Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-10-15

his previous sternness.
Toward evening he wendell his way
to her home with the sweetest anticipa-
tons of reconciliation and affection.
i With every step she seemed to grow
lovelier and dearer. than before. But
as he neared the gate a sight met his
eyes which speedily cooled down the
fervid tones of his fancy painting. It
was Mr.. Dalton assisting Rosalie to
dismount from her horse. The exercise
had brought bright flush to her cheek,
and she was fairly dazzling. She per-
ceived Harry in time to bestow on him
very distant bow and then turned.
with added empressment, to her com.
panion. Harry changed his intentions
at once, walked by the house in the
most leisureIy and Indifferent manner
and proceeded to call upon that obnox-
! ious Nellie Kellis, whom Rosalie re-
garded so superciliously.
Mr.. Dalton meanwhile found his af-
fairs in a somewhat perplexing state.
Filtration had been since his eleventh
year the element in which he delight
ed to exist. Matrimony with its cares
and responsibilities was to him the
most distant of prospects and must Of
fer extra inducements to make him for
sake his freedom. Now, however. he
began to feel himself very seriously in
terested in 1 person who had not one
claim to fashion, family or fortune-a
littla village girl who wore dresses of
her own fitting and made all the pies
and cakes that appeared on her table.
Whether she really cared for him or re-
garded him as a friend or simply as
an admirer was impossible to say.
Other people were not slow in draw
ing their conclusions, and before tire.
weeks were over the village author
ties in such cases declared it would be
a match.
Harry could not in his heart deny
the reasonableness Of their predictions.
He had the grief of believing that his
wishes, hopes and affections were moth
ing to Rosalie. Yet had he anything
but his own harshness to blame for
the change? He was miserable but his
own act had caused the misery.
Mr.. Dalton had a mother living, q
stately lady of some forty odd years,
well preserved and leader of society.
Clarence was her only boy and the
object of a great many ambitious
dreams. The marriage which looked
to her so misty and far away was to
her very near reality. She had Sc
lected q girl of his rank for wife,
when, 10, there came rumor that
struck her to the heart. Could it be
that Clarence was about to make q
fool of himself? She wrote a letter
to her son i'll which she expressed per-
feet confidence in his discretion and
her assurance that he would do moth
ing foolish or imprudent.
Mr.. Clarence's brow as he read the
maternal effusion was clouded with
thought. Where, in the name of COM
mon sense. could there be any danger
in marriage with such a charming
girl as Rosalie Ames? AS for the dam
ger of her heart, he wished he were
little surer of it. He felt at that
moment that his own was in much
more perilous position than hers.
AS Harry walked that afternoon
along the broad road leading from his
house he was attracted by almost in
articulate groans, and looking a few
yards into the distance he saw a sense
less form lying in his path, while a
mad horse dashed furiously down
the road. AS he drew nearer he
recognized the dark, tasteful riding
suit which he had seen Dalton wear so
often before. And passing from the
clothing his eyes rested upon the face,
pale as death, of the unconscious man.
Good and bad angels tugged at Har
rr1tc In fo1
conflict. What call had he to interfere
in his behalf? The sneering fop who
had blighted all his hopes! Let him
stay there and die. But In the next
moment, forgetting all but the welfare
of his fello, being, he snatched off his
overcoat and raised Dalton's head and
rested it upon it. Then, with frantic
haste, he summoned aid, and all that
skill and care could do was employed
for the sufferers restoration. Harry
hung over him, pale and agonized, the
accusing voice ever ringing in his ears.
God forgive mel! he cried. THAT
wicked delay"
At last signs of returning life were
visible, and ere long the physicians as
sured the watchers round that all was
hopeful. Rest and good nursing alone
were needed.
Harry quietly stole away and resum-
ed his walk. Wandering thus, quite
forgetful Of the outer world, he encoun-
tered a well known form-Rosalie
stood in his path, her cheeks pallid,
her eyes swollen with weeping. She
did not seek to avoid him, but seemed
waiting for him to speak. He took her
hand. She did not withdraw it. He
felt that she knew all.
Don't hate me-" he said. SCI de-
serve no credit almost turned to
leave him, for hatred and jealousy had