Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-05-23

n Su1lDlUOuS eAIu list VI DUStt tAnlbll-
ed itself between the lapels of his low
cut waistcoat, and an inch of bedia-
monded breastpin glittered there like /
en- ice ledge on a snowy mountain side. |
He had a steady blue eye and a dissl-
pated iron gray mustache. This per- |
sonage was Mr.. Ephraim Watts, who, |
following calling more fashionable in |
the eighteenth century than in the lat |
ter decades of the nineteenth, had !
shaken the dust of Carlow from his |
feet s5me three years previously at the |
strong request of the authorities. The |
Herald had been particularly insistent
upon his deportation. In the local
phrase, Harkless had run him out O.
town" Perhaps it was because the
Herald's opposition, as the editor had
explained at the time, had been mere
ly moral and impersonal," and the ed
itor had confessed to a liking for the
unprofessional qualities of Mr. Watts,
that there was but a slight embarrass-
ment when the two gentlemen met to-
day. His breakfast finished, Harkless
went over to the other and extended
his hand. Cynthia, the waitress, held
her breath and clutched the back of a
chair. However. Mr.. Watts made no
motion toward! Ills we'll known hip
pocket Instead lie rose. flushing slight
", and accepted the hand offered him.
I'm. glad to see you. Mr. Watts"
said tie Journalist cordially. And
also. if You are running with the cir
Gus and calculate on doing business
here today, I'll have you fired out of
town before noon. How are you?
You're looking extremely we'll"
"Mr. Harkless," answered Watts, 81
cherish no hard feelings, and l never
| said but what you done exactly right
when l left, three years ago. No, sir;
| Pm not here in a professional way at
| all, and | don't want to be mOlested.
| I've connected myself with an oil COM
pany. and I'm down here to look over
the ground. 1t beats poker and fantan
all hollow. though there amt as many
chances in favor of the dealer, and in
Oil it's the farmer that gets the rakeOH.
I've come back, but in an enterprising
spirit this time, to open up new field
and shed light and money in Carlow.
| They told me never to show my face
here again. but if you say stay |
guess l can. l always was sure there
was oil in the county, and l want to
prove it for everybody's benefit. Is it
all right?"
''NIy dear fellow" laughed the young
man, shaking the gamblers hand again.
cit is all right | have always been
sorry had to act against you. Every
thing is all right. Stay and bore to
Korea, if you like. Did ever you see
such glorious weather.?
"TH let you in on some shares Watts
called after him as he turned away.
The other nodded in reply and was
leaving the room when Cynthia detain-
ed him by a flourish Of her fly brush
! "Say," she said-she always called him
Say you've forgot yer flower"
He came back and thanked her. evil
YOU pin it on for me, Charmion?
81 don't know what call you got tC
speak to me out of my name she re
. sponded. looking at the floor modify.
, "Why?' he asked, surprised.
81 don't see why you want to make
fun of me-"
: 81 beg YOUR pardon. Cynthia" he sale
gravely. 81 didn't mean to do that
t haven't been considerate. didn't thlnl
e you'd be displeased. I'm very sorry
: Won't you pin it on my coat?
Her face was lifted in grateful pleas
1 ure. and. she began to pin the rose to hi
? lapel. Her hands were large and ret
5 and trembled. She dropped the foWe
s and. saving huskily, 81 don't know as
d could do it right seized violently upo1
It q pile of dishes and hurried from tn
=. room.
2, Harkless rescued the rose, pinned
d on his coat himself, with the 1nterna
observation that the red haired wall
e ress was the queerest creature IN I'd
a village. and set forth upon his holida!
d Mr.. Lige Willetts, stalwart bacf
d elor, the most eligible in Carlow, an
IS a habitual devotee of Minnie Brisco'
t. was seated on the veranda when Harl
less turned in at the gate of the brio
," house. '"The ladies will be down rigf
off, he said, greeting the editors Coz
st fnery with percept1ble agitation an
in the editor himself with friendly shak
ne of the hand. 'Mildy says to wait OF
ell here"
I'd There was a faint rustling within II
tn house, the swish of draperies on Il
lie stairs, a delicious whispering, whe
eir light feet descend, tapping, to hear
on that beat an answer, the telegraph
st message: eve come! We come! "
lie are near! We are near" Lige W
he let's stared st Harkless. He had nev
as thought the latter was good looking u
Id. til he saw him step to the door to tai
id. Helen Sherwood's hand and say, in
strange, low, tense voice, Good NOR
he ing" as if he were announcing, at t
to least: every one In the world, exec
Of US two, died fast night. 1t is a solen
led thing, but I am very happy"
his They walked, Minnie and Mr.. W
the let's, a little distance In front of t
eft others. Harkless could not have &c
liz