Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1902-10-30

SNsANA SNN~' - A.S cCclu u 4lbN'S
that one of my character should find
fault with anybody following the same
line of business that had occupied my
attention for half lifetime and that
I should begin to criticise my master
for crimes that had many times COM
mitted. / doubt very much if should
have troubled myself in this way had
not Miss Stetson commanded my re-
spect and confidence. She was too
pure and good to fall victim to such
villains. There was a sacredness about
her love for Mr.. Goddard, even though
1t could never be consummated in mar
rage, which made her ten times more
beautiful and lovely in my eyes. III
such love had been mine in early life,
I should never have drifted away from
an upright and honorable life.
She was not to marry him. That she
had settled in her own mind, but she
was consecrating her young life to him.
The dread of the leper in him was an
effectual barrier to their union, but she
loved him none the less. Her pale face
and sad, lustrous eyes revealed this
even to me, and blessed her for 1t.
Her love was of nobler type than
tho ordinary, but the pity Of it was
that my master was not worthy of it.
My feelings did not exactly undergo
a transformation. Apart from his re-
lationship with Miss Stetson, l still
liked and admired my master. He was
a skilled master in his profession,
man with many virtues and genial
qualities, one whose kindness in the
world had done much to make others
happy. He was in reality my beau
ideal of criminal, a man who pur-
sued his unlawful work without i'm
bruiting his own nature. master OF
his profession and not slave to it.
But when it came to a question Of
choosing between my master and Miss
Stetson l unhesitatingly sided with the
latter, one whose virtue was no less
powerful factor in attracting me than
her utter helplessness in the hands Of
two such men.
DR.. Squires had enlisted my dislike
from the first, and through varying de-
grees Of feelings had reached eli
max in positive hatred for him.
would thwart him in his aim even
though it compromised my master in
the doing. l had convincing proof
that he was all ever imagined him to
, be.
| soon became spy in the interest
+ Of Miss Stetson and W q SENSE traitor
: to my master. This underhanded pro-
: cedure displeased me, and several times
| / was on the point Of applying for a
: position in the Stetson mansion. But
= this would remove me from the base
: of my supplies. could not obtain the
e material SO essential to conduct sue
: cessful warfare against the two men.
l I would have to play the traitor for a
I time at least-a role, be it said to my
! credit. that never acted before.
t strove to make myself liked and
), trusted by her, for l knew that tn
G day might come when it would be yer.
e important that she should believe IL
i me and have confidence in my wis
Y dom. Although nominally mere but
a Ter, knew that my master had praise'
a me to her and had made her look upol
me as something more than common
: servant.
Meanwhile an accident that nearl.
p proved fatal to her enabled me to In
p crease her friendliness for me. Whil
= riding one of the horses which Johl
y said needed exercise, feature of m.
old life as groom that had not total,
q abandoned, this adventure occurred.
t 1t was quiet, peaceful morning
o and | was cantering down the highWa,
e thinking deeply of the strange circum
: stances which had so occupied M
d mind of late. l heard the clatter o
n feet in the distance, and as they seem
T ed to approach rapidly and increase Il
6 volume l turned my head to see tn
= cause. Down the old country road
horse was flying, throwing up cloud
t. of dust and swaying the rider irres
o ularly from left to right. | turned m
IS horse and waited a moment to let tn
d daring rider pass.
% But as the running steed rapid
/ doomed up out of the showers of dus
k his feet were creating | saw that th
d rider had lost all control of the an
~ maj anu was uncertainty Retailing III
p seat in the saddle. A moment late
# my heart gave a little bound of fea
y when l realized that the rider was
J. woman and that woman Miss Stetso1
lie She was unattended as she often wa
/. in her morning rides and along the oil
g country road there was little chanc
n of her attracting any one who coul
d help her.
" The horse was painting and snortin
lie with the violence of his exertions. an
by the way he swung his head and nee
c. l knew that he was liable to cut u
lg any dangerous trick to unseat his rit
lie er. AS they approached within fe'
or rods of me / caught a glimpse of ii
l white face of Miss Stetson. she wa
N nearly overcome with fright and exc
g. ton. and her appealing eyes stirred u
~ every latent power within me.
l let the raging horse pass. for an
attempt to stop him short in his ma
career would result in his fifnging Il
hi rider to the ground. Then whippir
H. up my own horse, | started In pursui
pr 1 shouted a few words of encourag