Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-11-25
A Matrimonial
Escape
BY ARTHUR w. BREWSTER
Copyright, 1910 by American Press
Association.

lived in a gold mining region where
great deal of assaying needed to be
done and, being chemist. set up an
establishment where l could do this
and other work pertaining to mines.
My place was receptacle for gold
dust, large quantities of which were
left with me continually.
Miss Rebecca Wright, my typewrit-
er, was a very circumspect young lady.
l attempted occasionally to joke with
her, but met with no response. On
one or two occasions | ventured to say
something a bit tender to her, but met
with no encouragement But when a
mans mind is set on producing re-
suits. especially with a woman. he will
not let up until he has accomplished
them or is obliged to give 1t up. What
l wished. all wished at least at first
was to zee Miss Wright show con-
sciousnees of my admiration and some
appreciation of the fact
But something happened which led
me to forget Miss Wright and any one
else except one unknown person. That
person was getting away with gold
dust in sufficient quantities to ruin me
if the leakage continued.
No great quantity was taken at one
time. Indeed, what l missed at n
weighing had but the value of a few
dollars. But l missed these small
amounts continually. l had nothing
laid up, and the amounts l was losing
made up an accommodating debt l set
watch on every one connected with
the establishment except Miss Wright.
l did not propose to have any one spy
upon a girl who had every evidence Of
rectitude.
Then the stealing ceased for awhile.
l began again to think of my stenogra-
pher and, yielding to pique. recon-
menced my efforts to break through
that iciness which characterized all
her actions toward me. She accepted
my attentions. but passively. She
even permitted me to retain her hand
when | took 1t in mine on meeting her
after a brief absence Matters pro-
crossed between us until l came to
driving her out occasionally. | was
not especially in love with her. though
l might have been had she received
my attentions more warmly. 1t was
with me rather matter of curiosity.
! though since | lived a lonely life in a
country where there was little of wo-
mans society l often thought of mar
rying Miss Wright. if could gain her
consent. for the sake of home.
hA 10 IL.
dust recommended. | charged several
persons in my employ with being the
thief. hoping that some one of them
would break down under the accusa-
ton and confess. Among others | ac
cused the woman who kept my prem
ises in order She turned on me like
fury:
IF ye want to know where yer
gold dust is goin I'll tell We. The
young Teddy you're drivin' out and
sayin' sweet things to is relevin' we Of
| it."
was too indignant to ask her a sim
gle question as to what ground she
based her charges upon. Indeed.
feared Miss Wright might hear her.
and to be charged with such crime
would break her heart. / therefore
dismissed the allegation with contempt
and from that time felt more tender
than ever toward the injured girl.
Indeed. | was daily becoming more
| and more inclined to enter into a mat
| rimonial partnership with Miss Wright
l grew more and more demonstrative,
in many ways indicating my intention.
| Miss Wright's demeanor underwent no
change. She would permit me to en-
circle her waist, to kiss her; but. as for
responding. she made no response
whatever. | confess that this excited
my amour propre. though at times
| felt inclined to cease my demonstra-
tons, feeling that | might as well
caress stone.
One evening l was sitting on a sofa
beside Miss Wright, our heads very
near together. / asked her why she
was so unresponsive. She said she
didn't know; she had always been
called undemonstrative. l wished to
propose to her, but she was so cold
that couldn't bring myself to do so.
Though my arm was abont-her wait-