
that he's going to bolt and break it of"
ut doesn't mean that, George, unless
he's found out something - Bob, you
know"
"Humphl Perhaps-well-I will take
cab to his chambers and catch him at
once"
The maiden, all affection and constan-
Cyl took kidney and a piece Of toast. II
think it's real letter, and that he's got
to sit down and die. 1t must be horrid
for him. But he will do what you like
about me, -and-remember-
be too bashful. He's got piles of money.
If you can't get a satisfactory will out of
him-why-I had better have stuck to my
dear old Bob And mind, George, don't
ask me to pretend, because won't If you
bring him to reason that way, shall be
glad of it-glad, mind"
But when her brother called the tenant
of the chambers was gone. Where? His
servant did not know. There was no ad-
dress for letters. Probably the master
would be back in q day or two.
"Bob" she cried, springing up and run
ming to meet him with every outward sign
of Joy, and with the flushed excitement of
one who has news-news surprising and
of great joy-to communicate. Il am SO
glad to SEQ you. You got my telegram?
OF course. l was afraid you wouldn't
come. thought you might be cross. You
were very cross week ago. / thought you
would rather RO out to- She initiated
the dealing Of cards. "Eh"
mo, Violet. got your telegram, and
I saw there must be something up. What
is it? Are you tired of your conquest YETI
What is IL? am rather surprised too.
thought that henCeforth we were to meet
in the giddy crowd aad the heartless
throng you knUw--as strangers. Ehy"
The speaker was young man, thin and
spare, smooth faced, clever looking, and
unless his whole appearance belied him one
addicted to the gauds and pomps and hol-
low delights of this unsatisfying world
also one who had often trodden the flags
OF PiCcndilly pavement. You look as if
something had happened BY Jove
Violet, you look your old self, as if you
had had pint of champagne and were
ready to say something wicked When l
saw you last, it was the shrinking wood
Violet Now It's the-the gaudy Gar
denial But what Is ity"
Something has happened. OH You
will never guess. You couldn't guess"
Something good, for once, to judge by
your looks. Well, I'm not in hurry.
Anything good is worth waiting for" He
sat down, stretched out his legs and drove
his hands into his pockets.
Bob" the girl began, flushing rosy
red, Il never pretended TO you to care for
Gilbert bit Gid I?''
Bob sat up and took his hands out OF
his pockets. g. Is it off, then, Violet"
Wait Did pretend?"
ITO me? No, you never did You al
ways told me that I'd got your heart,
which wasn't much good as we agreed, if
the rest Of you was going to the other fell