The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-01-10
THE CHANCE OF LOVE.
~ T. VERY marriage is hazardous, but
/ can conceive of no greater risk
than was taken by that same hand


DIR. Watson was speaking of a smiling,
elegantly dressed young lady, whom he had
Just bowed out of his surgery and to her car
riage.
The woman was dressed in the very
height of the prevailing fashions, with
wealth displayed in her every garment
though it must be sud that it was displayed
in tasteful way that was far from obmu
sive She looked the very picture OF con-
tentment, with n bright eye that could
scarcely have seen iGany days of sorrow,
cheerful voice, with nothing of the ring OF
disappointment in it. Altogether it was not
to be wondered at that the good doctors
companion remarked as the carriage drove
off:
"She doesn't look to me like one who had
gone through many severe trials in life
IL am thinking of the chance she took,
and what might have been. The story IS
worth listening to, although, perhaps,
shall tell it briefly"
Lets have it, by all MEANS" | said.
every WELL" answered the doctor; take
a cigar, and while we are smoking | shall
tell you the story which l believe you will
pronounce interesting, not so much be-
cause of what happened as because of what
might have happened had circumstances not
prevented In other words ] consider it
pure accident that the woman is the happy
individual she is to-day, and you will agree
with me when you have heard the story.
"The lady who has just left has twin
sister who is now abroad. When they were
girls together it was impossible TO tell them
apart, and when they grew to young wom-
anhood they were literally as much alike as
two peas, and their mother was the only
one besides themselves that could tell which
was which when they were out of doors in
the same attire. They used to play jokes on
the young men, for, being so much alike,
this was easy to do. They were pretty girls,
and had scores of young fellows who were
ready and willing to have all sorts of pranks
played upon them for just the sake OF their
sompanionship.
Howard Gleason was especially attentive
to Maud, and he admits that he sometimes
made the mistake of embracing the wrong
sister when he happened to meet her sud
denly in poor light
THE father, old Mr. Wardlow, was rich
and proud and he only knew that Howard
Gleason was counting one of his daughters.
Now, Howard was not blessed with this
worlds goods, and old man Wardow was
ambitious for his daughters; SO he very
promptly issued an utimatum The young
man could have neither of his daughters
until he had made fortune or at any rate,
until he had laid the foundation for it.
Maud wept, and urged upon her father
that he had money enough for both, and,
though the old man agreed that this was
true, he was obdurate, and refused to bulge
from the position he had taken up.
Howard was proud and plucky, even if
L bo al har
words. He soothed his sweetheart, and
then went straight out to the Klondike,
where so many have sought and found the
smiles of fortune. The father had also com
manded that there should be no correspond
ence between the young people during the
time of Towards absence, and this condi'
ton was respected by both.
THE months crept by YEARLY, and to the
young man working so hard for the woman
he loved this time seemed interminable.
Day after day and week after week he
toiled. Sometimes be felt tempted to break
his pledged word and write to the girl, inn
ploring her to send him few words, if only
enough to tell him that she was still faith
full And then his pride would come to his
rescue, and he would say to himself: No,
] will not write; if she can't be faithful to
me better it should happen now than when
1t is too late. So he worked and toiled,
cheered always by the belief that a fair
sweet girl was waiting to welcome him
home, and counting the hours, Just as he
was doing.
Luck was with the young man, and in
little more than three years he and his part
ner had struck it RICH and he was half
owner of mine that promised to become
one of the richest in the country.
Then he determined to go back home
and tell the girl of his heart of his good
fortune. He would be his own messenger
in carrying the glad news; so, without q
word, he put his things together and start
ed for home.
"Of course, having no correspondence
with anyone, no one was aware of Howard S
good fortune, and when he arrived at his
old home he came unheralded. He took
/ only sufficient time to brush up bit, and
then he started for Mr.. Wardlow's
Arrived at the house he knew so well,
and the afternoon being warm, he found
nobody about save the old gardener, who
was looking after the flowers.
Where is your mistressT Howard
asked.
The old man hesitated.
Cant you understand EnglishY How
ard said, impatiently. Where is your mis-
tressY
"'She's in the orchard, sir, a-reading,
said the old man, bowling obsequiousy, and
without more ado Howard went to seek her
You can perhaps imagine the meeting. He
came suddenly upon fair, young creature
swinging in hammock under the trees and
reading. Coming up quietly behind her, he
caught her to his heart, as he covered her
face with kisses.
Then he held her off at arms length and
said:
Maud, my darlingl'
While she answered: Howard and hid
Der face on his breast.
Howard had waited sufficiently long fol-
his wife, and so they were quietly married
the next day and left at once on their wed
ding tour"
Here the doctor ceased his story and sat
silent, putting his cigar 80 long that the
other said:
"Well, don't see anything 80 very risky
In that"
The doctor smiled and then went on: