Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-20
Strange chapter in,the strange romance

Strange chapter insthe strange romance
interviewer with my lite! This mans
death, 20 sudden, 20 little tobe hooked for,
had come to cut the knot Of all the doubts.
the difficulties, the despair which else
might hare enveloped the whole future Of
two lives! 1t seemed to me. that If ever
saw the finger of destiny in any human
event. saw 1t there.
only waited long enough to make sure
there was no mistake, and then hurried
back to Miss Knowles--to Miss Knowles?
that is, to Mrs. Huntey. Yes, for the
first time, realized that it was husbands
dreadful death that | was fastening to
communicate to his newly made widow,
and shrunk from my task.
/ Knocked gently at her door. She
opened it, and, seeing me, looked at me
for the moment in silent surprise: then,
putting the natural Interpretation of her
own absorbing thought on my return, SO
much before the time set, she cried out,
II am too late, then, after all2 He is
here already ?''
..You have nothing more TO fear from
him." said, gravely, trying to break the
shock to her by degrees. But she did not
understand.
"Nothing to fear, do you mean. from
from my husband?' she said, slowly. with
perplexed look in my face.
You have nothing more to fear from
the man who was your husband re-
peated distinctly. This time she caught
my meaning. She grew white and her
lips trembled so that she could scarcely
arliculate the words. "Tcll nc
Igave her the briefest and most soft
ened outline possible Of what had hap
pened. She stood like a stone, only her
face showing that she heard. never saw
in any human countenance such an eX
preston as that In hers while she listened
pity. relief, awe. all struggling together.
Then she moved herlips, but heard moth
ing; suddenly she dropped to the floor
and buried her face in the soft cushions,
while voice should not have known for
here, said "Go-leave me alone!"
had no words for such emotions rs
hers in that moment; | could only obey
her in silence. 8sszs
As walked away, my mind going over
all that had occurred, could not help re-
calling the old saying. that man proposes
and God disposes. This scheme of Web
ster's, laid with such malice and treachery
we had reason afterward to think that he
had access to her writng-desk, and SO dis
covered her secret-this plot. say, on
which he had counted to crush her utterly,
had been the instrument, in the hands of
q mysterious Providence, of working her
deliversnce; working it after a terrible
manner. it is true, but not the less freeing
her future from its lifelong shadow.
pass by all the history of those sad
days, days of sadness if not Of mourning
Of sadness If not of mourning-.he months
Of seclusion and waiting-to time when
could claim her for my own before the
eyes of the world, and call my neighbor,
my friend, by the dearest name Of wife.
"Elinor, said to her on our wedding
day. asking the Inevitable question which
! suppose every lover since Adams time
has asked, ''Teil me when did you begin
to care for me?"
George" she answered. looking at ME
with the sunshiny smile in which there
was never any ice now, do you remem-
Der my saying, the day we met, that
was believer in phvsiognomy? l think
the mischief was done when you looked at
me with your generous. honest eyes, and
offered me that rash pledge of friendship;
but l did not know it them she added
more gravely, "or should have run away
from you"
"And you dare to tell me SO p said.
assuming jesting tone, for didn't want
those troubles to cloud her face. Don't
YOU know that it is high treason now !?
From this time forth you are to consider
yourself as having no past, nothing but a
present. The tyrant has spoken Do you
mean 70 obeyP"
II obey, George" she said, her lovely
dark eye looking earnestly into mine; land
l thank Heaven for giving me present
that makes obedience easy"
took the soft, white hand that was 80
near mine. and-but 60 back to your own
honeymoon for the rest; for. to use my
wife's quotation. ~ never kiss aud tell. :"