Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-10-30

"a beautiful copy" he said and care
| fully folded it. Then he placed it in
an envelope and dipped a pen in ink.
Il do not know his address, he said
and knit his brows.
| The girl at the END of the desk ex-
| tended her hand.
! eff you have no objection she
| quietly said, Il will deliver it to him in
person"
The old man looked up at the fair
face bending over him.
"Why, who are your he cried.
81 am Alice MITCHELL" said the young
girl.
"Mitchellv' repeated Abel DULY.
"M-my sons wife! And what But
the ugly words would not come. He
could not utter them in the light of
those gentle eyes. "Will you be seat
ed?' he lamely added.
THANK you, no. said the girl. 81
have but a few words to say; they will
not detain you long" Abeps gaze
dropped to the letter and the will, and
a sarcastic smile twisted his mouth.
mo, no." the girl quickly added. Il
have not come to plead with you. You
are quite wrong to imagine such a
thing. And you were quite wrong, too,
to insult me as you did in that letter."
He looked up again quickly. There
were tears in the gentle eyes. And
there was a CLINT of fire in them too.
"You insulted me and you insulted my
dear father. l have no mother" She
paused a moment. when you insinu-
ated that my father was mercenary in
He was bitterly opposed to our marry
ing without your consent. | disobeyed
my father too. But it was not for your
money. This letter will bring us no
surprise"
The old man dropped his eyes be-
meath her reproachful gaze.
perhaps 1 was hasty,'' he slowly
said, 'but the provocation was great
Then he quickly added, But knowing
as you did that 1 opposed the wedding,
and your father opposed it, too, why
did you permit yourself to marry my
boy?'
~ could make it clear to you, l
Think said the girl gently, eff you
loved your boy"
The old man trembled. If he loved
his boy! All that was near and dear
to him-all that was left to him of
kith and kin. The babe that dying
wife had solemnly placed in his pater-
nal arms. If he loved his boy! He
drew a long breath and stared hard at
the blank envelope on the desk before
him.
"And now" said the young girl, Il
only want to add that think Jim was
He might have waited. I wanted him
to wait. But he is so proud, so self
willed. 1 am very sorry that should
be the means of separating you, and
IL am quite sure I am not worth the
great sacrifice my dear-my husband
has made"
Abel was quite sure there were tears
in her eyes again, but he did not look
up.
Where is Jim now?'' he asked. Then
he smiled grimly. "And why are you
not enjoying your-your wedding
tourY
There was a vacancy in the bank
where my father is employed" said
the girl, land father secured it for Jim.
His duties began today. Perhaps we
will take our wedding journey later.
We have to look out carefully for the
main chance now, you know"
"And you didn't expect to fall back
on my dollars?' said the old man.
''Not a penny of them." quickly re-
piled the girl.
The old man fidgeted in his chair.
"And why not?' he asked.
II think you understand" said the
<ri, ~ 11nr n 20 fbA lot
ter on the desk.
docs Jim know you are hereY'
mo. AT least he didn't know l was
coming. Father will tell him to meet
me at the corner at o'clock. l must
CO."
Wait" said the old man quickly. He
looked at her searchingly. She met his
gaze with a smile. Her mind was on
Jim.
Abel deliberately put the will back In
it's envelope and the envelope in it's
pigeonhole. Then he picked up the
letter in its unaddressed envelope, tore
it into minute particles and tossed
them into the waste basket
1--WE changed my mind,' he softly
muttered.
He pulled down his desk cover with
a bang and reached for his hat.
"There,'' he said, "I'm ready Then
he added, 'Will you give me your arm,
my dear?' AS they passed through the
doorway he paused.
81 think, Alice,'' he said, that you
and l are going to be very good friends.
And now we must hunt up Jim and
take him home with us."-Cleveland
Plain Dealer.
Did She Keep Her Temper?
Mr.. BileS is a very hasty tempered