Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-09-29

A flush stole slowly up Sheila'S face,
and gave glow even to the roots of
her hair. She could not endure these
references to the dark gulf between
her and Dyck Calhoun.
MY lord" she said sharply. sit Is
not meet that you should say such
things. Mr.. Calhoun was jailed f5r
killing my father-let it be at that.
The last time you saw me you offered
me your hand and heart. Well, do
you know / had almost made up my
mind to accept your hand, then the
news of this trouble was brought to
you and you left us-to ourselves and
our dangers!"
The governor started. you are as
unfriendly as a 'terral garamighty';
you make me draw my breath thick
as the blackamOors, as they say. 1
did what | thought best in the circum-
stances" he said. 81 did not think
you would be in any danger. 1 had
not heard of the Maroons being so far
south as Salem"
yet it is the man who foreseeS
chances that succeeds, as you should
know by now, your honor. 1 was
greatly touched by the offer you made
me-indeed yes" she added, seeing the.
rapt, eager look in his face. Il had
been told what had upset me, that
Dyck Calhoun was guilty of killing my
father, and all the world seemed dread
full. Yes, in the reaction, it was al
most on my tongue to say yes to you,
for you are good talker, you had
skill in much that you did, and with
honest advice from wife might do
much more. So | was in a mind to
say yes. / had had much to try me,
| indeed, so very much. Ever since L
first saw Dyck Calhoun he had been
the one man who had ever Influenced
me. He was forever in my mind even
when he was in prison-oh, what is
prison, what is guilt even to a girl
when she loves! Yes, l loved him.
There it was. He was ever on my
mind, and | came here to Jamaica
he was here-for what else? Salem
could have been restored by Darius
Boland or others, or l could have sold
it. l came to Jamaica to find him
here-unWomanly perhaps you will
say"
Unusual only, with a genius-like
you"
Then you do not speak what is in
your mind, your honor You say what
you feel is the right thing to say
the slave of circumstances. | will be
wholly frank with you. l came here to
see Dyck Calhoun for l knew he
would not come to see me- Yes, there
it was a real thing in his heart If
he had been a lesser man than he is,
he would have come to America when
he was freed from prison. But he
did not, would not, come. He knew
he had been found guilty of killing my
father, and that for him and me there
could be no marriage-indeed, he
never asked me to marry him. Yet
! | know he would have done SO if he
could. When l came to know what
he was jailed for doing | felt there
was no place for him and me together
ing out to him, and | felt there was
but one thing left for me to do, and
that was to make it impossible for
me to think of him even or for him
to think of me. Then you came and
offered me your hand. 1t was a hand
most women might have been glad to
accept from the standpoint of material
things. And you were Irish like my
self, and like the boy | loved. l was
sick of the robberies of life and time,
and | wanted to be out of it all in
some secure place. What place so
secure from the sorrow that was eat
ing at my heart as marriage! 1t said
no to every stir Of feeling that was
veXing me, to every show Of love or
remembrance. So | listened to you.
1t was not because you We're a gov
ernor or a peer-nO, not that! For
even in Virginia l had offers from
one higher than yOurself-and young
err, and a peer also. No, it was not
material things that influenced me,
but your own intellectual eminence;
for you have more brains than most
men, as you know so we'll"
The governor interrupted her with
q gesture and a burst Of emotion.
mo, no, I am not so vain as you
think. If I were l should have seen
at Salem that you meant to say yes"
"Yet you know well you have gifts,
though you have made sad mistakes
here. Do not think it was your per
sonality, your looks that induced me
to think of you, to listen to you.
When Mr.. Calhoun told me the truth,
and gave me a letter he had written
to me-"
"a letter-to you"
There was surprise in the COVER
nor's voice-surprise and chagrin, for
the thing had moved him powerfully.
Eyes, a letter to me which he never
meant me to have. 1t was kind of
diary of his heart, and it was written
even while was landing on the island
on Christmas day. He gave 1t to me
to read, and when | read 1t l saw
there was no place for me in the
world eXceDt q convent or marriage.