St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-22
Why She Would
........NOt Marry
lOriginal.1

ter, appeared in Lone Star Gulch one
morning, informed the miners living
there that they were brother and Sis
ter, built a cabin and settled them
selves. Mark Golfer bought claim
and every morning shouldering his
pick and shovel, went out to work 1t,
while Sarah remained at home and did
looking woman thirty years of age
and had not been long at Lone Star
Gulch before she was sought in mar
rage by several miners. She, however,
declined the attentions of them all. de-
claring that she was devoted to her
brother and would not leave him.
There was one, however, who per-
sisted This was Ralph Mccain. He
was fair haired, blue eyed fellow of
twenty eight and had very attractive
way with him, especially for women.
He soon made Roadway with Sarah
Golfer who did not from the first turn
to him the cold shoulder she had turned
to her other suitors. Mark Golfer, In
stead Of rejoicing in the prospect of
being relieved Of the support Of SIS
ter, frowned on her acceptance OF the
attentions of Mccain, whom he at last
forbade the house. Mccain appealed
to Sarah to stand by him in preference
| to her brother, but Sarah did nothing
but weep and wiring her hands. Evil
IDENTIFY she was bound to, her brother by
some extraordinary tie, and 1t was
plain that she had fallen deeply in love
with the stranger.
One evening after working hours
| Golfer and Mccain met on the road
way running between the few houses
ranged on either side and known as the
town of Lone Star Gulch.
"Colter," said Mccain, II would like
some explanation with regard to your
| objections to my attentions to your sis
ter. We are devotedly attached to
one another, l have some money and
good claim and can give the best OF
references. If there is any reason that
I can explain away
"All have to say to you, Ralph Nc
Cam, is to let my sister alone"
II certainly will If she desires 1t or
if you will give me any good ground
for your opposition"
"You say you'll let her alone If she
desires it. Do you mean to tell me
that she doesn't desire itf'
"She clings to you in preference to
me, but her heart
Golfer turned white. He made as if
to draw his revolver, but instantly.
changed his mind.
"Let her Alone" he cried fiercely
and strobe away rapidly.
The next morning a note from Sarah
was left at McCann's door begging
him to desist from any further attempt
to win her or even to see or communi-
cate with her, adding that she could
never be his wife as long as her broth
er lived. Mccain, knowing by the tone
Of her letter that she was in earnest,
made no further attempt to see her.
One afternoon when the coach passed
| through Lone Star Gulch stout wom-
an with resolute look on her face got
off with her clothes tied up in bundle
and put up in the only boarding house
in the place. What the woman, who
called herself Mrs. Wilbur, was to do
in this out of the way mining town did
not transpire, but there was a surprise
among the citizens when 1t was known
few days later that she had gone to
live at the Golfers. The surprise was
occasioned by the fact that Golfer and
his sister had lived entirely alone, nev-
err receiving any company, and there
; was not family in the gulch where
, any one, especially as unattractive
woman as Mrs. Wilbur, would be less
likely to find board.
The day after the event there were
{ rumors of high words being heard in
7 the middle Of the night at the Golfers,
but as there were no evidences Of trou-
BILE, except for the grim appearance or
: Mrs. Wilbur and certain whipped cur
D look about Golfer, no one could surmise
I what had occurred-that is, no one but
= Ralph Mccain, who got his explana-
: ton in this wise:
4 Having need to 60 to neighboring
= town for some blasting material, he set
q out early in the morning and was re-
8 turning in the afternoon when he saw
Sarah Golfer on the road coming to-
ward him.
"Where are you going?" asked Me-
= Cam when they met.
: "From the man with whom I have
been living"
"Your brother?"
IT supposed he was my husband" re-
: piled Sarah, with a tremor in her
;, voice, "but I was deceived. He had q
- wife before he married me. His name
is James Wilbur, and his wife has ap-
peared with proofs of her marriage to
him."
Mccain sat for few minutes thun
derstruck, first incensed at the wrong
= that had been done the woman hs
> loved, then joy yelling up in hii
-" heart that there was no insurmounta
BILE barrier between them.
:, $50 this Is the reason you chung Il
- Golfer. You supposed you were hi
= wife. Why did you pass as brother ans
:, sister,"
;. "He forced me to IT, making a pre-