The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-15

tatl0n did not last long, however. Her
strong will, and belief that this was the
only possible way in which she could
hope to reach Centreville that night,
came to her rescue. She might not be
able to reach the town and if she did it
might be too late. But to give up maxi
ing an effort when her own father
might be in peril, Neverl Another
gill might have done it and no one
could really have blamed her, but not
Maud Everedge.
She turned to the girl beside her and
in her most winning tones offered her
five dollars, which she had saved by
economy from the allowance which her
father gave her, and with which she
had planned to surprise her parents,
for the use of her bicycle two days.
Alice Anderson was astonished, but
being at oil times an impulsive girl,
and wanting five dollars just then, with
al, her heart, with which to make
Christmas presents, she closed with the
offer. Maud examined the wheel,
found it strong and in perfect repair,
and at half past five, instead of seeking
she knew awaited her in her aunt's
cosy home, set her face steadily towards
the far distant town house. The very
motion of the wheel and the feeling
that at last she could do something af
ter the long inaction of the afternoon
thrilled her with renewed courage, and
with prayer in her heart for protec-
ton and help throughout her under
taking, she sped away upon her errand
of mercy.
1t was we'll for Maud that her mind
during that ride was occupied with
anxious thoughts for those at home.
With the need of urgent haste and the
necessity of guiding her wheel, even
though it was moonlight. with extreme
care over the rough frozen ground, it
was also we'll that her physical strength
was taxed to the utmost, for this taxing
of both mind and body helped greatly
to steady her nerves and make possible
for her the accomplishment of her OBJ
ject.
The evening wore away. Nothing
occurred to detain her for an instant
in her Journey and aware that she was
making fast time, her heart beat high
with hope and her courage held out,
till, at ten O'Clock she saw the welcome
lights of Centerville and, yes, surely,
there was light in the town house.
In two minutes more she had thrown
herself from her bicycle in front of its
very door, and so it came to pass that
Maud Everedge glided up the aisle,
and placed her hand upon her fathers
arm with pleaded "don't," just as he
started to sign his name to the contract
already described.
Had ghost appeared in the ancient
town house it could hardly have had a
more startling effect. All business was
for the moment suspended. Maud saw
her advantage and followed it up.
Turning towards the crowd assembled,
but still retaining her hand upon her
fathers arm, she said in an intensely
earnest penetrating tone of voice that
reached every ear in the room, "Dont,
l implore you, as friends and neigh
bors, don't have anything TO do with
thisscheme. 1t is all fraud and hum
bug and these men are sharpers and
gamblers"
She essayed to 60 on, but a mist
gathered before her eyes. The room
began to whirl and Maud Everedge,
who had never had sick day in all
her life, completely exhausted by the
days severe strain, tainted and would
have fallen had not her father caught
her. BY this time, Mr.. Smith, deeply
chagrined and vex.d by this sudden
check to his plans on the eve of sue
cess, but on the lookout, as always, for
the main chance, and quickly perceiv-
ing that whether Maud knew much or
little about him, she had spoiled the
enthusiasm OF the people forever, he
took advantage of the reigning disturb
ance to step quietly down the aisle fol-
lowed by Cole and out of the town.
house doors to be on the safe side.
This guilty pair left Centerville forever
that night.
Maud quickly opened her eyes, but
not before someone had discovered her
bicycle at the door and the report had
spread from lip to lip, as if by magic
that she had ridden on it from Rock
vile station that evening, report that
in response to her fathers startled
look and low question she admitted was
correct.
An excitement now reigned in the
audience of far different kind from
that occasioned by the call for men to
go to KlOndike. 1t had in it no ele'
ment of sadness or anxiety, and it was
impossible to restrain it. Someone
proposed three cheers for Maud Ever
edge, and it was given with will that
made the rafters ring and brought a
dark flush of pride and joy to Frank
Everedge's cheek.
All now dispersed for the night, but
on the morrow people came and went
all day at the Everedge's humble home
to learn further particulars and infor.
nation concerning Smith and Coles
project and Maude's ride. Maud, pale
but in the most jubilant of spirits, was
the heroine of the town. No one knew
how it started, but the people of Cen.
terville, feeling that they were greatly
in debt to Maud, and wishing in some
way, aside from words Of praise, and
hearts overlooking with thankfulness
to show her that they appreciated and
should always remember what she had
done for them and their homes, held 9
meeting to see how many would join in
raising money to defray her expenses
at college. There was not a dissenting
vote. Every man and woman in the
town. however moor and IGNORANT fell