Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-07-08

and took from his pocket a letter
which he unfolded, scanning It anx-
iously the while. Rapidly his eyes
covered its contents. They were brief.
and he had read them so often 1t was
not necessary to follow word for word.
The letter ran:
Dear Phil-Do. please. put your pride in
your pocket and come to the dear old
beach once more. Come today. for / must
see you Yours. ISABELLE
81 wonder what it is now" he unused
impatiently, and he slowly tore the
letter into fragments and cast bit by
bit to the caprice of the breeze.
Then he raised himself and looked
out upon the sea.
I'll win out yetr' he cried ironically.
an fetch them over! But not for all
the Benton millions would | give up
my wOrk-good. hard work. Oh. the
satisfaction of living ones own way!
The wholesome joy of earning ones
own bread! The freedom from being
eternally branded "a rich mans SOM"
Phil! Phil!'
A girl in a white dress came running
down Il pathway in the rocks. She ran
with such speed that the suspicion of
love attached to her little white shoes.
There was no interval of waiting on
the part of the man. The brawny fig
ure of Benton hurried to meet her,
and their greeting was affectionate, for
he took her in his arms and kissed her.
She looked at him like one who trusted
in him and loved him.
"Tm so glad you have come" she
cried happily, even though 1t is the
eleventh hour. Tomorrow 1t would
have beer too late"
TOO late! What do you meanw
he asked, drawing back sharply. The
look in his eyes had been tender. At
her words it grew alert and tense.
"What do | mean?' she repeated.
why, is it possible you have not
heard? Haven't they told you? They
said they had"
Il have not heard anything. l have
not seen any of them since the-since
father died. Tell me. Isabelle. what
new foolishness is brewing"
''Take me away with you now-to-
day, Phil" she begged. "They are
determined that shall marry Donald.
Mother has her heart set on 1t and
threatens all manner Of things when
rebel. Donald is positively persecut.
ing in his attentions, and | loathe him
even though he is your brother.
cannot help it, Think Of the injustice
of the will. He gloats over It,"
She spoke rapidly, excitedly. glanc-
ing now and then in the direction from
being interrupted before she had fin
ished her plea.
80 that's the latest deviltryT he
blurted. and held her hands so tightly
that he hurt them. They're going to
throw me down again, are they?" His
voice grew hard as the look in his
face
He sprang to his feet and stood
glowering at Craigshead.
"They have taken my birthright from
me; they have maligned my good
name: they have scoffed at and scorn-
ed me- humbled and belittled me i'm
measurably. merely because | choose
to follow my own inclinations In the
matter of occupation. But swear
they shall not take you from me!'
The girls face frightened as she
stood beside him.
Then | shall go with you-todayw
she exclaimed. clinging to him. in
spite of all can say or do. mother Is
giving dinner tomorrow to announce
my engagement to Donald. In month
we leave for Europe, and it is arrang-
ed that | shall marry him early this
autumn. Oh, it is uncomfortable! 1t
seems as If | shall die If | do not es-
cape It ALL"
Il will not take you away" he snap
ped, yet tendery catching at and re-
straining locks Of her yellow hair that
the breeze was playing with. Il never
stole anything In my life, and | posi-
lively refuse to steal my wife. Don