Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-07-17
Gilbert $
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The little town of Bentonville was
gayly decorated in honor of the cele.
bration of homecoming week Elab-
crate preparations had been complet.
ed to welcome the return of the sons
and daughters Of the little inland
town. From the letters received it
seemed as though the guests were as
glad to come back as they had been
eager to depart.
"Have you heard that Gilbert Glib
son is coming in his private carr
asked Cicely of her friend Babette
as they walked down the main street.
'fIts nearly ten years since he was
here" returned Babette. Nov that
he is so successful and called The
Merchant King of Rochester, I won.
der If he will remember many Of his
old school friends?"
Didn't you correspond with him? ]
always thought he favored YOU" In
quired Cicely.
"Yes, Gilbert was my first sweet
heart, but l wasn't his last, for OF
course he is very popular now. Lit,
tie did we dream then that this awk'
ward youth would rise after failure
and defeat to achieve such unparal,
leled success"
II never knew anyone so cOnsclen-
tious, with such sense of itegrity
and uprightness. It kept him all his
life from having a good time" said
Cicely.
"He was so interesting that you
liked him in spite Of his plain, IN
comely appearance. He could dis,
cuss even the weather in the most
absorbing way and had the greatest
aptitude to say the right thing at the
right time. No one has interested me
half as much SINCE" said Babette. 81
don't deny l have encouraged others
81 presume it will be a gladstone
day when you meet again." said Cfce
ly wondering how many admirers hel
friend had had in the interval.
SIT may be Out Of sight, out o.
! mind I haven't heard from him il
years. Really I haven't given hin
much thought except when I've heard
of his fortune"
"It's just as we'll, Babette. For ht
told me when I was East, in burs
of confidence, that the seal ring ht
wore was his mascot and though tht
girl who gave it to him was mos
likely married, he never would par
with his good luck ring"
"Then that was the reason why
never heard from him. You know
was engaged to young man from
Washington, but we agreed to dis
agree after a few weeks. I wish, Oh
how I wish, had that little seal rim
now"
where is it?"
Il 'T gave it away ages ago to my III
tie niece who lost it, and I ne~e
took the trouble to look for It,"
eff it's only plain ring. why don
you buy another exactly like it?
suggested the fertile brain of CicelJ
''What a splendid ideal" Let
stop at the jewelers. right now"
Babette bought the ring and return
ing home was told young man wa
waiting to see her Quickly ope1
ing the little box she slipped the rim
upon her finger.
'Gilbert!" she exclaimed with he
heart leapilg with joy and Thankful
, ness that she had anticipated hi
visit.
WELCOME, [ am so pleased to sc
you. You have improved so much
looks I would scarcely have recot
nized you," said Babette, graspin
. his hand.
"You haven't changed for the be
ter; that would be an impossibility
-. he said, gazing admiringly at her wi
lowy form and beautiful face. ''Tf
years that have flown by have dor
nothing to rsar your exquisite beaut
and grace. I find that I've been labo
ing under a delusion for years.
. thought you were married"
"No, I'm heart whole and fame
free though most of the crowd "
{ went with are married and some
e them waste their time wondering WI
I'm still SINGLE" she answered givir
him an arch look which spoke VIC
. umes and saying to herself" "wt
don't he notice the ring"
f "You still wear that poor lit
h ring, I see. Have you never take
it off, Mine is still on my finge
: even though I thought you loved a
- other"
n t'Gilbert!" answered the girl a Ii
E. tie ashamed of her duplicity.
n 'I can't believe that I deserve tn
Unreasonable boundless joy, but jul
u as in the past this little ring has bee
a constant reminder of you, so I
: have perpetually in my mind only tt
= thought of future welfare and felie
ty."
+ The young mans face beamed wit