Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-24

don was not woman fighter; he was
a woman lover. and that kind OF q
man is always weak, always awkward
in the face of the foe.
Kitty was impulsive and impetuous.
and what she said to the major OF
what he said to her no one knew, bat
by that fate which is always putting
. boy in the right place John Mel
don's office boy was up June apple
tree in the Green orchard on the
night, two weeks after his employers
I dismissal, and he overheard Kitty and
the major, on a rustic bench below,
making their final arrangements for
an elopement. What the boy was do
ing up the apple tree is not mat
ter of chronicle; boys have been
known to go up apple trees with ripe
apples on them for various reasons,
and perhaps this boy was not unlike
other boys. In any event, he was up
the tree, and he heard what was said
underneath his perch, and, though
frightened almost out of his wits, he
did not forget any part of it, and,
what was better still, being a faithful
boy, he told no one except Mr.. Mel
don. John Meldon had been good to
the boy, and he was old enough to
know that Mr.. Meldon's course OF
true love was not running smoothly,
"An', Mr.. Meldon." said the boy, in
concluding his marvellous tale, Miss
Kitty didn't want to run away an
git married, but that major man said
as how it was the best way, and she'd
have to. She cried bit, but she said
she'd do it and show some people
they couldn't lead her round by the
nose, or somethin' like that"
Mr.. Meldon WINGED at this, but
smiled family, and gave the boy a
fiye-dollar bill, with the admonition
TO say nothing 10 anyone about what
he had heard. The five dollars was
not needed 10 fix the boys loyalty,
but he put the money in his pocket
because he had other uses for il.
On the appointed night, with every
detail Of the proposed elopement clear
before him as reported by the boy, Mr..
MeIdon and two friends lay hidden in
the border OF raspberry bushes not
far from Kitty's window. The sky was
overcast and the night very dark, but
faint light shone from the window.
An hour after midnight figure APP
peared under the window, low whis-
tie went upward and presently Kitty's
eyes peered down into tha darkness.
The major was there alone with lad
der, which he placed in position for her
TO step out upon.
Throw down the money and the
jewelry,- whispered the major. "and
while I take them around to the car
rage you get ready and III come back
for you"
Kitty dropped a couple Of packages
out into the darkness. which the ma
jor found with dark lantern. and
started Oft with toward the lane be-
yond the garden. As he passed the
raspberry bushes two men suddenly
seized him. and before he could make
any outcry he was gagged and his
hands were tied. The third man went
10 the foot OF the ladder and a low
whistle. as before. called Kitty to the
window. Bonneted and wrapped, she
came down the frail ladder and
dropped into the arms waiting for her,
was kissed encouragifgly and hurried
away TO the carriage.
"0ur driver is gone" whispered her
companion-the two men who had |
looked out for the major had not neg
lected the driver-but that doesn't |
matter. Hurry into the carriage and |
III drive you around to the church,
where your own pastor is waiting to
marry us. darling" and out of the
darkness came another kiss for Kitty, /
who was so dazed by the excitement of
II all that she scarcely knew what was
But as the carriage
whirled away noiselessly down the
soft road OF the lane, she realized
vaguely that il was very thoughtful Of
the major to have her own pastor take
part in this romantic marriage of hers.
On the drivers box sat three men and
two Of them chuckled as If In triumph.
The man with the lines tight in his
hands over the horses was silent as the
grave.
At the church the carriage stopped.
Two Of the men went in by side door,
ind shortly after them came the third
with Kitty. There was scarcely light
enough 10 see ones hand before ones
ace. but the CHEEKY voice Of Kitty's be-
owed pastor seemed almost ike a ray
Il sunshine 10 her. and she heard only
hat during the brief ceremony which
ollowed. Even that was faint and in
lisiinct in words, but the sound of it
ooihed her and seemed to fall as a
tessing upon this wild act Of hers,
which without il she did not believe |
he could have carried TO the final ac- |
Regret was coming to T,
Kitty. but uillful people do not wait
pom regrets. She knew at last that q
be was Mrs. Hunter; she heard the r
minister's words which pronounced the I
vain one flesh, and then came a little !
aver and after ~ hearty voice ont 4.