Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-09-13

1t the race and form reflected in the on.
posite mirror, Then her look came back
70 the letters, and she stood for several
minutes with them in her hand.
elf only dared to destroy IT, she NUT.
tered "or even to open and read it.
And if could find his. But. of course,
she'd be sure to hide that. dare say it
lying against her heart this minute" she
added with bitter sheer. But what's
this? Another envelope directed to him,
declared Not quite SO prettily written,
eh? Bot well enough for my purpose; for
have 1t now. Mr.. Walter Maynard
shall be tortured by suspense for little
while, and mayhap lose his lady love alto.
gether. Fit punishment for his desertion
OF me for a newer face.r
AS she muttered the words between her
clenched teeth, the envelope was hastily
examined and found empty, was sealed
and stamped. Then the little pile of let
ters was carefully replaced exactly as
Edith had left it, except that the empty
envelope was substituted for the full one
directed to Walter Maynard That Bell
still held in her hand, while again she
glanced about the room. She could not
quite make up her mind to destroy it, but
it must be hidden somewhere. A pair OF
tall, rather narrow-necked vases stood
upon the mantle; they were merely orna-
mental, never used never looked into, and
not transparent. A happy thought struck
her; she hastily crossed the room, and,
standing on tiptoe. dropped the obnoxious
letter into one of them, bending it a trifle
to secure its fall to the bottom. She heard
it, and turned away with triumphant
smile, muttering: I'm take it out some
time; bot it might lie there for years and
nobody be the WISER"
At the same instant the door opened,
and Edith entered. Belle started and col
ored guilty, but her friend scarcely no.
ticed, so engrossed was she with her own
happy thoughts.
$50 you have brought me the books?'
she said, glancing at a parcel on the table.
Thank You very much; for, as all my
packing is still to be done, should hard
ly have had time to go for them.
you're very welcome. And how, as l
have my things on, you'd better let me
mail your letters. see you have several
of them there ready, and if they do
not reach the lamp-post within the next
ten minutes, they'll be too late for the next
gathering up"
Edith hesitated and blushed.
''Tll promise faithfully not to look at the
address on q single one," said Belle, hold
ing out her hand for them with teasing
laugh; -
II don't like to trouble or tire you," OBJ
.jected Edith; '.you have already had quite
long walk"
Nonsense I'm not bit tired, and it
won't trouble me in the least. The near
est iamp-post is hardly square off,
Edith was more than half reluctant to
accept the offer, but as the putting on of
her own walking dress, hat, and gloves
would consume some little time, she saw
that this was her only chance of sending
her letters in season; and taking them
from the table--as she did so, adroitly
slipping out of sight, between the others,
the one that bore her lovers name-she
put them into Bellies hand, saying with a
smile and blush: II shall be much
obliged; for one is to Aunt Clifford to let
them know when to expect me home and
it ought to 60 by the first mail to insure
its reaching her in time.'
''All's fair in love, and she'd no business
to come here and cut me OUT. muttered
Belle, as she slipped the empty envelope
into the letter box
CHAPTER III.
1t was a mild spring day, and Walter
Maynard sat at the open window of his of
flee. The postman, as he passed, handed
him three letters-two encased in yellv
envelopes directed in large, bold charac
tiers, the other tiny, delicately tinted ant
perfumed thing, bearing his name and ad
dress written in graceful female hand
a hand which he had seen several times
before, and now recognized with thrill
Of delight, which was yet not wholly I'M
mixed with doubt and anxiety, as pushing
the others aside, he carefully broke the
seal of this.
His countenance fell; blank astonish-
ment, bitter disappointment, deep cha
grin, and burning anger and indignation
were by turns written on his frank, hand
some features. The envelope was empty.
He tossed it from him, set his foot upon it
and ground 1t into the floor with the heel
of his heavy boot. then snatched it up
again, tore 1t into fragments and threw il
into the CRATE.
II will forget her she is unworthy of
me; utterly unworthy of such love as
have lavished upon her :" he groaned,
dropping his face into his hands. "A re-
lection kindly worded and showing some
appreciation of the offer have made her,
some sympathy for my disappointment
would have been hard enough to bear
God knows, but this--this is ten times
worse; for it can mean nothing but scorn.
contempt, and aversion. And yet how ut.
terly unlike anything could have mag
ined OF her-so sweet, and gentle, and un-
assuming; so modcstly, yet evidently
pleased with my attentions"
He rose, shut the window, seized his
hat. and going out, hurried down the
street with giant strides, vainly striving
by rapid motion to still the tumult within
his breast. and withdraw the barbed arrow
that was ranking in his heart.
CONCLUDED TOMORROW.