The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-01

since stopped taking DR.. Pierces medicines"
erbockers, appeared in the doorway
Cant go out now, sister. Got to
oil up"
"You took that note to Mr.. Swan,
did your" his sister asked.
eyes, sir. And 1 took the other to
Miss Clara. Didn't I, Miss Clara? Did
the whole trip in seven minutes and"
Never mind the time" Elsa inter.
rupted. "Did you take that to Mr..
SWAMI" holding up the bulky letter
Clara had brought.
"That's it," said the boy, nodding.
elbow did you get it back?"
"Gol" was all Elsa could say, and she
slammed the door to, behind the puz-
zled youngster.
"Don't you think you'd better put
the letter in fresh envelope and send
it to himp" Clara asked, becoming very
serious.
"My dear Clara" said Elsa, 81 shall
never speak TO Clifford Swan again"
"Oh, don't say that, Elsal Please!
Why won't your"
81 shall never have chance. l
know that man too well. And you, of
all people"
why me, of all people?"
"He's positively afraid of you. He
thinks you the most formidable tease
on earth, and he can't stand teasing"
"Then what do you think he'll dor"
"My own private belief" said Elsa,
speaking very deliberately, "is that he
will pack up and go to the Klondike,
without saying word to anybody"
The catch in her friends voice as
she spoke those last words brought a
most unusual serious look to Clara
Henderson's habitually jocund face
which was still glowing under the COM
bined influence of laughter and rapid
bicycle ride.
ELSA" she said, "give me that let
ter"
"What are you going to do with ii?
No, can't, Clara. 1t will look like
running after the man."
"Well then, goodbye. What time
is it? Ten minutes to three. Good
bye"
"What are you going to do?"
81 want my letter."
"Your letter."
eyes. You must have sent me some
letter, or young Nick wouldn't have
brought me Mr.. SWANS.
"But it doesn't matter. l can tell
you, now you're here. 1t was 10 meet
me-about that picnic, you know"
"Never mind" said Clara. "I'm 60
ing to have my letter."
And she whirled away, much as she
had come, only without the laughter.
Clifford Swan was sitting at his desk
on his high stool, experiencing cold
chills, wondering how man 80 easily
upset as he was by trihe could have
held his position in bank all these
years and risen-repeating to himself
mechanically, "Can these things be-
and overcome us like the shadow of q
cloud?" Still more vividly imagining
what Elsa Davis had said in the letter
wondering how much of it Clara Hen
derson had read, and dreading her ter
rible laugh. But he would not face
that terrible laugh, he thought he would
sooner make a will, leaving everything
he hadIto Elsa, and then
who was becoming really uneasy by
this time, ga lady wishes to see you"
"Tell the lady Pm very busy"
The young clerk started at what
seemed to him the obvious untruth OF
the allegation, but nevertheless he
took the message to the paying teller's
window in the front Office.
"Mr. Swan, the lady says she has
some very important business to settle
with you, and will you please speak tt
her for two minutes"
"Who is the lady?"
81 know her face, but she didn't Civ,
me her name. She wears brown vel
veteen bicycle"
"Light hair done up in coil?"
The young clerk nodded.
! "Mr. Edwards" said Swan, 81 dom
think Pm very well today"
81 noticed that you weren't looking
: well before you went to lunch"
"Mr. Edwsrds, think I'll go hom
J for today. My wheel is in the bac
hall, / think. Please tell Mr.. Glinn
I'll be all right tomorrow"
} The young clerk stared and wake
away to the front of the bank. Then
as Clifford Swan reached his hat an'
, turned to go the back hall, he heard
: ripple of feminine laughter, echoed b
half a-score of clerks.
"He'l 60 out the back way, l SUI
, pose. Thank you" sounded in tn