Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-01-24

attractive about her. Her dainty
figure, her low. musical voice, and the
winsome grace of every motion, was
pleasing, indeed, to man with the
fastidious notions about women that
Alton Bruce held.
Bruce took Clyde home next day
AS Clyde was lifted out of the sleigh
at her uncle's gate she saw DIR. Nc
kinstry down below at his own door;
and she contrasted the two rides-the
two men; it was only natural. Mr..
Bruce at 26; the doctor ten years
older One with the polish of society,
the grace of youth, the evident wish
to please; the other with shadow of
sorrow hanging about him.
This ride has been altogether too
| Short" Mr.. Bruce was saying as these
| thoughts ran idly through her mind.
| 1--WE haven't half finished our CONVEX
sation. | wonder when you will visit
your friend again?"
Next week"
That is so distant and uncertain.
Is it?" she laughed. And then she
gave him the invitation he meant she
should.
In a few evenings Mr.. Brue came
over with a message for Bessie. He
meant to be charming. for he thought
a woman who was worth pleasing at
all, worth some endeavOr, at least.
And he liked to kindle this sweet face
into interest and animation. She was
so guileless. so winsome, and never
gave you the impression that she was
weighing every word or look, to see
how far it might be made to so. He
had met good many women, this
Alton Bruce, and he had no fancy for
being held to strict account.
From that time, there was great deal
of going backwards and forwards from
Farmer Donovan's to ''Trainor's." Mr..
Bruce made excellent friends with
Bessie. He was one of those men who
are always ready to do favor, yet
never oficious. Bessie declared him
as good as woman. He came for
Clyde, or took her home; he spent
evenings in reading to her, or they dis.
cussed topics that held singular and
vital interest for Clyde. All this with.
out any attentions that were positively
lover-like. He prided himself consid'
erably upon his honor; and then, too,
he did have strong interest else
where.
But Clyde, having no safeguard, and
knowing little of the world-little of
men, save what she had learned OF
one essentially noble and true, took
this glitter for pure gold.
nio Of l.
ly arrived. Clyde was to be brides
maid. Clyde ribboned and Powered
Bessie Bessie did the same for Clyde,
Clyde had some little last errand
through the hall. A hand stopped her.
"Oh, Mr.. Bruce!" A strange terror
came over her.
Forgive me! How lovely you look!
One man here tonight is to be envied.
No, I'm not going to echo the shallow
platitude about the bridegroom. l
mean Mark Trainor. I wish l was in
his place"
All this in a rapid whisper that
seemed but breath. Clyde blushed
and trembled He saw the rift of color
even by the dim light; he saw the
culver of the slender fingers, and just
one instant he clasped her in his arms
and kissed the fragrant lips vehem.
emily.
She forgot what she wanted. She
went back to the group, frightened
and GREATNESS. Mark took her in
charge, and the procession was mar
shalled downstairs.
Quite late in the evening, tired and
excited, Clyde stole into a quiet cor
ner, by an open window. Some one
was smoking without, on the long bal
cony, and talking low. She did not
pay any attention to it, yet somehow,
these words caught her ear: 1T will
be your turn next, Bruce. It's lucky
Hates coming up here to look after
you. These country lasses are very
bewitching, and I'm afraid you've been
indulging trifle. That Miss Donovan
is pretty"
Eyes; and yet not to be compared to
Hates regality. l don't lose my head
so easily
adieu to charming flirtations. Make
the best of it tonight, AL
She heard them moving off, A chill
ana aWful quiet fell over her, chain
ing her to the spot. The lights burned
dimly, the music came to her as some
echo long way distant. The figures
moving about were unreal and dis
torted in shape. Bessie, there in her
flowing white robe, looked like
ghost. A thousand wild and fantastic
thoughts rushed through her brain;
she might have laughed or cried, If
some icy terror had not clutched her
with its fierce grasp.
She never knew how she came out
of it all. Only afterward she found
herself laughing and talking and even
dancing; but it seemed some strange
third person. She kept close to Mark
She prayed for the interminable night
with it's senseless revelry to come to