Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-02-01
TWO MOURNERS.

NM Otlli httN WIS tut IiltSh uDnuIlDN BlIl
I'm Woodbury. She was forced to keep her
grief to herself because she had not been
officially engaged to Jack She thought it
might have been n little easier to bear If
her friends had known how unhappy she
S-rs and with what good reason With
this great secret sorrow in her heart the
or mary routine of life grew painful She
had not spirit for tennis parties, she hated
her gay summer froclSs, she even wished
she need not act Us bridesmaid to her
cousin Susie She used to lie awake at
night, and think about Jack, and wonder
how much he had minded being drowned
However Celia went to her cousins
wedding and spent three days away from
Woodbury. The news of the wreck was a
fortnight old and forgotten by most people
when she came back again She arrived
by morning train, sent her trunk to
Boechdcne House with porter and walked
homo through Woodbury. High street
where she wished to do some shopping
As she went into the statiOnCr's she saw
Fannie Potter there girl she knew
slightly ana dislikcd If it had been pos.
siblc, sh" would have escaped from the
chop rather than speak to Fannie. but she
was recognized at once
Good morning, Celia, " said Miss Pot
Ter putting down "A packet of black edged
envelopes and coming forward For
short time some years ago the two girls
had been in the same class at the high
school and on the strength of this Fannie
continued to address Celia by her Chris
tian name she did not often oct the
e iance of doing so The Potters were not
people with whom the Crews wished to be
o. friendly terms MIR Potter was an at
=. pf Inu htfui rpnututIOn IT,
we'll known that on Fannie behalf he
had threatened well to do farmer with -
ach of promise case and that the
young man had only got of 10y paying
substantial sum Since that time Fannie
had dressed more inshunably than ever
but she had not been asked for her hand
and heart again
Celia buught what she wanted and was
about to leave the shop when Fannie fol
lowed her and said that they might as
well walk little way together She was
going past BCechdcne
Celia had no excuse on the tip of her
tongue. So she did as she was asked, al
Enough she rather objected to me seen in
Miss Puttor'e society The two young
women walked through the town together
and were soon in quiet country road IL
was a very hot morning
heavy " said Celia, who saw that her com
panion wore mourning deep enough for
young widow
My heart is very heavy SAID Fannie.
with an accentuated sigh
Celia reflected She had not heard of
MIR Potter demise, and Mrs Potter she
had seen at the station dressed III bright
blue
did not know you were in trouble
she said civllly
1t was rather difficult to he more than
civil because Fannie showed her grief in
such an Objectionable way She had
pulled out a pocket handkerchief with n
broad black border and was suhbing into
1T so loudly that any they passed stared
after them
'Didn you know" howled Fannie
No " said Celia What Is the mat.
ter?'
| thought every one knew am stay
ing with the Testers That is why | have
TO pass Bccchdene q"
Celia felt as If her heart stopped for n
moment and then went on again in n
greater hurry than was comfortable She
laughed rather nervously and said
don't know what you mean You
are not IN mourning because you are stay
ing with the Testers, ! suppose
What heartess girl you must be to
make fun of us when we are in such trou
oer sobhcd Fannie She paused while II
wave al extra strong emotion shook her
breast, and then she added in IA sepuchral
tone. Poor Jack Lester is drowned
| know that, said Celia sharply, but
don't see yot why you should be in
mourning
Jack and were engaged
Oils.
she made no sign She walked ahead dog
eledly and kept her open sunshade between
her companion and herself
He gave me this ring continued
Fannie. pulling off her glove Look Mt
st From Jack to Fannie is engraved
inside Poor, dear jack
Celia raised her sunShade little ard
glanced at the ring She thought it rather
vulgar and quite suitable for Miss Potter
1t consisted of large emerald surrounded
hy coarsely cut diamonds She thought it
did not look like Jack choice
How long -" she began. and then, to
her vexation. she could not go on Her
heart beat too much
How long were we engaged Oh, only
gust hefOTe lac sailed No one knew of it,
but when | heard that he was drowned
wrote to his father and mother | felt
sure Jhoy WotHH DC Rlau, poor Olu lHlnGs
i am staying with them now
&eaIlyl' ssid Celia, and then, having
arrived at the gate of l}ecchdene, she rath
OF abruptly babe goodby
From her mother Celia learned that the
impossible story was true Woodbury. rang
with the news The Testers were great
people. the Potters very little ones NC
one could understand why Jack Lester
should have made such "A trumpery choice
or how Fannie with her blowsy beaUt!
had managed to captivate him Withou
the ring she would hardly have persuaded
amy one that she told the truth Direct.
the confirmation of his death arrived sh
had put herself into mourning and draw
down the parlor blinds, while Mr. ant
Mrs Potter, with an air of great surprise
sprea the story of her bereavement The!
had It known of any engagement, the
said, until poor dear Fannie swooned a
the news II the wreck and afterward eX
hibiJed her ring She nearly swoonc
again when Colonel Lester called Sh
said he reminded her so strongly of ne