The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-24


day there, just as the fancy took us. 1t
was at Tirano that the climax of my
brief madness came and the denouement
of this adventure befell.
We were housed in the Hotel San
Michele, one of the quaintest hostelries
surely wherein man might take his
ease for the building had formerly shell
tered peaceful sisterhood. The bed
rooms were vaulted, the floors were of
stone, and all the doors opened on to a
broad, cloisterlike gallery. At the end
of this winding gallery was an immense
loggia, which looked on the piazza and
the cathedral-a pilgrimage church
whittier on great festivals the faithful
were gathered together from all the sur
rounding villages.
Perhaps it was the SOLDERING influences
Of the gray old building, or the oonven-
tual air Of the place, or the asoetioism
which breathed from those cell-like bed
rooms but certainly on that third even
ing of our sojourn there the girls man
ner had changed. Betty's beautiful face
was sad and clouded. and Kittie's gay
ETY. had vanished. After dinner she
pleaded headache and went to her
room, and Betty looked troubled as she
left us, but did not offer to follow. /
suggested a stroll in the convent gar
den, whence came the click of the
bowls, for that old world game was al
ways in full swing after the day S work
was over. The garden, being large,
served as an open air club to the towns
people. Betty agreed, and we were soon
In the cool, high walled pleasance-a
quiet spot, where all we heard of the
players was the click of the ball and the
distant sound of laughter and talk.
The sun had set, and a cool breeze
was whispering among the broad leaves
Of the fig trees Ii the grass the drone
of the grasshopper made sleepy muir
muir Betty was curiously silent, trifle
embarrassed in manner, and somehow
this unwonted shyness and taciturnity
gave me confidence in myself. l talked
to her about many things, as if l were
entitled to her sympathy, told her of my
struggles, of my ambitions, of my hopes
talked as man rarely talks save to
the woman he loves and hopes to win
for his wife.
Somehow or other-made bold, |
think, by tender softening of her face
when l spoke about the hardness of the
struggle for fame when the struggle is
made single handed-I blurted out my
secret. l loved her, and life would be a
desert without her love.
Then in the gray twilight l saw a
white, astonished face and two large
frightened eyes look at me almost in
horror.
"Mr. Aslehurst, she painted, you
are surely mad 1t is not you love- 1t
isl she stopped and bit her lips
Good heavens 1t twas the old compli-
cation. read her unspoken thought in
fash She believed it was Kittie /
loved; that it was for Kittie's sake that
had dangled at their heels all this time.
was about to protest that it was she
Betty, and she only that l loved
when she resumed, in calm, self pos
sessed tone:
you must forget that you have ever
spoken so to me, Mr.. Aslehurst; that you
have ever thought of me-in that way
for am married already. My hus-
band is coming to join US at Pontre-
sina.
I stared at her incredulously for
moment.
But, Miss Blount"-
Il was Miss Blount once. l am Mrs
Field now. Perhaps you know my hus
band. He is barrister too. He could
not get away sooner, because he had
some important case to work up, she
went on rapidly. 1T is all Kittie Mort
son s fault--this-this dreadful mistake
Kittie was my greatest chum before |
married last year She was very angry
with me for marrying, and che persuad-
I'D me, just for the sake of old times
when we used to come abroad together
for walking tours, to be Miss Blount
again. 1t was she who wrote the name
in the hotel book at Bormio, and when
you called me Miss Blount Kittie was
delighted and insisted on keeping up
the joke. 4"
THAT was little rough on me, |
said in crestfallen way. The oomical
side of the situation was apparent to
me, and for the moment | forgot the
pangs of despised love.
1--WE did not mean any harm, - she
murmured humbly. 1--WE used to have
such splendid times together when we
toured about, Kittie and l. When |
heard you call me Miss Blount | almost
forgot that had husband in London. "
Poor Field! He would not be fat
tered"
You know my husbandP'
Slightly We meet pretty often in
hall, answered dryly.
"Oh, Mr.. Aslehurst, what must you
think of me? But l do love Edward,
and IL shall be SO happy to see him at
Pontresina. We are model couple, and
ever so contented. II thought that
you admired Kittie Morrison. She is
such dear good girl. She has always
been very independent and high spirit
ed. butt Again she stopped, and l
read in Mrs. Fields beautiful face the
gist of little romance that had no
doubt been simmering in her brain ever