The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-02-09

| ONcI lOWu-Luy ulutbe. very Tdplu
even for Huntoon.' l wonder how
much she does know" He was very
fond of his beautiful young step
mother, who was only eight years his
senior. He remembered distinctly the
day long ago when she had come home
as his fathers bride; and as nobody
knew better than he just what her life
with John Huntoon had been, nobody
was gladder than he that she was hay
ing life of peace at last.
81 think it's mighty kind Of you to
let poor wreck like me share your
good time" he had told her once, and
he had puzzled much over her answer.
81 could not live without bit of my
past" she had said and then had hur-
ried away before he could ask her to
explain. And, though he did not fully
realize it, the feeling that she cared
and understood and the desire to pre-
serve her faith in his race had more Of
ten than anything else helped to pull
him back into the way he should go.
There was somebody else now, too,
Jack had almost forgotten her and it
did not add TO his peace of mind when
| he remembered. How would she feel
about all this? Would she say to-day
as she had on Sunday that she did not
care-that she loved him and him only,
and that good young men were always
80 uninteresting? "Pretty state for
young man with two days. old en-
gsgement to be in" he muttered an
grily. "If anything could keep me
straight that should,' And then he
i fell to wondering which of them was
! more to be pitied-Charlotte or him
self.
A soft little rap at the door reused
him from his revery, and his step
mother entered Good morning,
jack" she said, smiling down at him
as she seated herself in the chair on
the other side of the fireplace. you're
better this morning, Sam says. Pm so
glad of that"
Eyes, thank you, I'm really much
better, Queen Hilda," he answered, try
ing hard to smile back at her. He always
called her Queen Hilda. "You're
much too young and beautiful 10 be
anybody's MOTHER" he told her once,
land Hilda by itself from dutiful son
isn't exactly proper. Besides Queen is
so fit for you" She rather liked it
usually he thought, but to-day she OBJ
! jected.
"Im your mother, too, jack" she
said.
"Well then, my little mother it shall
be-" he corrected playfuly. "And
what has she to say to her big son that
is so serious?" For the smile had van
ished altogether and she wac staring
into the fire with far-away look in her
eyes.
"They've been telling me Jack" she
began at last. 81 asked Sam and he
had to explain. OF course l knew in a
way before, but-oh Jack, you must
try hard. I know you do try" she
added hastily, as if in apology.
"Thank you, Queen. It's nice to
feel that you at least know what it
means to be Huntoon."
Eyes, Jack, know, and as long as
l see that look in your eyes shall trust
you. Your father WAS as handsome at
sixty as when l saw him first. Do you
understand, Jack! Pm not blaming
you, but"
yes, Queen, l know exactly what
you mean" he broke in. "The Hun.
looms drink, but they're not brutes. Is
that it? They keep trying"
His mother nodded. There was ST.
lence for little. At last she broke it.
They told me something else Jack
about your engagement to"
Eyes, DEAR" he interposed quickly.
81 was going to tell you myself that
very night-Sunday, wasn't il?-but l
stopped in at the Garricks on my way
home and-you know what happened.
1t was to DE no secret, so everybody
knows it by this time / suppose"
eyes, everybody knows it. OF course
| did not let them see that you had not
told me. Indeed did know in way,
Jack, l had guessed, mean"
She stopped short. He waited for
into the fire. swell, little mother,
last.
She started at his words. 81 was 80
far away" she explained. "Jack dear,
always wear my hair high. People
say 1t is becoming, but you know why
L do 1t Jack, and you know why my
gowns are always made high at the
throat, and YOU have seen this" and
she pulled up the loose sleeves of her
morning-gown to show dark red moon
shaped scar on her white arm. you
know where / got them all ;" she went
on. Jack, some day Charlotte will
have things like that to be hiding.''
The man shuddered.
"Does she know, Jack? Does Char
lotle know?" The quiet voice went on
pitilessly.
IL suppose so in general way. Most
people do; tried to tell her myself
that night, but she stopped me- She
didn't care she said. But shall tell
her to-night-tell her as you have told
me-and she shall listen and then
she will say goodbye" and he buried
his face in his hands.
But his mother only laughed her
low laugh. Sand then she will love
you more than ever. l know how it is,
you see. He came, your father-you
are 30 Ike him, Jack-came and told