Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-04-05

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unusually loud voice Of New York and
his experiences t:ere. lie seemed 10
he very happy. and his bOIsterous
laughter penetrated even 10 the little
company of worshipers on the settees
In sitie.
When the meeting was over lie threw
away tie stump Of his cigar and shout
,errl himself into the front row OF
waiting SWANS lay the door As Gus
came out he strrprd forward to meet
her and in doing 81 bumped against
Mrs. Piper who. looking the other
way. had not seen him, and, being
deaf. had not heard his step.
Gracious sakes alive exclaimed III"
old lady. rubbing her shoulder. "Ex-
cuSe me. Mr.. Hammond. ! didn't see
YOU
Sam nodded serenely. 'lont men
ton it," be shouted. wnsin% over his
shoulder at Georgiana Bailey. You
didn't hurt me bit"
Georgiana gigg'ed. and most Of the
Young men grinned AT the joke. Gus
glanced hurriedly at Mrs. fiper~ind
then mt Hammond. She looked sur
priSed and troubled.
Sam took her arm without asking
permission and led her TO the sidewalk.
She still looked back.
I'm afraid you hurt Mrs. Piper,
she said. What made you SD rough Z
Her escort laughed. Il guess il won't
be fatal" he observed. If I'd man
aged to fracture that voice Of hers SOS
she couldn't sing. maybe the congre-
CATION would give me Il vote of
thanks"
Gus didn't reply. There was some
thing in her companions manner that
made her recoi instinctively. She dis
engaged her arm from his, but he took
It again and walked on, joking and
laughing.
what a crowd of jays there Is IN
this town" he remarked after awhile,
with a sneer-"enough to stock a dime
museum"
| He had always spoken patroniZlnSly
Of the townspeople-tha she had not
minded so much, coming from city
man. but heretofore he had not openly
made fun OF them. She resented the
remark, but most of all the tone IN
which it was uttered
WHY do you stay here, then" she
asked colby.
why? / guess you know the reason
all right. Don't you, Gus? Hey
He chuckled and bent down to look
in her face She shivered and drew
/ away from him.
His hand upon her arm, the look he
! had Just given her. his air of assumed
Observation-Disclosures all, that new
and vulgar something In his manner,
as if the real soul Of the man was
/ showing for the first time-tilled her
with disgust.
She did not speak again until they
reached the gate. Then she said, with
out looking ut him, Good night
He put his hand over hers on the
latch. "Oh. say" he exclaimed, with
laugh. this isn't square deal,
Gus. Aren't you goln' to ask me inT'
she lIltu W SlldltD Htl away
but he held it fast and leaning across
the gate. threw his arm about her
waist and drew her toward him.
There" he cried exultantly. This
| Is more like it, This is more like
| friends. Give us a kiss You're too
high and mighty to be the prettiest
girl on the Cape"
She struggled from his grasp and
stood painting. oh she whispered,
with a shudder. as she realized the
truth-"oh you've been Drinking
He laughed foolshly and shrugged
his shoulders. "Oh. what's one glass
between friends?" he said Il stopped
into Webs n minute, and he set EN-
up. First drink I've had since left
New York. Thought you was too sen
sible to have blue ribbon notions.
Come; he more sociable, that's good
girl"
She was afraid of him now-not
afraid Of physical violence. but as she
would have feared the contact with
something loathsome and unclean. A
She longed for protection and help
She thought Of Bradley He would
have helped her. She could have trust
ed him. But she had driven him out
of her life, and this fellow
Co. she cried go"
Sam ceased to smile. Other girls
had told him to go. but never in that
way or with such quivering scorn. He
began to realize that this was the end
of his game. He had lost the prize
But he made one more effort
ooh. say" he cried. don't get mad,
Gus. | was only fooling. Don't be
such an old maid. Come here"
She turned on her heel and, without
replying, walked toward the house.
Hammond swore between his teeth.
opened the gate, took one step in her
direction ana then stopped. He laugh
I'd 4 short, ugly laugh and nodded.
You mean it, do you?" he asked
Want me to clear out. hey? Well.
don't you fool yourself that don't
know what ails you. You can't come
The high moral game on me, my lady.
. You're whining after that sneaking
, Sunday school kid, Brad Nickerson,
the fellow that didn't care enough
about you to lift his hand. but stood
still and let me walk off with his girl
y If she was as common as dish
, water. The whole town thinks you're
going to marry me. What'll they say
when show 'em I'm done with your
. lie laughed again and put his hands in
his pockets.
.'I'm gOing." he sAid. "I'm going all