Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-06

I the same, for she still lived with the dead,
and saying no word of her scheme to any
one she set forth to do as she had been
commanded
But coming to him to whom she had
been sent, uncovering her face, for it was
fair to look upon, she opened her mouth
and spoke, and the man was much bCwil-
dered by her words, for the unexpected had
happened, for which he was not prepared,
| and at sight Of her his strength seemed to
oozo out at his finger tips and the memory
of his hatred to depart frOns MINI
And the voice of the woman was as gen.
tie as that of the dove though her words
were the words of the serpent.
And the words were these:
Suffer me little that may tell you
the meaning of my coming unbidden be-
fore you. That the object of my seeking
you may not remain hidden and matter of
conjecture l, who love truth and candor,
will avow at once that 1 am she whom
men hold up to scorn and derision as the
scheming mother.
But | scheme not as she who aims
through artilice and fraud at the securing
of a husband for her daughter who other
wise would remain in stock until the day
of the last inventory.
but rather that my child that 1 love,
the only one the Lord intrusted to my
care, may not be taken from mo and
brought to dwell in the land of this
stranger out Of my sight forevermore.
But, on the contrary, my wish is that
he who is to be her bridegroom may not
continue to live afar off in foreign lands
and seductive cities, but to Danish the love
of travel from his beart, cease roaming the
world over, both land and sea, and to
come near, even TO the home of his fa
theirs, and settle In peace and harmony
Lmong Ills kindred and hers ere he claim
eth his bride
Nov, in this you can aid me if you
will and do no injury to any one. For
you are free to come or go as you listeth,
having no wife or sweetheart to demand
the why OF the wherefore of your actions,
You who lovoth no one, but rather judgeth
woman to be snare and q temptation,
which Judgment is just in many cases,
can, by simply appearing in public places,
at the plays, at the games and various
other entertainments and tournaments
with my daughter, who is young and as
good as she is beautiful, and whom | also
shall accompany, set in motion the tongues
of the gOssips and cause them to carry
tales and rumOrs thereof to the ears of him
who thoughtlessly tarrieth in distant
chimes and who, the spirit of jealousy hay
ing been aroused, will, through fear of
losing the idol of his heart, cut short his
vain wanderings and hasten hither to claim
his nd ohi1p tr-ith &,
Therefore despise me not beyond meas
ure, pray you, but rather conspire with
me, but without my daughters knowl-
edge, that these things may be brought to
pass, for otherwise the light of her coun-
tenance will illumine my life no moro at
all.
s "And now that I may not weary You
with much talking or consume your time
with idle words, but rather that you may
fully consider the things have spoken, l
take myself hence"
And inasmuch as she was the truthful
and candid woman whom he had thought
did not exist and whose non est-edness he
had long regretted, the misogynist yielded
himself to her plans, for suspicion was
lulled within him.
Then, coming to see the girl, he was
well pleased with her, for she was we'll be-
haved and not OVERLOAD Moreover, he
knew she had found favor in the eyes of
another, for he believed she was betrothed
and about to be wed, and the appreciation
of one man goeth many leagues in form
ing the favorable opinion of his brother
concerning woman.
For if one man wants har SC also doth
another. Whereas if no mar vaults her,
even he who thinks he wants her wants
her not.
Then, after many days had gone by,
days of great hope and rejoicing for the
widow-for all things were coming her
way-and days of speculation among the
gossips as to what manner of witchcraft
was employed by the mite to ensnare the
confirmed bachelor, the misogynist, who,
withal was a man of consequence and
honor, having lived long in the land as
one whom the Lord loved and to whose
estate much of the yellow dross of COM
merce had attached itself, the truthful
and candid woman again spoke to him,
saying:
Rejoice with me and be glad, oh, good
and faithful friend, for our plans have
borne fruit, and our banners are crowned
with victory.
U'Then rejoice say, for tomorrow the
bridegroom cometh, he and his attendants
full twoscore strong, that the occasion
may not lack eclat, and the festivities will
take in many days. Through your gen
erous aid and cooperation this happy day
hath been fastened, and now all that re-
maineth for you to do to fill the measure
of your graciousness is to give away the
bride, and, in sooth, say to you it can be
done none too soon, that entanglements
may be avoided for truly the girl holds
you very dear in her affections"
And the words of the widow smote the
man heart and soul, for it went grievous-
ly against the grain to be thus summarily
shunted off to give place to another, for
the command, "Thus far shalt thou go
and no further " was not given to man,