Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-21
Tales and Sketehes.
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAYS PAPER.

his tightly closed lips, and the fierce, yet
thoughtful glance he gave at his clenched
fist, finished it for him. Mrs. Purley only
smiled family in return and, after a show
| of drinking tea, Alice rose with sigh,
and prepared to resume her work.
''Good-by, God bless You, Alicer' said
Paul, taking her in his arms, and look
ing despite his hard features and grimy
blackness, very tenderly upon her.
you're getting pale. my girl, very pale
and thin. But we won't despair yet you
have taught me better than that; and
after all, l find there is hope for u.s.
The girl looked inquiringly and loving
ly at him; for the young ironer loved and
trusted this laborer as well as though she
had been lady of high degree, and he
had worn acoronet.
''No not tonight he said. ''But
cheer up Alice; see way to our happi-
ness yet; so kissing her on her forehead,
and shaking her mothers hand he left
"She little thinks the hope l have is in
the Emigration Commissioners, he NUT
tered, "andthatI see she won't have to
tend her poor mother for long. It's sad
sort of hope at the best"
So he strobe off, and was that night the
center of several groups who wanted to
hear all about young Tolmaine, for it
caused quite commotion in the little
town, and those who had known and quar-
elled with the criminal, was interestedto a
degree only second to the principal himself
Paul rejected nearly all the liquor press
ed upon him; but he had, perhaps, just
heated his brain a little, and so was inn
PEELED loudly to denounce the fugitive.
and to declare that it would be the hhppi-
est day of his life if he could but discover
him, and set the police on his track.
"And no money, matesr" he exclaimed,
bringing his bony and massive fists down
on the mahogany bar with force that
Jared every bottle on the shelves, ''no
money mind you, that I should earn in
my life, would be so sweet as that two
hundred pounds for transporting the will
ain.
to the echo, and, for that night, Paul was
a lion in the town.
Next week, as he had feared, Paul was
discharged from the mills. He wrote TO
the Emigration Office, and found that he
was suitable person, and that there
would be no difficulty in the way of his
getting out. He had at last, broached
the subject to Alice, who, as he well knew
would 60 anywhere with him; but then
there was the invalid, sinking mother.
Even if some scheme could be divised for
her support, how was Alice to leave herp
They had no other relation in the world ;
and to leave her mother now would be,
as Alice well knew, to leave her to die
among strangers. Paul felt this too, and
did not press his wish. He seldom went
near the little cottage, partly from dread
he had of being seen habitually lettering
about, and partly because it gave him
keen pain to see how Alice would strive
to call up her old bright smile on her pale
face. He grew pale enough himself in a
week or so, and sadly he used to face the
low hill at the back of Edgefleld-this
was his fayorate walk, as it was so soli-
tary in those dark November days. Work
was very scarce hundreds about that
part were half furnishing; and although
Paul scrupled not to turn his hands to any
thing, he could scarcely pay for his poor
lodging, and find daily bread for himself
SO he used to patrol for hours this lone
ly walk, with melancholy and sometimes
with very bitter thoughts and thus he
had paced one afternoon, just as the win
try sun was setting behind the hills which
bound the western side of the country,
till he leant thoughtfully against tree,
and looked across the empty duh fields,
to the scattered houses on the skirts of
the town, beyond them into the High
Street, where, already, one to two jets of
gas were burning in the larger shops.
He thought of Alice and her struggles, of
his own sufferings, and contrasted their
wants with the luxury of the large houses
which frowned from the knolls around
and even with the modest comforts of the
less pretentious houses near, growing
more and more bitter as he broOded.
The sound OF steps close at hand caus-
ed him to shrink into the shadow of q tree,
and two persons went slowly past, and
took a by-path, which led to the church
and vicarage, and so throught the town.
One was Miss Rachel, the wears young
est daughter, and the other-Paul pressed
his hand on his brow, as though he feared
he should faint with the eXcitement-was
his hunted enemy! there. disguised by
strange clothes, a false mustache and wig,
was Andrew Tolmaine. Ha he was his
prize-his alone. He suddenly remem-
bered that just behind him lay some
stakes, left there for their work on the
next day, he dashed to these, and select
ing the heaviest, stole swiftly, but very
stealthily, after the retreating pair. His
eyes cleaned like fire, while his power
full frame and heavy club made him an
antagonist from whom the strongest
might shrink.
As he stole after them, carefully keep
ing them in sight, he hurriedly debated
whether he should take him then and
there, or go to the station, and give infor-
nation. Have him he would, dead or
alive-if dead, perhaps the better, The
wild beast in his nature was reused, and
he hoped that the fugitive would resist,
that he might be justified in killing him.
Should be dash at him at oncep No, Miss
Rachel had always been kind to him and
to Alice ,and he would spare her. They
turned a corner; he hurried on lest he
should miss them, and found they had
stopped at the angle. He was forced to
pass them and as he did so, he heard the
young lady say, "Come in for few
minutes"
That was enough; he would take him
as he came out again. So he watched
them into the vicarage, and, creeping
close to the house, saw them enter q