The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-11-29

ed my eye with the agreeable green Of
the national currency. Many bank
bills, tightly folded. were wrapped In
the single sheet Of paper which have
mentioned The total sum was 5000,
will not attempt to describe the
perplexity into which was thrown by
this mysterious communication.
After cudgeling my brains for some
hours ! reached tire very annoying
conclusion that this money must have
been sent to me by Mrs. Colvin,
whom | had come to know when !
lived at my grandfather's house In
Montclair.
After the sudden death Of her hus-
band l assisted her In settling the es-
tate and In 80 doing spent some or
my own money, which fact studious-
ly concealed. was a sultor for the
hand of Mrs Colvin's daughter ut that
time and had faint hope, which was
speedily quenched. though not my love,
alas.
| would rather that almost anything
else had happened than that Mrs. Col
vim should have discovered her debt to
me. To have put her under this obll-
CATION was an offense against good
taste. and she was one who would see
the matter In Its proper light. Perhaps
for this reason she had paid the money
secretly, desiring to avoid the dishon-
esty OF pretending to forgive me.
Unfortunately she had considerably
overpaid me, yet the money must have
come from her, for there was no other
explanation. 1t remained, then, for me
to 20 to Mrs. Colvin, whom ] had not
seen In more than year, and render
her a true account, returning the bal
ance now due her.
with this purpose I went to Mont
clair In the afternoon of the following
day. II was mid-June. and the beau
tiful town was Mt Its best, with all the
rose gardens blooming and the scented
air thrilling with gayety, as II there
were some public merrymaking. II Is
needless to say that my own mood was
not festal. I dreaded the coming In
terview, and my heart aehed at the
thought of seeing Amy Colvin again.
walked slowly and went out OF my
way to pass my grandfather's house,
untcnanted since his death, and there ]
paused some minutes, looking up at
the sbuttered windows and recalling
the tragedy which had cut him Off In
what he used cheerly to call "the prime
of old age" We found him dead upon
The floor of his chamber one morning,
and his hands were cllnched tightly
upon the collar and sleeve OF rough
coat Of dark cloth. This garment was
burglars. Ny grandfather had dis
covered the man In his room, had
sprung from his bed 10 grapplc with
the thief and had died Of his own toe
violent exertions. for his heart had been
weakened by recent serious Illness,
We discovered that the burglar had
entered by window OF my room and,
after relieving me OF considerable
sum Of money. had passed 10 my grand
fathers apartment, where the silent,
swift and fatal struggle had occurred
and whence the intruder. stripped Of
his coat, bad escaped into the night
Mrs. GOWNS house, when came TO
II. looked CHEEKY and homelike in com.
parison with the great empty mansion
that had Just left A servant an
swered my summons and greeted me
with surprise and volubIe JOY. She
bad been for many years In my grand
fathers employ aud had strong sen
timent Of loyalty TO the family.
There's nobody at home" said she
after paying her respects to me But
Mrs. Colvin will be bnck soon. Miss
Amy and Mr, Durland have gone TO the
ball game"
Mr. Durland was young man who.
upon my recommendation. had been
taken ms boarsicr By Mrs. colyin
shortly after her husbands death. for
Il seemed adviss bio for her 10 increase
her income Ia this way. lie was
writer aud had nsade some successes
OF late. as haI,.sncd 20 know. but u
had been neari, two years since had
seen him.
.Air. Dnriand IL still beref said !.
Indeed he is for good and ell" the
woman answered "Didn't you know
that Miss Amy was engaged to hifnr
shook my head
Yes" SAID she. They're 10 be mar
rled next month. Hes getting along
lac row. He's writing plays
"Playsfs repeated. scarce knowing
that spoke.
She came 70 my side and pointed
through an open window.
He writes 'esn IN there" ssid abe.
There's his table and his typewriter"
DO you suppose" said !. ''thst Mr.. /