Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-03-15

questions, but the captain had an an.
swer ready for each one. He had
with him Il rough plan OF the schoOn
er's riG, photograph of her cabin. Il
drawing Of her engine. These were
laid Oh The table. ami they moved from
one 10 the other. the captain explain
Ing. pointing and arguing. The pass.
inS of time was forgotten entirely.
The Junior partner awoke from his
trance with Il start. And just then, in
the Sttin" room below, the cuckoo
clock struck g.
Bradley turned white and then red.
Nine o'clock. And the grand march
at the subscription bail was to start
''promptly at s. And Gus had looked
forward to this evening for over a
month.
1t is doubtful II, even now. he could
tell much about his trip from the cap
tan'S room t. the Baker cOtta"e. He
ran most of the way. Over and over
again he reproached himself for his
forgctfulne.is. Gus had called him
ItSICSllui anu StillSu OuCe DtluIe,
What would she say now? He scarce
ly dared knock on the dining room
door
But whatever he may have expected
to hear when that door opened. what
he did hear vas certainly distinct
surprise. &. andmother Baker, her
head enveloprd i'll Il shawl, peeped out
and said:
Gus said # You called to say that
she didn't wish to interfere with any.
thing so important as your business
matters. You see, sam Hammond
stopped here about ha'f past eight and
said he'd seen YOU and Cap'n Ezry 20
into the Travellers Rest together. So
Gus went to the ball with him"
The subscription bail was nearly half
over when Bradley came up the stairs
OF the town hall. He tossed his ticket
in ut the window and abScntmindedlv
checked his overcoat and hat. Then
he stood in the doorway looking at the
dancers. For almost an hour he had
been walking up and down the side.
walk opposite the hall, remorSefuIly
hating himself one minute and ticrcelv
nursing his injured pride the next
Twice he turned to 20 home, and each
time he turned back again.
The waltz QuadriIlc was the partiru
lar dance then going on. Bradley
glanced over tie crowded floor. He
caught sight of sam Hammond dane
ing with one of the Rogers girls. on
poSite them in the set. he noted vague
~. were Captain Titcomb and Clara
Hopkins.
He spoke with Captain Titcomb but
once. That was during an interval re
tween dances. when the captain, redhot
but smiling. came strolling toward him.
Hello, Brad he exclaimed Got
here, didn't you?" Then, glancing at
the young mans face, he added:
"Havin' good time? Hope our stop
PIN to talk didn't make any diff rence?"
The answer was noncommittal.
The subscription ball, extras and all.
came to an end at 8 O'Clock. BY this
time Bradley was once more repentant
and humble. When Gus came out of
the cloakroom he went to meet her,
resolved to abase himself and plead
for forgiveness.
Gus" he sthmmered. "Gus-I-I-
maynt ! walk home with you? You
know ~
But as Bradley's anger had cooled,
his fiancee's had arisen.
"Thank YOU" she answered, and
every word was crusted with ice.
"Mr. Hammond was gentleman enough
10 escort me here, and | presume he
will see me home.'
Bradley accompanied Miss Rogers TO
the parental gate. 1t wasn't hilari
GUS walk. The young lady said to her
older sister later on:
Julia, | honestly believe he didn't
speak one word from the time he left
the hall till he said good night. I had
to talk for two. or should have gone
to sleep on the way. He may be good
looking enough, but Gus Baker can
have him for all me. ia as soon come
nome with a wooden Indian"
And Bradley, in his own chamber.
stared out of the window at the light
III Gus room and vowed that he would
not get down ON his knees to that
young lady again; let her have her
New York gentleman IL she wanted
lin. Then lie thought of that other