Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-09-01

knew that he could rely implicitly ufan
my secrecy. for was cunscienrs
stricken az the tender welcome - ny
father and mother as they met me IT
the end Of my journey and rushed g.
my room 20 write a Wild. frightened
little note: Never let any one know, I
cautioned him. II would break ny par
ents' hearts 10 learn that { bad Dc
ceived them. Some day We shall -
married over again Until then never.
oh, never let any one know
"As the days passed and DO word
came from Douglas ! wrote again and
still again until at last came O. renl
ize the truth.
Boy" she said softly. "yoa vii
never know how much you helped NE
then. Did you guess at some hidden
sorrow that you were 30 kindf-
Poor little girl" the man said Fity
ingly. Poor little girl, And d. yeu
intend 10 sacrifice your life Ike tbs
faithful to the memory Of cur aud q
cowardY'
what else is there left for me % d..
Tommy" she asked simply.
There must be way % escape
he said. considering How oh were
you then. Nanr'
Seventeen"
"And her
"Not quite twenty
81 do not know much about these
things" he said. but believe mar
rage Of that kind can be annulled."
Nan shrank back into the chair Her
eyes were wide with horror. "Oh, NJ"
she whispered II could not bear the
disclosure after guarding the secret
for ten long years"
You must let me tell one other let.
SON" said the man presently. "and
ask his advice. shall reTeat the
story without mentioning your maine
20 Old John. who IS a lawyer. II u
Is possible to have the marriage an
nulled with perfect secrecy be viii
know"
II have heard you speak Of this John
before" she said wesrily. but this
means so very much TO me. Are you
sure that you can trust himT'
Trust Old john he exclaimed.
why. Nan. he has been getting me out
OF troubles and scrapes since my first
college days. David and Jonathan
they called us then. would trust
John with my very nfe-in fact, he
gave IL back 10 me one time. You re
member the epidemic Of typhoid that
swept through our college during my
freshman year Old John was the
first 20 succumb, and when he return
ed from home white and thin he found
me lying isolated and sick with no
money To pay for proper care. and he
took me TO his own rooms and nursed
me there through dellrium and con
valescence us tender.y and as tireless-
ly as a mother might have done OF
ten In the silence OF the night | would
awaken 10 find him bending over me
Why, Nan. II was he who wrote the
first rambling letters TO you from my
dictation. and when your answers
came he would lay them upon my pill
low and steal silently away.
Care free and thoughtless. accept
ed all Old Johns sacrifices. The debt
has always been upon one side, but II
ever time comes when can make 1t
up to him He paused. and there
was a look Of determination upon his
face which Nan had never seen there
before. II will do It," he finished
quietly.
She went to the door With him as
he was leaving.
II will call tomorrow" he said kind
ly, ''to let you know what John ad-
vises."
When he had gone she called after
him. Tommy" she cried. Tommy.
let us leave things as they are" But
he did not hear.
She was very pale when he saw her
the next afternoon.
John says that he must question
you. Man." he told her, land see the
marriage certificate before he can
form an intelligent opinion. 1t will
be a painful experience, l know, but
he is kind and thoughtful and viii
spare you all he can"
So she went with him to the great
stone building. II would rather be
Alone" she said. So he left her at the
office door. which stood ajar. She
looked so small and white and fright
ened that he came back for moment.
"Goodby. Man," he said again.
"Goodby, boy. dear" she answered.
A man was standing facing a win
dow as she entered. He looked around
at her approach, and Nan gave sharp
little cry. Unconsciously she spoke
the we'll remembered name. Doug
las" she exclaimed. Your
The thick dark hair was tinged with
gray about the temples, and his face
wore gravely stern expression. which
had given to him the name of "Old
John" I'm his college days. But the
dark eyes looking down into her own
were unchanged, and the voice had
The old musical sound.
Il am sorry to have startled Won"
he said. rs 1t possible that you did
not know?"
DO you think l would be here IL
had KNOWN she asked scornfully.
In his old masterful way the man
closed the door and drew a chair for.
ward.