St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-10-07
GrandmOther'S Yarn.
Observation-Disclosures
[Original.l

We'll, sit down and be quiet and
don't ask any questions till get
through, for | don't want 10 be inter-
rupted. When | was young lady
my father took us all out to a mine he
owned in Colorado. In those days the
railroads were not yet built, and we
were obliged to go by stage Fathers
mine was up in the mountains. 1t was
a rough country at that time. | had
no associates and found it hard to get
away with the time.
zone day heard that there was 60
ing to be a masquerade dance at the
tavern. | couldn't understand how they
could get costumes In that country so
remote from civilization. was just
crazy to go to the dance, but of course
father wouldn't hear of such a thing.
But life for me was dull, and | kept
thinking what a curious affair mas
querade ball would be among such a
people, and | resolved to steal away
and 20 without father or anybody
knowing about it. had gone to fan
cy dress ball in the east as Marguerite
and knew how to get up the costume
or, rather, improvise it, and when the
night for the dance came around l
stole out after all in the house were
asleep and joined the dancers In the
dining room of the tavern.
There were not many different cos
tunes, the DISCUSSES consisting mostly
of Mexican, Indian and made-up dress
es that represented nothing in particu-
lar Since all faces were masked there
was no difference in this from any 9TH
err ball, except that the people were
nolsier."
when is the stage robbery to come
In, grandma interrupted the listener.
Didn't you promise to ask no ques-
tionsf Well. to go on with my story,
man in the costume of a Mexican,
sombrero. jacket, slashed trousers and
all that, with plenty of gold lace, came
up to me and asked me TO dance. |
preferred to look about AS there were
twice as many men as women, | saw
at once that this was impracticable.
Besides. there was something about
the Mexican-I could not tell what
that was familiar to me, and | was
sure | had heard his voice before.
fancied he might be a young mining
engineer whom l had previously met.
At any rate. | danced with him and
found him a very good partner, easy
on his feet and light as a feather
After our dance we made a few com
monplaee remarks to each other when
he said:
"It is hot In here Come outside
81 took his arm and went with him on
to the veranda, where. after walking
back and forth for time we took
seats in a corner, when we removed
our masks, which were uncomfortable
| could see something of his face in
the dim light, and he could see as much
of mine.
ITO make long story short, he made
love to me. and confess he did it very
nicely. He told me he was a rich
mine owner and had to start at {
o'clock the next morning for Mexico
where his mines lay. told him Of my
being at the ball without permission
What did he do but beg me to 20 with
him from the ball. marry him and ac
company him to Mexico"
But, grandma-the robbery; l hear
nothing of that"
Hush, child; it's coming. My lover
drew a ring from his finger and gave II
to me. | took it to where the light
poured through a window, and II
sparkled beautifully. 1t was dia
mond in an antique setting. went
back to the giver, thanked him. and
when he continued to urge me to &c
with him | hung my head as If sorely
tempted. He redoubled his pleading
endeav oring to catch the fancy Of 4
young girl by the romance of such ar
elopement. Finally | told him that
would go home, gather up what valua
bles l possessed and meet him in ar
hour at my fathers front gate To thi;
he consented, and | left him, running
home as fast as my legs would carry
me-"
ooh, grandma, don't believe the
stagecoach robbery is in the story al
all"
eyes. it is. In an hour looked out
toward the gate and saw the dim fig
ure of my lover waiting for me.
put whistle to my lips and blew 6
shrill blast. He bounded away, but
was met by figures on every side thai
| could see dimly, and heard cries Of
Throw up your handsp My lover was
captured, and had arranged bis cap
ture. He was a road agent"
whats that?"
"a stage robber"
Now are we coming to the rob
berry,"
Eyes"
"How did you know he was a rob
ber?"
when we were coming from the
east the coach was stopped by mask
ed man, who took all the valuables we
had with us. AS soon as I saw the
ring my lover had given me / recog
nized 1t as my own. 1t had been hand
ed down through the Oldest daughter