Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-05-18

mountain"
II wish to God you and I were on
Music mountain again 1 never lived
or did anything worth living for, till
you came to me that day on Music
mountain. It's true 1 was thinking of
what happened when spoke-but not
| to remind you you owed anything to
me. You don't; get that out of your
head"
II do, though"
| 81 spoke in the way I did because l
wanted to remind you of what might
happen some time when I'm not near"
II shan't be caught off my guard
again. l know how to defend myself
from a drunken man."
He could not restrain all the bitter
ness he felt. "That man." he said de-
liberately, sis more dangerous sober
than drunk"
"When I can't defend myself, my
uncle will defend me-"
ASK him to let me help"
'He doesn't need any help. And he
would never ask you, if he did. 1 can't
live at home and know you; that is
why ask you not to come again"
He was silent. Don't you think
all things considered"-she hesitated
as if not knowing how easiest to put
it-"you ought to be willing to shake
hands and say goodbye"
"Why, if you wish it," he answered,
taken aback. And he added more qui-
city, eyes, if you say So"
81 mean for good"
81" he returned, pausing, "don't."
"You are not willing to be fair"
81 want to be fair-I don't want to
promise more than human nature will
stand for-and then break my word"
81 am not asking a whole lot"
"Not a whole lot to you, I know.
But do you really mean that you don't
want me ever to speak to you again?"
"If you must put it that way-yes."
"WelP'-he took a long breath
there is one way to make sure of that.
I'll tell you honestly l don't want to
stand in the way of such wish, if
it's really yours. AS you have said, it
isn't fair, perhaps, for me to go against
it. Got your pistol with you, NanT
mo"
"That is the way you take care of
yourself, is it,"
I'm not afraid Of you"
"You ought to be ashamed of your
self not to be. And you don't even
know whom you'll meet before you can
lock the front door again. You prom
Used me never to go out without it
Promise me that once more, will your
She did as he asked her. Nov, give
me your hand, please" he went on
Take hold of this"
"What is it?"
1.-THE butt of my revolver. Don't be
afraid" She heard the slight click OF
the hammer with thrill of strange ap
prehension. "What are you doing?'
she demanded hurriedly.
"Put your finger on the trigger-so
1t is cooked. Now pull"
She caught her breath. "What dc
you mean"
He was holding the gun in his two
hands, his fingers overlapping hers, the
muzzle at the breast of his jacket
Pull" he repeated, that's. all yol
have to do; I'm steadying it."
She snatched back her hand. "Wha
do you mean?" she cried. For me t
, kill you? Shame"
"You are too excited-all I asked
you was to take the trouble to crool
your finger-and I'll never speak t.
you again-you'll have your wish for
ever"
SHAME"
"Why shame?" he retorted. II meal
what / say. If you meant what yol
said, why don't you put it out of m.
power ever to speak to you? Do 20,
want me to pull the trigger?"
II told you once I'm not an assas
sin-how dare you ask me to do sucl
thing?" she cried furiously.
D "Call y,ur uncle" he suggested
ISOOllys lOu may hOlh ILio
so you'll know he's in no danger. TAX
D my gun and call your uncle"
r "Shame on you"
Call Gale-call any man in the ga
they'll jump at the chance"
t "You are a cold-blooded, bruta
J. wretch-Tm sorry ever helped you
r I'm sorry 1 ever let you help me-rn
e sorry ever saw you"
I She sprang away before he coul
n interpose a word. He stood stunne,
by the suddenness Of her outburst, try
e ing to listen and to breathe at tn
same time. He heard the front doc
close, and stood waiting. But no fur
|. Their sound from the house greeted hi
ears.
t "And thought" he muttered t
himself, 'that might calm her down
e little. pm certainly in wrong, now.