The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-01-11

lnR ner. OnCe lnueeu, Wnen DcSDOrOugD,
a great limbed lawyer, with broad, deter
mined hands and close mouth, Swallowed
the house, / grew fearful for her. He
would sit for hours unspeaking, in a cor
ner of her drawing room, while she poured
tea for her visitors, discoursed literature
and abused and initiated her neighbors
and acquaintance, never her friends, and
he would laugh modify sometimes at her
fippances and frivolities. She rode lit
tie old pony her husband had given her,
which rarely, If ever, went out of q fast
walk, which just suited Dorothy, whom
no amount Of rulings would make good
rider, though she looked we'll on horse.
back. The pony was afflicted with wet
nose, and Dorothy would climb down
many times and wipe 1t gently with the
little lace rag she called her handkerchief.
Desborough would accompany her on
these excursions, coming back moodier
still and with devouring passion staring
in his eyes, but one day when they return
ed his face was old and pallid, and there
was little hardness about her mouth, so
that | knew he had spoken and she, as
usual, had been merciless He left for
England the next day, though all his in
terests were in the country.
When Lewis Lyndhurst walked into the
laying my fears of Desborough that l
hardly noticed him. So he and Dorothy
trod the old path unrestricted by my
guarding eye and he drank deep of the
cup of Gree. All, and she put her lips
to it, too, and SO was the tragedy of Iris
tram and 1seult once more to tell
1t came upon me very suddenly. /
was sitting by her as she lay among the
purple silk cushions of her divan with her
hands under her head among her glimmer
ing hair She was wearing what called
her tragic gown, loose tea gown of
emerald green satin, with gold dragons
vomiting scarlet peoples all over it, and
she gossiped casually while 1 stroked the
glossy dragons.
"Peter," she said suddenly, "a certain
person is beginning to occupy my thoughts
more than is quite cool or comfortable"
Dorothy, don't talk rot" said, with
CHASTITY jauntiness. YOU'RE only trying
to make me miserable.
"He wears red ties, dear, and he says,
Amt you comingP' What How can
one help caringS"
For moment my fears were soothed.
Then the doorbell rang and Lyndhurst
was shown in. wonder If a man will
ever look at me as he looked at herr 1t
would be something worth living and
dying for, 1 think. turned to her, and
the light behind her eyes as they rested on
him shriveled my soul within me.
Soon the beginning came of the end
ing" One morning as / sat at breakfast
with my brothers came little note to
me, addressed simply to "Feter," as was
her quaint fashion. "Comc to me-" was
all it said. 1 flew, and, coming, found
her on her divan. She was clad in her
tragic gown, and her face was heaven lit
like lustrous sunset and happier than l
had ever seen it. knew at once what /
was to face. l knelt down and kissed her
again, and then, being weak fool, 1 cried
all over her face and her lovely gown.
ave are going tonight, Peter" she
crooned in her golden voice.
'No, no, Dorothy, darling; never, new
or. You shall not 60"
"We are going tonight, dear" and she
stroked my hair; 'going together to find
those islands of the blest."
"No, Dorothy, no." moaned.
"Maynt have little happinessP" she
asked forcely. "What has my life been,
Peter?" Then relapsing into an infinite
tenderness, "You see, Peter, he cannot do
without me-we cannot do without each
other
Later, when / was stonily calm, she told
me their plans. They were going to take
horses that night and ride for Umtali,
getting fresh horses there and cart to
take them to Beira-and then straight
home. Once out of the country they were
safe.
"But Kniven?" 1 asked "He will fol-
low you, and you are not good rider,
Dorothy"
"Oh, 1 will ride-I'n ride like the
devil" with little laugh. "And 1 shall
be with him, Peter. Kniven will be away
at billiard match, and we shall get a
good start-and he may not follow u.s."
thought l knew him better.
In the twilight l saw them off. She
went in her riding habit taking nothing
with her, and for the last time l straight
ened her shirt for her and gave her the
reins. Then l took Lyndhurst by the
hands, and looking into his eyes cried to
him to be good to her, to love her all his
/ life, never to let her regret, and he prom
Used in a voice deep with love. They say
| dark men are as true as men can be. Then
when I had kissed her little stockinged
ankles and she had said, BLESS you, little
! Peter, if a wicked woman's blessing can
do any good, and goodby," they rode away
into the night, and 1 lay down on my
face in the grass with my heart full of the
tragedies of life After awhile stumbled
blindly homeward, a wild wish struggling
within me that some one would come and
take me away, too, and that we four
Dorothy, Lewis the other and Knight
all go together and find the islands of the
blest. AS l neared the house a man came
into view under lamp some few yards
off. He had white, fury dashed face,
with mouth set hard and cruel. Then
tainted.
1t was only horse against horse, and he
came upon them at farmhouse before
they had even got half way.
l rode out with my brothers, who had
loved her, too, and the Clergyman who
buried them. When 1 had hidden the ugly
mark on her forehead with flowers there
was nothing to revolt in the sweet calm
OF her face, but we covered his face all
over with them. And 1 believe they are
forgiven and have found the islands of the
blest.-Denver News.
Good Novels Are Good Teachers.
but good novel; Is there anything
| pQual to itpp writes Ruth A shmore in Tho