The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-21


ed within her throat. Her limbs shook
and faltered. Connected thoughts desert
ed her. She was merely conscious of fight
ing through the darkness against the clog
of her own weakness On, on she dragged
and was dragged, up hills and over plains,
until curve senta sudden flash of light.
Her comrade gave an eXultant shout and
raised her in his arms as she staggered.
Then on and on in final burst until he
bore her fanting into the hotel. 1t was
the following day when Winnie regained
her identity A motherly looking woman
stood by her bedside, assuring her of her
safety and of her speedy recovery from ex-
ertion and fright. And indeed the girls
strong vitality asserted ITSELF and in Sc
curity she shook off the effects of her ad-
venture as one rejects the remembrance
of nightmare. One particular, however,
she cherished, and that tenderly
"But that young man who aided me2"
she asked "Where is heY"
"Him is it?'' replied the landlady. "a
proper young gentleman to be sure, so
anxious and so liberal. He had the whole
house aroused in your service But when
the physician said you would be all right
after sleep, why, he rode away to the
county seat, where, it seems he had i'm
portant business"
'But his name?" Winnie faltered.
"Lord love you, miss he didn't leave
no name. He was that hurried, and we
was that frustrated, and him so ready and
free with his money!
Winnie sighed and grew thoughtful, but
her thoughts were not of her book.
'You had this ere clinched in your lit
tie hand" continued the matron, produc-
ing an antique intaglio ring. Winnie
blushed as she furtively but vanly exam
ined it in search of an inscription. Then
she placed it on her finger and with femi-
nine craft soon had the worthy woman en-
crossed in personal "reminiscences.
1t was month later that throughout
her guardians home there was pleasure
BILE excitement, which seemed silly to Win
ME. The idea of such fuss being made
over the entertainment of an old woman
and her son at dinnerl They were not even
strangers either, for Mrs. Neames was the
widow of her guardians former partner
and still retained share in the business,
and Ambrose the son-what ridiculous
name, reminding one of hair oil was his
confidential clerk. True, as little Miss
Grantley explained, "Papa had high re-
spect for the lady on account of her I'M
common strength of character, and an
equal esteem for the young man for his
fidelity and truth" But what of that? All
women were respectable, and all only sons
amiable, but of this particular couple
Winnie was quite prepared to ignore the
one and to despise the other.
Indeed since her arrival Miss Driscoll's
| good friends had been perturbed by GER
| tain petulance and perversity quite for
eign to her past. She was irritable. yet
apathetic. Her appetite was fitful, her
industry eccentric. There was dust on
her philosophical tones, while under her
| pillow the maid found volume of poetry
"Can she be in lover" asked Mrs. Grant
| ley, recalling her own maidenhood.
"Why, mamma" replied the daughter
chow absurd She hates men and never
ceases from ridiculing them"
Winnie descended to meet the guests
with an air more befitting a dismissal than
| welcome. She found stately and
weighty dame, with colorless, almost livid
complexion and aggressively rolled white
| hair, and demure young man, brown of
hair and eyes and mustache.
With the mental comments "virago"
and "ninny" she gave herself over to hos
| pitable cares. Her companion at dinner
doubtless thought her taciturn, but then
his mother furnished ready excuse. The
old lady was discursive and on a subject,
too, which might have proved embarrass-
ing to more resolute appearing young
| man, but Ambrose merely smiled affably.
She discoursed on the tantrums of his
| childhood the misdemeanors of his youth
and the failings of his maturity and ascrib-
| ed great credit to her watchfulness that
| he was no worse than he was.
II keep the reins pretty tight yet" con-
| tinued Mrs. Neames. mo night key, no
cigars or cards-a strict reckoning of ev-
| cry cent expended"
"But we all lean on Ambrose in the Of
fice," ventured Mr.. Grantley
81 know. We talk business over every
night, and tell him what to do.''
Winnie studied the young man beneath
her glasses. Was he not ashamed when
even she, stranger, could blush for him9
Apparently not at all. He seemed to glory
in his subsection, now and again agree
ing, "Yes, mother | don't know how
could get along without your advice, and
all the while doing ample justice to the
viands. What insensibilityl What igno-
rance of the rights and privileges of glori-
GUS manhood! Alas, there were no longer
any men, or II there were they came and
disappeared like veritabls gods
The anxious mother kept her eyes sharp
ly engaged with her sons conduct. When
champagne was served, she cried out to
the butler, "Mind, only half glass for
that boy" and then, "Fill it with water,
Ambrose" And Ambrose smilingly obey
ed while the butler nearly dropped the
cooler in CONSERVATION, and Winnie high
ly intelligent nose expressed it's highest
degree Of contempt.
A singular young man surely, noticea-
BILE on account of his defects Well, it was
remarkable for modern young man to
even attain distinction in this line Why
didn't he talkp Because she was reserved
that didn't excuse him from his obligation
of attention. But no, he seemed thorough
ly content to smirk and gorge and say
ayes, man ma" and mo, mamma" like
a roundabout having an outing.
At length Mrs. Grantley's signal gave a
welcome relief, which faded before a
shock, for ls Ambrose Neames bowed and
drew back her chair he whispered to Win
ME with an undeniable air of tenderness:
"Only for a few moments. Our memories
share responsive chord, you know, which
will draw me to you" Was the man daft
or simply and naturally insolentf Win
MES head was proud indeed. Her dreamy
ewes flashed anprily as she replied.