The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-09-18

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the running for seat in parliament.
1t was nothing to me, only would jog
his memory about that Luxton railway
quarters.
My engagement with Vera was de-
cidedly good thing; it steadied me and
gave me an object in life. Mrs. Winton
was talented dressmaker, and Vera's
connection at Nine. Davour's put the
best-paid work in her way. But she
was in a delicate state of health, and
Vera had often discussed with me the
ACCESSIBILITY of giving up her situation
and relieving her mother in the work
at home. Our marriage decided that
point, and hung up my hat and set
tied down to comfortable Preside.
One evening l was amusing myself
in the drawing-room while Vera was
finishing some work. Turning over
the family album my attention was
caught by a portrait which, though
somewhat faded, | recognized as that
of the individual who had blossomed
into Roger Askwith, Esq, of Daisy
field, Pangbournel
l burst out with an exclamation of
surprise.
What have you got there?" said
Vera, looking over my shoulder. ooh,
papa's Portrait thought mamma had
laid it awayl"
l looked at her in utter amazement,
but said nothing.
He was killed on the railway few
years ago." she continued. "The &C.
count of the accident appears on the
back of the carte"
l took out the carte and on the back
was my Blackford Gazette paragraph.
But the name, Vera?"
"Mamma had reasons for dropping
her married name. The fact is, some
of papas people-they were poor and
shiftless - showed an inclination to
sponge on her and she used her maiden
name and dropped the old connection.
But you looked surprised. You didn't
know papa, did you? He was a gentle
man of the press, too"
Never mind; no, l didn't know
him"
Had it not been for Mrs. Winton's
illness l certainly should have looked
up the resurrected Wingfeld My
mother-in-law grew worse and worse.
We took her to Margate and there she
died and was buried, her last words,
strangely enough, being an expression
of thankfulness that at last she was
going to Fred"
A week after the funeral l went to
Pangbourne and found my way to
Daisyfield. The worshipful squire did
not know me, did not recollect that he
had ever been at Blackford, and was
altogether ignorant of the whereabouts
of Luxton. He was pompous and dig
nifed and didn't mean to give himself
away
I" Mrs. Vera Winton might possibly
refresh your memory on some points,"
l said, rising to go.
He started, motioned me to a seat
and went and locked the door.
"Wellw he said, in stern, defiant
tone, is it blackmailing you're after?"
His face was ashen pale and his llus
quivered with excitement.
Blackmailing be hanged!" | re-
piled. 81 have married your daughter,
and l thought that you might be Of
Tended that | had not previously OBJ
tanned your consent, that's all"
That isn't ALL" be said, doggedly.
don't want to make much more Of
it. Perhaps it would be better if you
confided in me, and then I'll see what
there is to do or say"
Then he told his tale.
g The mistake | made" he said ,
" was in closing my eyes to the advan-
tages offered in the matrimonial mar
ket l mated with village girl, love
in cottage and what not, and was
trudging along with prizes within reach
VIII oh | dared not put out my hand to
appropriate. Vera was right enough
for poor journalist, but aimed at
something higher. Summing was fash
ionable then and l was doing the
courts for weekly. Miss Askwith
was interesting herself in the work and
though she was getting interested in
me. She was one of the female church
| type and thought it would be pity TO
allow her to fling herself away on a
long-skirted coat. l killed Wing6eld,
as you know, and gave myself 10 phil
anthropic work and Miss Askwith.
She was under the impression that l
had sacrificed my life prospects for the
cause and she sacrificed herself for me.
We were getting along as comfortably
as could have been expected and now
| JCu SOhiC oipbS WIN NObi
What do you mean to dor"
1 told him l would mind my own
business. He gave me searching, in
credulous look, and asked for my ad
dress. l declined. He asked the name
and address of my banker. l gave it.
And then told him of Mrs. Win
toms death and of her dying words. l
believe the man was touched at last.
He leaned his head on his arm and
wept.
" Poor Vera !" he said, looking at me
through his tears; she was a good
sort and / loved her once"
" Yes, and left her to fight her own
battle with the world. You ought to
be jolly we'll ashamed of yoursefm
The head went down again, and
while he battled with his emotions
left the room and the house.
About fortnight afterward was adj
vised that the sum of $4,000 had been
paid to my credit at the bank by a