The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-09
LOVE AND ACOUSTICS,
THE CAPITOL DOME HELPS ON AN
AFFAIR OF THE HEART.

It was in the Office of the clerk of the dis
trict courts. He had just planked down a
dollar for marriage license, and reporter
was about to add him to the list as lone
more unfortunate, weary of single life, rash
ly importunate, going in for married
strife" but then he spoke:
"Say, friend, wish you would leave that
out of the paper"
The obiector to newspaper notoriety WAS
pleasant spoken young fellow, and he
continued argumentativey:
'Now, Pm a newspaper man myself, and
know how you're fixed. You're sent here
to get the news, and naturally want to get
all of it, But if you'll keep that item out
of the paper for "a hours I'll give you
story wortS printing"
A mere two line item against perhaps a
column! Here was an inducement that no
newspaper man could resist, and the re
porter was not proof against temptation.
Still he was wise enough to stipulate that
the story should be given at once.
"Wel, you have our names and residence
from the register" said the young Bene-
dict about to be, land we've had quite
little romance. She belongs to one of the
best families in that country, where her
down there about three years ago and start
ed a paper did pretty well and am prob
ably as well fixed financially as she is; but,
unfortunately, the old man and couldn't
hitch. Before | knew what a charming
daughter he had | trod on his political
toes pretty sharply, and he never forgave
me. The old lady, too, didn't like me,
partly because | was a newcomer and not
related to any of the local aristocracy, into
which she wanted her daughter to marry.
"Still Bella liked me, and you know when
you have the girl and the dog on your side
a fellow can stand good deal of snubbing
All went along very well for awhile.
proposed and was accepted, but when |
came to speak to the old man about it he
fired me out bodily, or threatened to do so,
and ordered me never to show my face in
his house again. Knowing the old man
and having due regard for my face, l never
did, but managed TO meet Bella on the sly,
although the old folks watched her pretty
closely.
FINALLY they decided to remove her from
the contamination of my neighborhood,
probably on the theory that separation is a
cure for such cases. Accordingly they came
to Washington for a month or so, possibly
in hopes that some of these city swells
might cut me out. But Bella managed to
drop me a note telling me about it, so fol.
lowed them. They've been here about a
week, stopping with friends-I couldn't fiud
out where until the other day. | hunted
through all the hotels and haunted the
streets in hopes of seeing them, when finally
l remembered that strangers in the city
always go to the capitol about the first
thing.
Then took up my station in the rotun,
da every day, staying all day long. The
Waterman evidently considered me a new
crank in town, but finally they came-the
old man, the old lady and Bella. pulled
my hat down over my eyes and hid behind
a newspaper until they had passed, and
then heard them inquiring the way to the
dome. When they got pretty well up the
stairs, followed, ana at the top, you know,
it twas pretty dark, so by keeping on the op.
posite side l managed to escape the old
couples eyes.
''They were busy studying out the 'Apoth'
costs of Washington while Bella was lean
ing against the wall looking tired and
homesick waited around for a chance
to speak to her, but the old man kept hel
at his elbow, and had about made up my
mind that would have to knock him down
when an idea struck me.
you know how sound travels over that
arch so that people on opposite sides Of the
circle can talk to each other in whispers.
had been there before and knew all about
it, so | stood Just across from Bella and
spoke her name. She jumped as if she had
been shot.
"'Where are you, WHIP she exclaimed
recognizing my voice at once. She had been
thinking of me, she told me afterward
"Hush,' said l. Pm just opposite you.
Talk to the wall, and l can hear all you
say
"And maybe we didn't talk. 1t seemed
bit uncanny to be talking to a stone wall
and having your best girl answer back
something like the old story of Pyramus
and Thisbe, only they talk through the
wall. Well, she told me where she was
stopping, and that it would be useless fol
me to try to see her nearer, as she was
watched all the time
Just then the cid man chimed in and
asked her to whom she was talking. She
said only to herself. AS there was no one
within so feet of her, he had to believe it,
"Well, that made me mad and also gave
me another idea l had been looking w
the district marriage laws and found that
one could get license almost for the ask
ing. There was no time to be lost. | asked
Bella if she would marry me at once
whether the old folks were willing or not
and she said she would if she could gel
away. Then we cooked up a scheme. i wai
to get the license and engage a minister, az
l have just done. Tomorrow night they
are going to a concert or something anC
Bella is to get sick and go home with hel
cousin about 0 o'clock. Only before going
home she will step into the house of minis
ter, where we will be married.
Nov, you easily see that the publication
of the fact that have taken out license
would spoil all our plans, and if you viii
keep it out you shall be one of the witnesse,
at the wedding and kiss the bride if she il
willing"
OF course the reporter agreed to this, an(
the item was accordingly squelched for tn,
time being But while it seems a pity Il
spoil such pretty little romance, it canno
confidently be said that they were mar
ried and lived happily ever after"
The reporter was on hand at the appoint
ed time and place, but neither bride no
groom prospective appeared Whether thu
old folks got wind of their intentions anC
removed the young lady, or whether SOM
little part of the plans miscarried, can onl!
be conjectured. Certainly the license is sth