The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-04

~ was from BOSTON, from bctty
demanded Have humbled myself
sufficiently"
you haven't humbed yourself at
ALL" said I. you have only humbled
me"
She did not pause on my remark
long enough TO see what II meant.
Now that It's all settled" she said.
gayly. II don't mind telling you that
began 10 make my preparations to
be married on The first OF August
when. do you think?"
"when7" I said.
"The very day | got your nasty let.
ter. putting me second 10 your moth.
err" And she laughed. and was SIN
laughing. when she added: so. you
see. was determined to marry you"
Il do" said |. dryly. Il suppose
ought 10 feel nattercd"
mo. you oughln't." she retorted. Il
simply made mp my mind TO marry
you. And I'll do II. no matter what
II cost get that from father. But
rye got mothers disposition. too
and that makes me far too good for
such a cold. unsentImental. ambitious
person as you"
Don't YOU think you're rather rash
To confess so frankly-when ! could
siill escapeT'
Not n all" was her confident an.
swer. Il know you. and so I know
nothing could mako you break your
/ word"
There's scme truth IN that'-and
hope that do not deceive myself In
thinking I was henost there. More
truth. perhaps. than you guess"
She looked shrcwdly al me-and
She laughed quccrly. and struck the
guessed" said she. "Nobody's ever 50
blind as he lets others think. IT'S
funny. isn't ~ There are things In
your mind that you'd never tell me.
and things In my mind that I'd never
tell you. And each Of rs Euesscs most
Of them. without ever letting on"
She laughed qucorly. and struck the
horse smartly so that he leaped into
gait az which conversation was Inn
possible.
When We resumed. the subject was
The details OF our wedding.
80 homo again. ! found my mother
too m 10 leave her bed. She had
been ~ bcforC-msay times when she
wouidn't coafCrs 4. several times
when she was forced 10 admit A. bot
never before 80 m that she could not
dress aud come down stairs. 4 shah
be up tomorrow. she assured me.
and almost believed ho'. She drew
letter from under her pillow. This
came while you were away" she went
on. y kept Il here. because" look
OF shame fitted across her face. and
then her eyes were steady and proud
again-"why should I be ashamed %
~ had the Impulse 90 destroy the
letter. and I'm no. sarc bat that rin
falling IN my duty"
I took ii--ycs. W was from Boston.
from Betty ! opened n aud forum.
aioly bal ncrycd myself -slinrt show.
Ing myself 10 ms mother There was
neither tcglnning nor cai. Just a
single sentence;
From the bottom a my broken
heart I am thlnkfrl hat have been
spared the honor % discovering I
had bound myfe'f zoe h', 10 a coward"
The shot veal straight 10 the cen.
ter OF the target But There lay
my moihcr-dld shc n't have The righi
90 deterr.ac my fgHilny--ahe Who
had given iec my iiic and her own1
tore up nciiy's letter. and looked
al mother and said There's nothing
In that 10 make me waycr-or regret"
II was the only Ne ever told her. I
told II well. thank God. for she was
convinced. and the look In her face
repaid me a thousandfold. II rcpays
me oncc more ~ I write.
Carlotta and were married AZ her
bedside. and che lived only until the
next day but ono. when the doctor
told me Of The long concealed mortal
disease that was the cause % her go
Ing. he ended with: And. Mr.. sayler.
u passes belief that she managed 20
keep alive for I've years. can't mn.
derstand H." Tut understood. Sho
simply refused 10 20 until she felt tina,
hor mission was accomplished.
we must never forget her" said
Carlotta. trying 10 console mo by
grlovlng with me.
did not answer-how could I OK.
plaln7 Never forget heri on tho
contrary. knew that I must forget
and that ! must work and grow and
40 heal tho wound and cover lie scar
lost not day In beginning.
To those few succeeding months I
owe the power have had all these
years 20 concentrate my mind upon
whatever I will TO think about: for
In those months fought the fight I
dared not iose--fought II and won.
Let those who have never loved talk
Of remembering the dead.
turned away from her grave with
the resolve that my hrst act Of power
would be 10 stamp out Dominick but
for him she would not have gone for
many a year. II was his prosecutions
that involved 10 In the mlscrlcs which
wasted her and made her fan victim
10 the mortal disease. II was his
maiignity that poisoned her last years.
which. but for him. would have been
happy.
A. my plans for ousilng punklrk