Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-10-07
That looked Hike marriage

TO be ours That looked like marriage
to me-
you saw the last letter. It had me
ratified, but not ratified enough to quit.
There was map in it OF the place for
the meeting. That was plain enough.
But the our and we business in 1t
bothered me. It looked bit like a
third person I had not heard any
thing about any third person. What is
more, did not havo any use for
third person in this business. The
stars forbade tt. l wrote and told her
SO and said II there was any outsider
a sudden change of heart. Then I put
my best robe in a bag and bought a
ticket for Carr's Junction. You can
believe that while was going through
the woods was keeping a bright eye
out for any third party. Well, he was
not there, not when l arrived anyway.
Where he was all the time do not
know. l never saw him. But heard
him later. can hear him yet at night,
God help me!
"She was leaning against little tree
at the edge of the thicket when first
saw her. There was plenty of light
from the moon. and it sifted down
through the trees and fell across her
head and neck. / noticed a queer cir
clet around her neck. The stones were
like soft pink fires. had not ever
seen any like them before, and I stood
there trying to figure whether they
were rubies and how much they might
be worth. While l was wondering
about it she half turned, and got my
first look at her face.
''She was younger than had reckon
ed On and not bad to look at. but
queer. queer! Something about her
struck me all wrong-gave me sort
Of ugly shiver. Another thing struck
me all right though. That was that
she had jewels on pretty much all her
fingers. In one of my letters to her
gave her a hint about that-told her
that gems gave the stars a stronger
hold ON the wearer, and she had taken
subject.
"a bundle done up in paper was on
the ground near her. I ducked back.
very still, and got into my robe. The
arrangement in her letter was for me
to whistle when got there. I whis-
tied. She Strengthened up.
"'Come,' she said, I am waiting.'
"Her voice was rather deep and soft.
But it wasn't a pleasant softness.
Some way l did not like it any better
than liked her looks. I stepped out
into the open and gave her the grand
bow.
"The master Of the stars, at your
command said.
"'You are not as expected to see
you,' she said.
'That was sticker. It might mean
most anything. I took a chance.
"'Oh. weH,' said, we all change
1T went. we change as life
changes she said. They never found
you, did they?
"From the way she said it saw she
expected me to say NO. So I said NO
"'That was left for me to return
and do she went on with kind OF
queer joy that gave me the shivers
again. The instant saw your state
ment in the newspaper knew it was
your soul calling to mine across the
ages, "Our boat is at the shore"'
'In that last letter she mentioned
a ship. And, now, here was this boat
business. (Afterward I looked for g
sign Of either, but could not find any
I thought perhaps it would explain
the other part Of the we and our
If I was going to elope by sea want
| ed to know it, and said as much.
"'Are you steadfastY she asked.
"Well, there was only one answer tt
that. I said I was. She opened hel
| package and took out a coil of rope
It was this gray-white rope, sort Of
clothesline, and it looked strong.
"What nowT asked her.
"To bind us together she said
Close, close together, and then thu
plunge! This time there shall be NJ
failure. They shall not find one Of III
without the other. You are not afraid
afraid! Ny neck was bristHng.
"'Go slow said, thinking mighty
hard. 7 don't quite see the point O.
this
Didn't I curse myself for not re
membering what I had written her
No clew, except that the poor soul wa
plumb dippy-too dippy for me to mar
ry at any price. 1t wouldn't have hell
in the courts. Yet there might hav
been $4,000 of diamonds on her.
suppose she felt me weakening.
"'You dare to break our pact? sh
says in a voice like woman on tn
stage. Then she changed and spok
very gently. You are looking at Ties
gewgaws, she said and took a dia
mond circlet from her finger. VIVA
do these count for?' And she put it i
my hand. Another ring dropped a
my feet Mind, she was giving theI
to me-. These are as nothing compal
ed to what we shall have she wen
on, after the plunge. Waltz
"She had dropped the rope, and no,
she went into her paper parcel agar
knooIiDO at NV side 7 had Stnorod +