Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-15
TREASURE ISLAND.

so real that Irene could almost fancy them
uttered at her side instead of coming from
the other side of the world.
At last one came thaG set her heart in q
autter and caused a brighter light to
sparkle in her eyes. 1t spoke of her lover s
speedy return Success had crowned bis
efforts, and at last he might stand with.
out blushtng in tho presence of proud old
Walter Hnyne and speak his mind freely.
Then there was an interval in which no
letters came.
Months passed and still no tidings
lrene's letters remained unanswered. AT
last she could not even hope. Her lover
must be dead She could never believe
him faithlcss Her check grew palcr and
her step less elastic, and anxious friends
began to shake their heads and hint OF
falling health.
Her fathers fears became alarmed
Physicians counseled travel and change OF
air. The experiment was tried but with
out porceptible benefit.
During the absence of Mr.. Hayno and
his daughter a stranger had taken up his
abode in the place of their residence.
Who or what Mr.. Newcome was, OF
whence he came, nobody pretended to
h'i''N JNV WV man, NOilltll anu NllllN
was ready to vuuch for his re,E.ctability
He was a bachelor and lived alone, rarely
appearing in society, yet often enough to
avoid the appearance of stunning it.
His habits Of soclusion were soon meas
urably abandoned He was constantly
meeting Irene, first by seeming accident
at the houses of such friends as she was
accustomed to visit, then by direct calls
upon herself.
At one Of these interviews the conversa-
zion turned upun Australia, where Mr.
Newcomc had spent some years In the
course Of it he mentioned namo which
caused Irene to start.
"Edgar-Edgar CARROLL You knew
him, thenY' she managed to say, with eff
fort.
He was my most intimate friend, " re-
piled Mr.. Nowcomc, with seeming care
lcssncss, at the same time scanning kecnly
her agitatGd faco-"that is, until be mar.
ried"
"Marricdr"
1T was considered good match, l be.
lievc," Mr. Ncwcome added, pretending
not to notice the effect Of his words. The
lady was u wealthy colonist's daughtcr-
an only child, and all that"
The blow fell with cruel force. Fer 8
moment Ircnc's faculties were stunned
Some months later, when IrGnes father
limited that Mr.. NCwcome had asked per.
mission to become her sutton, and that his
own sanction had been already given, he
was agrccably surprised at the manner in
which the announcement was received.
By sacrificing herself she could save her
fathers fortune, and, for herself, what did
it matter now?
1t was the evening before the wedding
day, and Mr.. Newcome had called to pay
his last visit as a wooer
Irenc's face was palcr than usual, and
her manner was more disturbed, but her
father was in too high spirits and Mir
Ncwcmo too polite to notice the change
They were in the midst of an agreeable
chat when Il visitor was announced, who
insisted ON seeing Mr.. Hayno alone.
In no gracious mood Mr.. Hayne passed
into an adjacent apartment, whence ex-
cited voices wero soon heard.
AT the sound of one of them both Irene
and MIR. NGwcome started to their feet
so the villain is here" exclaimed Ed
gar Carroll thrusting open the door. But
Ircne's white face met his angry gaze, and
he stood mUtionlCss.
NcwcomC for the moment had believed
himself in personal peril and had shrunk
back Cowcringly, but a moments rcACC
ton assured him that, in the presence Of
Mr.. Hayno and his daughter, he had no
cause for fear.
In the distant land to which we mad
both Como in quest of gold this man and
myself became friends. We shared the
same tent and had no secrets from each
other. In treasure seeking l proved the
more fortunate of the two, and my gains
had already reached the point 1 had pro
posed they should attain when my friend
suggested visit to some uneXplorcd is
lands of which he pretended to have heard
rumors, and of ,whoso wealth we might
become the sole possessors.
I'VE fitted out a small vessel, and after
a voyage of several days anchored off il
thickly wooded island. Leaving the crew
OH board, my friend and myself went
ashore and began AIr search. In Il seclud-
cd spot | was felled to the earth by blow
from behind and left for dead.
ION regaining consciousness 1 found
myself alone ran to the shore, but the
vessel was no longer in sight
"One day deserted "a sail in the dis
tance. The sight made me wild with joy.
l shouted and signaled, and by every
means in my power sought to make my
presence known.
But still the ship held her course.
Frantic with despair, l rushed into the
waves, determined to swim toward her
while strength held out, when at length
she shortened sail, and L saw boat low
cred from her side
Il conducted my deliverers to the treas
ure l had found. There was enough for
us all. l returned to find myself robbed of
my precious gains whose place Of conceal
ment was known only to myself and him
who had sought my life to get possession
of them. But the loss l regarded as
trifle. l was now the possessor Of treble
the amount"
Irene Carroll is happy wife now, and
never happier than when listening to
chapter from the adventures of her own
Robinson Crusoe.-New York News.
,F