Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-02-17

EM NH MI 49, frightened"
hSA ightened?''
she asked Won
O deringly
& lore song3 R Spanish Yes, scared
downright scared he answered IT
reckon I'm like an Indian. An Indian
the gods know he's big happy, fer
there's the thunder bird
THE thunder bird?''
1.-THE evil spirit Of the storm,' con-
tinued Jack when the thunder bird
hears fellow saying he's big happy
he sends him bad luck"
Echo laid her hand softly On the
mouth Of her sweetheart. 1--WE won't
spoil our happiness. then, by talking
about it. &a viii just feel it-just be
! it,
She laid her head upon Jacks knee.
He placed his arm lightly, but pro-
tectingly. over her shoulder. They sat
in silence listening to the Mexican's
love song. Finally Jack bent over and
whispered gently in her ear:
SOFTLY. so the thunder bird won't
|
you love only me; that you will always
love me. no matter what shall happen;
that you never loved until you loved
me-"
Echo sat upright with start What
do you mean?" she exclaimed. "Of
course love you and you only, but the
future and the past are beyond Oul
control Unless you know OF some
thing that is going to happen which
may mar our love your question is
silly not at all like your Mother Goose
nOnsenSe-that was dear. And, as for
the past, you mean Dick Lane"
Eyes, 1 mean Dick Lane" confessed
PaySon in a subdued tone. 81 am
jealous of hfm-that is, Of even his
memory"
''That is not like Jack Payson. What
has come over you? 1t is the shadow
of your thunder bird. You know what
my feeling was for Dick Lane and
what it is. for it remains the same, the
only difference being that now l know
it never was love. Even IL it were he
is dead, and | love you. Jack-you
alone. Oh, how you shame me by
forcing me to speak of such things!
have tried to put poor Dick out of my
mind, for every time | think of him it
is with a wicked joy that he is dead,
that he cannot come home to claim me
as his wife. Oh. Jack. Jack, 1 didn't
think it of your
And the girl laid her face within her
hands on her lovers knee and burst
into fit of sobbing.
Jack Payson shut his teeth
''Wcll, since | have lowered myself
so far in your esteem and since your
mind is already SHINING against Dick
Lane we might as we'll go On and set
tie this matter. | promise / will not
mention it again. But l, too, have
troubles of the mind. / am as l am,
and you ought to know it. said /
was Jealous of Dick Lanes memory.
1t is more. I am jealous Of Dick Lane
himself. II he should return, would
you leave me and go with him-as his
wife?'
Again she sat upright. BY strong
effort she controlled her sobbing.
"The man admired does not de
serve an answer. but the child he has
proved himself to be and whom can
not help loving shall have it. Yes; if
Dick Lane returns true to his promise
| shall be true to mine"
She arose and went into the house.
PaysOn rode homeward through the
starlight consumed by torturing jeal-
ousy. He now had no thought of con-
fiding in Jim Allen: He regretted that
, he had touched SO dangerously near
, the subject Of Dick Lanes return In
talking to Bud and Polly. His burn.
ing desire was to be safely married to
, Echo Allen before the inevitable re-
turn Of her former lover.
Fool that was not to ask her one
a more question. Would she forgive heI
husband where she would not forgive
Q her lover? What will she think of me
4 when all is discovered. as it surely
e will be? Well. must take my chances
9 Events will decide
r On his return to Sweetwater rancl
n he put the place in charge of his new
q foreman. Sagebrush Charley. and wen
n out to a hunting cabin he had bull
\ in the Tortilla mountains. Here b,
+ fought the problem over with his con
science-and his selfshness won. Fl,
v returned. fixed in his decision to sup
q press Dick Lanes letter and to e,
d ahead with the marriage.
b,