Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-09-15
ARMSBYS
CAPTURE
By DONALD CHAMBER IN

Armsby was to be his aunt's heir
The day he came Of age the old lady
sent for him and thus addressed him:
Bert, I wish you to marry. I take
it for granted that you are fancy free.
I would not for the world force you to
wed any one you don't love. There is
girl who am sure you would love
II you only knew her as do. I wish
you to become acquainted with her,
and If, after certain time, you don't
fancy her I shall not insist on your
yielding to my wishes
Il don't wish to marry and I won't"
"But you are not so unreasonable as
to avoid the girl have mentioned?"
eyes, am"
Perhaps it was the fact Of her neph-
ew's Indifference to her fortune, per
haps her great affection for him, per
haps desire to have her own way.
AT any rate, the old lady resolved to
conquer. She talked of other matters
for awhile, then said carelessly:
"How would you like trip abroad?"
II should be delighted, but it would
cost several thousand dollars
II will furnish the amount necessary
on one condition-that on your return
you spend week with me-"
The conditions were accepted. Arms
by went abroad and on his return
| went directly to his arnt's country
house, where she was at re time. at
dinner he was presented to Miss Lucy
Ellison. He saw at once that he had
been drawn into a trap. He had
agreed to spend a week In the house
and was to be besieged by this young
| woman.
This was true, and there was more
that he was not aware of. Miss ELL
son had way with her that was very
taking with men. No one could find
out exactly why. but they tumbled
over one another in endeavoring to
win smile from her. Sometimes she
was coy, sometimes aggressive. She
knew when to be the one and when to
be the other.
| Armsby was indignant at the trick
his aunt had played him. After din
ner, finding her alone, he said to her:
Aunt, you have brought me here in
order that this girl may get me for q
husband. I will keep my contract.
will remain with you a week, but you
may tell your friend that I will have
! nothing to do with her. I shall expect
| you to order my meals served in my
| room"
Certainly. Bert; anything you
WISH"
The next morning Armsby sent
downstairs for the morning paper and
sat himself down by his window to
read the news. CHANGING up from it,
there in a hammock swung between
two trees was Miss Ellison in q pure
| white summer costume, a dream of
| loneliness. There were no windows in
Armsbys room that did not face In
that direction, and the only way he
could shut out the view was to draw
the shade. This he did, but the in
terror Of his room soon grew tiresome,
and he raised it again.
He stood looking down on the
charmer. trying to conjure up some
plan for freeing himself from the
siege to which he must be subjected
for a week. He was free to spend q
portion Of each day elsewhere, but be
had no friends in the neighborhood, and
how can q man amuse himself alone
He began to realize, to speak in com
monplace language, that he was in G
| hole.
He went down to the library, select
ed book, returned and sat himself
down to read. But somehow in spite
of all he could do his eyes would wan
der from the book and out to the CIR
in the hammock. Surely it was {
pleasing picture, so relaxed. The fold.
of the skirt hung gracefully ovel
the side Of the hammock; the point OF
dainty white slipper peeped beyond
fringe Of lace
) Armsby sent down word to his aun
that he wished his room changed tt
, the other side of the house. Aftel
, luncheon he went for a walk. but h'
did not go far-the day was too warm
Returning, he took siesta and, whe1
he awoke, went to the window. Their
sat or, rather, reclined Miss Ellison OF
r rustic bench, propped by half doz
en- pillows. She saw him, waved he
hand to him and smiled.
The smile was telling shot. Arms
by couldn't forget it. He rubbed hi
eyes to get rid Of it, but it would no
] be downed. There was something 81
d unusual in this barefaced attempt t.
r capture him that it began to tnteres
him. Barefaced or not, its very ag
: gressiveness captivated him. He ha(
Y a mind to let the girl have her wa!
D just to see what she would do will
him. Besides, how was he to live TO
J., week by himself? The first da.
seemed interminable What would b.
the last? An eternity. Anyway, b.
: would rather stand siege, with tn
. freedom Of the house, than shut up Il
Q his room.
So he lowered his flag so far as thi