Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-10-23
clergyman cheerily. what do you
say, Miss Henderson,

clergyman cheerily. what do you
say, Miss Henderson,
Il say that love him" replied the
girl. Il love and trust him. We came
here 10 ask you 10 marry US; not right
away, but we wanted to talk ii over
with you"
Ii seemed TO be the mans turn to
speak, and Brown waited for his words.
Stone stood with bowed head. his eyes
upon the floor. Becoming conscious Of
the silence, he looked up.
Il am glad that you are here" he
said. "Of course you will understand
that | had no thought Of il. Your
name is not uncommon"
well, | should think it wasn't" re-
sponded the minister with laugh
You, better than any other man, can
tell me whether | have the right TO do
this" said Stone. II have told her the
| truth, and still she would come to me
and live in the home that | have built.
! But cannot give her my name. | am
! known here as Morton Brook and must
continue to be so known"
/ Now, let's consider how the matter
stands" said Brown briskly. Your
| case comes back TO me. but not your
face. by the way. | really cannot see
/ the most casual resemblance Howev-
| er, let us proceed. The warden told me
/ all about you. He said that you had
/ struck a man in the heat of a quarrel
] 4 til
| on. The man went home and died two
| hours later from the effects of his own
/ excitement and many years of hard
/ drinking. That's the fact in the mat
| ter as the warden said and as | came
/ to believe after a brief investigation.
/ You may remember that | was there
/ for only few weeks after you came.
/ As | said. you struck this man. You
were blamable. no doubt. You may
| have owed some reparation under
! the laws But TO convict you of any
! form of homicide was monStrous in
| view of the medical testimony given at
the trial, andsi never could have been
done except Eat the man in question
was a politician of the party then all
| powerful In that city. | think that the
true story told in this community and
| backed by me could hurt you but little.
/ Why not make a firm stand? Resume
| your own name; beStow it upon this
sweet and exemplary young woman
/ who has honored you with her love.
/ Tell the plain truth
Stone raised his hand TO check the
| minister's utterance. His pallor showed
beneath the bronze.
81 am a fugitive" said he. Il forgot
/ that you might not know. escaped
from that prison"
rs he the more to blame for that:'
exclaimed the young woman. You
! have said yourself that his conviction
was unjust, and they condemned him
| to seven years to death indeed. for he
/ has told me that he could not have
/ lived so long"
II have said what | believed" added
! Stone in firm voice MY health was
/ Slipping away as water runs through
/ ones fingers. You remember how
/ looked? So when the chance came
! and it was chance-I took it and step
ped out to freedom"
You escaped, then, without VIC
| lencet" said the clergyman.
absolutely"
The minister sat down upon corner
| of his desk and beat HIS hands nerv-
/ ously together the knuckles of one
! into the palm of the other.
Il would not send you back" he said.
Il cannot see that any good would come
of it. But l wish you hadn't told me-"
For whose sakeT' asked Miss Hen
derson quickly.
| The clergyman's face flushed.
For my own, suppose" said he,
because this secret might embarrass
me-"
"How?"
IF he should be traced, if l should
be asked directly"
| ''You would tell the truth, Of
course" said Stone. Eve should ex-
! pect nothing else"
Il dread the way of mortal affairs
| as experience has shown it to me-"
said the clergyman. There is nothing
in this world more battling to the mind,
! yet nothing more conspicuous TO the
observation, than the workings of the
law whereby this very time, when he
would most dearly wish to hide his
secret, becomes the time when it is
most likely to be revealed"
You would dissuade her, then?" said
| Stone.
81 do not say So" was the rejoinder,
land yet
What is the worst that could hap
pen?" said Mabel. Let us think of
that. Suppose the officers who were to
take him back were standing in this
room waiting for him. Do you think
that would not keep my word to him?
Do you think l should not wish to be
his wife?'
Stone threw his arm impulsively
across her shoulders and crushed her
close to him.
IF you are sure of that" said the
minister II have no more to say. Mar
| ry him, and may God bless you both.
When do you desire the ceremony"
I'VE had planned it for week from
today" responded Stone. This dear
child and few of her nearest friends
/ will come out to my home, where some
simple preparations will be made for
the entertainment of the party. We
hoped that you might come with them"
| eft will give me great Measure" said