Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-03-24

81 paid that off last week." explain
ed Jack.
Echo felt deeply hurt that this news
should have been kept from her by
her husband.
"You did, and never told meF' she
chided. "Where did you get the mon
| ey?'' she inquired
"Why, p Jack halted. He coulu
| not frame an excuse at once nor IN
vent a new lie to cover his Old sln
Deeper and deeper he was getting INTO
the mire of deception.
Echo had arisen from the seat. 1T
was over $4,000, wasn't 1t!' she IN
sisted.
something like that answered
Jack noncommittally.
"Well. where did you get it?' de-
handed his wife.
can old debt-a friend of mlne-l
loaned him the money long time ago.
and he paid it back-thats ALL
lack took a drink of water from the
OLA to hide his confusion.
.Who was it?'' persisted Echo.
"You wouldn't know if l told you
Now, just stop talking business
oft isn't fair" declared Echo. you
share all the good things OF LIE with
me. and l want to share some OF your
. business worries. want to stand my
share Of the bad"
I Jack saw he must humor her.
= .eWhen the bad comes I'll tell you,' he
~ assured her, patting her hand
"You stand between me and the
f world. You're like a great big noun
O tain standing guard over little tree
! in the valley, keeping the cold north
p. wind from treating it too roughly.
She sighed contentedly. but the
f. mountain does it ALL
+ lack looked down tenderly at MS
y, little wife. Her love for him moved
" him deeply.
s. "Not at ALL he said to her. line
ne little tree grows green and beautl1ul
O. It casts a welcome shade about 1t, anC
the heart of the mountain is MACS
". glad to it's rocky core to know that th'
lie. safety of that little tree is in its keep
of ing"
ey Taking her in his arms, he klsse'
k. her again and again.
re- "Kissing again. shouted Polly iron
lat the doorway. Say, will you two new
or settle down to business? There
he Bud Lane an a bunch Of others JUS
his come into the corral. Maybe Tie
re- want you, jack
Jack excused himself. AS he stel
rb- ped out on the piazza he asked Poll.
ere "Shall l send Bud in?'
LET him come in if he wants t
I'm not sendin' for him" Polly spit
fully turned up her nose at him. JAG
laughed as he closed the door.
Echo reseated herself at the plan
lingering the keys.
How are you getting on with BUD
~ she asked the younger girl
1--WE don't get on little bit, 81
snaDped. Bud never seems to cole
\ much revenue, an we just keep tn
tim slow-like. Wish | was married {
had a home of my own"
II aren't you happy with father a.
III mOther?"
All Polly glanced at Echo, with sm1
HW Lord, yes' she replied, in W;
IN but I'm only a poor relation! 1o
IEl ma was nv mas Cousins cousin
lln somethin' like that
III Echo laughed. Nonsense" she
torted Nonsense. You're my az
sister and the only daughter that's
the old home now"
.But want home of my own
this" said Polly.
.Then you'd better shake Bud &
give Slim chance"
Polly was too Disguised to ansN
shin lyc1
doesn't care for girls. He's afraid
'em.' she said at length. II like
~ with all his orneriness," she decla1
"Why doesn't he come to see
more often?'
orm II don't know. Maybe it's beca
waist, mes never forgiven sou ~
face Jack"
their "Why should ne mlnu tnat!
,ntion asked. startled.
these "Well, you know" she answered
Polly tween stitches, drawing the ne
lowed through the cloth with angry
as if jerks, bud he never quite DELE
Y out, Dick was dead.
arthly Echo rose hastily. The vague, ha
ing half thoughts of weeks were
led in taliZed on the instant. She felt
e. Dick was trying to speak to her
aively out Of the great beyond. With S
der she sank into a chair at the
opposite Polly.
Don't she said, her voice sea
have above a whisper. Il can't bear to
|, look him spoken OF. l oreaineu VI III
other night-a dreadful dream"
mother Pouy was uellsn.eu win .nl,
oil rom a n
piano." mystery. |. was al % i :. :,
Ibid you? Let's hear 1t"
With unseeing eyes Echo
straight ahead, rebuilding iron
dream fabric a tragedy OF the
-. in which the two men who had I
20 so great a part in her life wer