Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-01-12
A TALE
OF
MYSTERY.


than Il she was the grass under your
feet and that you'll 20 away with
light heart aud free conscience AMI
have my poor c.ri To eat her heart out
lrrr In the hills. with never 80 much
lis a thought for hcr."
Again Mason stared.
How often am To tell YOU" said
he. that there has never been Il qucS.
ton of love between Us: | honor and
respect ana admire her as Il good. true.
splendid woman. Rut that is not ut all
like the feeling you have for her
Cuch Tai interrupted him. throwing
back his head and showing face
each other.
mo. mister" said he in a trembling
voice. Its not the feeling | have for
her. And no more it is the feeling she
has for YOU"
Mason was struck dumb. The man
spoke with the c5Irnrs;ncss Of strong
conviction. and in n voice eloquent Of
many and iecp emotions. After short
pause he went on:
"Sir. it's you that's been blind, not
me. Love like what | have for Gwvn
don't make a man blind; 1t makes him
See better and clearer than lie did
aforc. knew when you came ii meant
danger for her and for me. felt 1t,
sir, down in my very bones. Its super
stition. they say. don't they, TO know
things are going to happen afurc they
come? Well, superstition II may hr
but 1t helps as much as another thing
And knew it as plain that night YOU
came as If Id read it in the great book
knew you'd come to steal my girls
heart away, and that you'd care no
more for what you'd got than | do fOI
the cattle | tend and feed
Upon these words he broke down.
aud his voice became husky with sup
pressed sohs. An awful touching sight
i; was. this breakdown of the strong.
fierce mouutanrcr. this melting Of de
| liaAce and logged animOsity under I'll"
| ire OF the passion which consumed
! him. MaSS0n was touched To phc quick,
"Mcrrick." said he. gravcly, Il never
guessed this. hope now it is not
! true
ITS no use hoping" rctortcd Coch
Tai, with energy, because Im not
guessing I'm telling you what's true,
what | know. And | don't even say
you're to blame. don't suppose You
are You're Il gentleman. aud your"
| handsome and soft spoken, and your
hands are white and soft. almost like
a woman's, and whittier than our wo-
mems 10y a long way. And she knew
you were in danger here
"Why should she know that" asked
Mason eagerly.
But the peasant grew more reserved
at once
"Well, you've said SO yourself said
he roughly. land suppose You know.
Anyhow. she thought You weren't safe.
suppose. and that makes man in,
teresting In Il girls eyes. And so. |
suppose. she looked 1T you and thought
about you and compared you with us,
the rough folks she's used to. and saw
difference. and-and that did 1t. And
now there's naught to he done but to
speed you on your way and for her to
face her trouhle-alone."
Coch Tai shook his head Respondent
ly.
"If she'd liked me nfore she might
come back to me-" said he hoarScly.
"but she never has. I've always known
that, and rs know the girls heart
Just rs know my own, for all I'm
only n rough. ignorant man. know,
too, that she won't get over this any
more than could get over the loss Of
her II | had to 80 n way from seeing
her. And know that | shall have TO
stay on after all I've gone through and
see her break her heart and never he
able to so much ms to take her head on
my shoulder and tell her I'm sorry
Mason was listening very nttcn
lively, with his hands loosely claSped
and his head bent.
IF thought" said he grayely. that
there was any truth in what you
fancy, Merrick, IL would save hrr
from any such fate as you fear"
what. You'd marry her,
Coch Tai was alert, alive, in a mo
mCnt.
YES" said the doctor after slight
pause. IF that were the only way tC
save the girl from misery, | would dc
So"
The peasant came forward and
Ora wing n packing case along with hin
as a seat. sat close to the doctor, look
ing him straight In the eyes.
doctor" said he In a deep whisper
that seemed to bring the words NJ
from his heart, ut Is the only way
You've not got the means to judge
what have, you don't know all
know, you can never know it. but yo'
may take my word for it, if you MARI.
the girl and take her away from here
from the whole lot of us. and If you'll
. be kind to her and treat her as yol
, ought. you'll be doing the only thini
that can make her happy and repayin,
her goodness to you like the gentleman
you are"
But Mason felt less certain Of this.
care you so sure" said he. tina
marriage with a man who has nothin
warmer than admiration and gratitud
! to give her Is the highroad to happ
ness for woman"
Coch Tails features expanded in
. strange, dreamy smile.
, IL am sure" said he. You see, sill
, [ know Gwyn. and know her fee
.nTs, because they are the same as m
Jwn. If she could trust herself to me
with or without love, just out of graft
: tude Ike, shouldn't ask no more
And I'd he as happy as bird on tn
tree. And I'd make her happy. toe
} that ! well know"
. And you don't think it foolish o
you to throw away your only chanc