The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-01-23
Richard ar, "a, ;;;,'''
q pf
dom q the The
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I'D EDWARD PEnE.
- ~ ~ h ~ q broke
~
II - ~ Chap"
A few days followlng hls recoy

: | bsMe. a'nhs WblrptfthE~ went hfguuu
as TO the cause OF this precIpitate de-
; parture, and many strange colnci.
: derces were noted Among them was
! the somewhat prominent mention OF a
merchants safe discovered the morn.
, ing after his departure in condition
resembling Miss Imogene's broken
heart OF all this, however, Miss Chit.
tendon knew nothing. and for many
days she mourned. or course dear
Roderlck knew nothing about the affair
and only left Morrlstown because his
leave OF absence had expired or be-
cause he was angry at the residents or
but. whatever his reason. Miss Imo-
gene was sure II was q good one.
However that might be. from Mr..
Fitzgeorge's point Of view II was an
imperative one.
With the lapse OF time and with the
advent Of other objets d'affection-as
her Cornelius Van der Awe. for In.
instance--thls love passage was dropped
from Miss Chlttendon's memory, espe-
cially as she had never heard from the
recreant Roderlck until he was brought
rudely to her recollection by the re-
ceipt that morning Of a fateful letter.
In this document Mr.. Roderlck Fitz.
george advised her briefly that, owing
to several unhappy circumstances, he
was forced to leave for the far west
and, being lightly supplied with funds,
would be grateful IL she could spare
her devoted lover a hundred dollars
for the journey.
In case she found II inconvenlent he
still had In his possession n dozen let
ters which would not look well II
printed In the newspapers, In case she
did find It convenient to make the
loan, which, knowing her generous ma
ture, her correspondent did not doubt,
she was first to tie piece Of white
string on the left post Of the Rem
wycks' front gate as a signal OF as
sent, then open the library window at |
o'clock on Friday night, when Mr.. |
Fltzge0rge would enter exchange her |
letters for the sum above mentioned |
and bid her an eternal farewell. II |
Miss Chittendon played him fase-of
which perish the thought-a friend had /
copies OF said correspondence which
would Immediately be published, to-
gether with the garbled details of the
former romance, a condition undeslra-
BILE for lady SO widely known in the
social world. The letter ended with
the nope tnat Miss CnitieiIuon
joyIng good health and spirits and
that she might persuade herself to
meet him on Friday, as requested.
To say that Miss Imogene was terri
fed would be putting 1t mildly. Her
resulting condition bordered upon
complete collapse, mental and phys
ical.
"Oh, Harriet, Harriet" she sobbed.
"Whatever shall doT'
my dear" returned her friend as
she bathed the sufferers temples with
cologne, at is perfectly simple You
need give yourself no uneasiness. Fa-
ther will quietly put the matter In the
hands OF the police. We will then tie
the white string on the gatepost, and
when this wretch enters the library
window he will find himself in the
arms Of our officers, and We will not
only have the letters, but the man"
Miss Renwyck's plan was based
upon wisdom and sound common
sense, yet to the frightened Miss Imo-
kene II was the worst possible thing
to do. She felt certain that II caught
the man would put his threat into exc
cution and expose the copies OF her
letters to the eager gaze OF society. To
such happening she would
gladly pay five times the sum demand
ed. Therefore she decided hysterical-
ly that Harriets plan was out OF the
question.
"Oh, Harriet, dear" she walled, ''you
don't know how silly my letters were,
and I'd 90 through anything TO get
them back again. Why. the pet
names l called that creature - good
gracious, Harrlet-they were positively
mushyr
what did you call hlmT asked Miss
Renwyck, humorously interested in
this phase OF the romance.
"'Roddy-poddykins was one" con-
fessed the debutante, with vivid
blush. Then there were whole lot
more ike that and worse--re really, dar-
ling, ia rather not tell them even TO
you. should die OF shame IL Mr.. Van
der Awe or Lord CroylaBd or any one
knew"
Miss Renwyck smiled, while the In
discreet Juliet went on tying her hand
kerchief into hard, wet knots.
'l've just got TO see him. Harriet
Know ] shall be Just scared 10 death;
but, no matter what you say, III not
illow you to tell single solitary soul,
Ind II I'm found dead on the library
1oor In the morning nobody will care
inyway--so there"
The sufferers state now became so
alarming that her friend was forced TO |
luggest another plan. II was against |
ler better Judgment, but something
lad 10 he done at once, for otherwise
Hiss Imogene would never be in a
10 act the part Of the bird
n the play that evening !,
"Imogene," she said sternly. stop
rying this instant and listen 10 me, j,
believe you wifi do n very wrong !
hing In seeing Mr. Fitzgeorge 10 the y
middle OF the night. but Of course y
ave no right 10 interfere against your T"
wishes. ! am older than you. aud
Ell you csndldly don't like IT, How :,
much money have you with your = =
Fifty dollars. and III give him jew. =
Try enough 10 make up the balance" =
That won't be necessary. III lend
ou Whatever you need. and II you stu :,
INSIST upon seeing the man ! viii 90 =
own with you"
In an Instant more two very shaky
title arms were twined sbopt Miss
lenvyck's neck and q sobby voice u
ras pouring delirious thanks into her Y
srs "
When the fear Of creeping down
light OF dark stairs alone was eased
y the thought Of conpanionship the
rntiDentsi young lady began 10 view