News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1904-04-27

| VIII. lou can ruin your own. 4 Snan |
say much now, for | can't trust my
self to speak. l can only beg you not
to be in haste in your decision. Good
by, dearest-I must call you that-good-
by"
And again he stood facing her, ready
to go.
AS MatteSOn presently swung off
down the path toward the gate Miss
Talbot was conscious of bitter disap-
pointment that his call had been so
brief and, if the truth must be told.
that this time he had not offered to
kiss her. If he had swept her into his
big arms and crushed Der against his
chest, if he had rained kisses on her
face aud poured endearjng words into
her ears. resistance would have been
simply out of the question. Like many
another young man in love, he was en-
tirely too cautious.
Besides, the interview had taken
place on. the front porch of DR.. Talbots
house. which was set on a hill and
could moi be hid. 1t was most unfOrtu-
nate.
arthur" said Matteson as he burst
into the mill office a few minutes later,
81 fear another of my famous de-
| bauches is due about now. This time
| I'll tell you beforehand where I'm go
ing, because you may need to use the
information in a hurry. Let's see.
Where's a good place? Not too far
away"
"MontrealY
"Know too many people there. Ban
gor-no; Maine won't do. Have to go
through Boston. By George, I'll dis
appear like magic in New York! The
great, busting metropolis shall swallow
| me as if
"Know lots of people there too"
yes, but | can dodge 'em."
"All right" said Eankine, noting the
number that. Matteson gave him. 'T'H
keep my eyes open. Go along now
and begin your drunk, you disgusting
| object"
arthur. where's Bert Matteson?"
demanded Mrs. Rankine. rushing upon
her husband like a whirlwind as he en-
tered the house late in the afternoon
of the next day.
"New York" he answered shortly
unless he's started for Kalamazoo By
this time"
"The outrageous thing. Can't any
thing be done? She says she's going
TO promise old Hawkins tomorrow to
marry him."
'WhO says 500" asked Rankine> in.
differently
"You-you brute" sobbed the little
lady, bursting into tears.
I'm afraid, dear" Arthur went on
after an interval of irrelevant discus
sion, that l am something of a fatalist
about matters of this sort. It's fated,
| suppose, that she is to do this fool
thing, and that's all there is about it,
You mustn't blame BERTHE for going off
that way either. She's thrown him
down, and thrown him down hard, and
it hurts, and he doesn't like to stay
around here. l wouldn't if you'd treat |
ed me in that way"
I'm going to see her after dinner"
she announced in tones of decision.
won't be any use. Her duty is plain. |
but she won't see it. She ought to |
marry him for his own sake and take |!
him out of this cursed place; 90 around |
the world or something. If she wants |
to Go something worth while for an as
sortlnent Of her fellow men wouldn't !
his ducats give her the biggest Kind Of |
an opportunity?"
May NankiMp mentally noted her hus-
bands suggestion Prolonged foreign |
travel and chance to study the Old |
masters with Il new master always ap
peal to women.
But it's no use" Rankine added with
artful gloom Shes as obstinate as
mule and won't be budged. You might
as well stay at home and play chess"
Chess. Oh, YOU cold blooded"-
".lll right" said Arthur quickly. I'm
take you round and drop into the mill
Office for awhile to let you talk, But
tell you again it's no use
III hit that prediction either way"
he reflected. If I'm right I'm wise.
and if I'm wrong she's happy enough
to forgive me-"
1t was some months before the Mat
lessons returned to NeDontic. They
were married in magic June and wan
dered leisurely around the world. for
tunatelyf forgetting some things they
had learned and getting a new per-
spective of familiar ideas. They came
back as merry as grigs and presently
moved into the new house that had
been CLOSED in" during their absence
and finished under their daily inspec-
ton after their return.
The first night under their own roof
Diana was somewhat distraught. FL
nally, with a deep sigh for preface,
she addressed. her husband abruptly
out of a fit of musing: Herbert, have
never spoken to you about those dread
full times when you left Nepontic, but
l feel that now in the new hope that
we have, you know, | must speak. l
must ask you for the sake of-ask you
to be careful to guard against any in
boritnd tau6nDoiac tbot Inirht 1,1iuht |