Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-03-30


After that announcement matters NOV I
ed rapidly. Matthew forbade it. Mar
garet defied him, and without expla |
nation on either side their troth was
broken.
Six weeks had passed since that mis-
cradle night, and he had scarcely
caught a glimpse of her face, save at
great distance until that morning
when she came into his news store.
Two weeks dragged slowly by, an6
the morning of st. Patrick's day found
Matthew Golden arraying himself il
the splendid uniform of the Faithful
Sons of st. Patrick. He dwelt wretch
edly on the same anniversary year
ago, when Margaret had stood on the
curbstone and waved green and gold
flag as he passed by. 1t had been the
happiest day of his life, for that very
evening he had asked Margaret tc
marry him. and she had consented. By
contrast today would be the bitterest
he would ever know. 3o
He strobe down the street, admired
conscious of anything except the event
that would occur at 9 o'clock. A little
past that hour the parade would march
down the avenue past the very portals
whence Margaret would emerge chang
ed in name forever.
Trumpets blared, drums ratified, flies
rippled as the several bands of music
fell into place. There were hoarse
commands, the shuttle of countless feet
on the pavements; shrill cries from the
throngs gathered about, and the pa
rade started.
AS they neared St. Francis granite
bulk Matthew's heart almost stood
still. He prayed hard that he might
be spared the sight of Margaret's wed
ding party emerging from the church
The uniforms of the men, white and
green and gold, with splendid sashes
of emerald satin fringed with gold
made a ribbon of color down the broad
avenue. Matthew was in the outer
column, his face like ashes. his mouth
set in a grim line of despair and his
feet mechanically moving to the
strains of the "Wearin' of the Green"
Then, just before they reached the
church, he saw them-saw Corners
red head and girls figure beside him.
saw them run down the steps and en-
ter a carriage on the cross street and
roll away, while Tom Devlin waved
jovial farewell before he turned tt
watch the paraders.
Matthew's face had turned to watch
the bridal pair enter the carriage
When he faced front once more his
startled, unbelieving eyes saw Mar
garet Devlin herself-Margaret in greer
broadcloth with a great bunch OF
satin flag at-him!
Tom Devlin and his daughter follow.
ed close in the wake of the Faithful
Sons Of st. Patrick that day. Mat
thew saw them at the most unexpect.
ed corners, always smiling and waving
their flags at him. He began to fee
like one of the family again and to
realize that there was a blunder some,
where-a mistake for which he might
be devoutly thankful, for it was evil
dent that Corners had married some,
body, and Matthew did not care who ii
was so long as it was not Margaret
Devlin.
When the parade was over Tom and
Margaret were on hand to escort Mat
thew home. He entered the big tour.
ing car that sprang from somewhere
and found himself between Margaret
and her father. The girls cheeks were
flushed, and her blue eyes evaded Mat.
thew's questioning glance.
Once at the familiar house in Sew.
enty-ffth street Tom Devlin disappear
ed and left the two together.
Margaret, dear"-Matthew was be-
side her instantly-"I've been a jeal-
Gus fool Tell me the mystery Did
you marry Corners or what?'
"Of course | married Tom Corners.
That's why l let another girl go off
with him." Knocked Margaret. and then
suddenly her blue eyes filed with tears
and her head found it's place on his
broad shoulder IF you'd had a little
more faith in me. Matthew" she said.
you would have been happier your,
self and made it easier for me to do a
good deed"
You'll have to explain, dear. Pm
all at sea-" he pleaded.
Corners has been engaged to Agnes
Lee for year, and he hasn't had a
chance to show what he can do. He
needed to get out one successful draw.
ing and then he could have all the
orders he wanted. Till then he had
I to starve, and Agnes had to wait and
wait for the home she wanted. You
know Agnes is skin and bone and
homely, and I'm not. So l went to
Corners and suggested the picture
you saw on the magazine cover. |
wanted to help them, that's all. He
sold the drawing, got another and lar
ger order, and when the magazine
came out father and l bought up all
the copies we could, and they got out
second edition. What do you think
Of that? Of course Tom Corners is