Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-11
Gales aud Skstfhts.
PoLLY's VICTORY.

ly as the light. a French court brilliant
costumes, and acting tha. is notto Be spok-
EN- OF made up the tout ensemble that de-
lighted the good people of PRtston for one
night at least The proceeds were to be.
devoted to charitable purposes. Thump
went the canes and umbrellas, and with
every "coming" ON of Kitty Bessom, the
beauty of Pittston, such a vigorous clap
ping of hands ensued that one was fain. to
hold his ears, or be deafened with the ap-
plause. s4..f tse-s &c - m -
The National Hall was decorated with
banners. Deacons and doctors and law
yers had spent a week on it's embeIlish-
ments. The Pittst6n band had been prac-
ticing for months, and wound up by playing
Hail, Columbia, :" in their grandest Style
Very reluctantly the people left the
scene Of entertainment, all talking togeth-
err fasfsess& saaass sag -egsags
The wide green in front was frightened
all over by the Illuminated windows, save
where the posts and primitive chains made
long shadows in the grass. --ss-s.
at beats all holler, y said Deacon Simp-
son; "but felt sort o. guilty."
''Well, dunno," responded Aunt Me-
thuin; "t's got up for q charitable pup
pos; but reckon 'taint gret many re-
moves from theatre arter all. What an.
awful smart young man that French count
was. They say he's clerk TO the new
store. And declare fort if didn't feel
kinder bad for Bob Langdon when he was
a-makin' love to Kitty, all in gold and
scarlet, with his bobbin' white feathers
WASN'T Kitty Just little witch ?n quer-
led Libby, the deacons daughter ;o s.she
looked SO sort O. real pleased. If I'd bin
Bob Langdon, I'd ruther took the count
myself than the clod-hopper. What
country lad he was, to be sure Inever
could a b'lieved that was Bob, never;
and the count was so handsome!1 ss-e,,
The crowd began to thin. Sundry We
hicles, being filed with 'wimmin folks"
drove off at a .jog-trot pace. at q - saiaa
Pretty little Polly Lee, who had taken
the part of a country lassie, stood at the
foot of the steps, revealing under her care
lessly arranged shawl pair of snowy
shoulders and the knots of crimson ribbon
that adorned her white dress,
Polly's little heart was aching, despite
the red lips and the bright color Of her
cheeks. For that one night, at least, Bob,
Langdon had been her, lover. Had she,
lived century in those few ecstatic
hours? How she gloated over the thought
that Bob had been at her very feet had
talked all the romantic nonsense in which
lovers generally indulge as if he meant it.,
little thinking of what the light Of Polly's
eye, the trembling OF her hand and voice,
all indieated-little dreaming. while he
thought it very good acting. and locked
jealousy on at the back of the stage at the
French count on his pink and silyerk knees
at the feet of his owu betrothed, that little
Polly had loved him long before she ex-
changed her pinafores for the maiden's
dresses. had loved him with an over
whelming passion that but few natures
experience. .. So. !; 80
"Wen, it's all over,' sighed Polly, ty-
ing the strings of her chip hat under her
dimpled chin, angry with herself that she
said it-that she could not crush this un-
hidden passion that seemed in her sweet
eyes unmaidenly.
Suddenly the lights were extinguished,2
and Bob stepped out Of the vestibule. eaag
Polly, have you seen Kitty 2" he asked,
'She promised to wait for me- -,s -
81 saw her." said somebody under the
lamp -post-probably one OF Kitty's re-
jected suitors. "She was a-going home
along of that French count" sai7G higo.e
Bob face grew white as he, stood
there, and he shut his teeth, once, with q
click. 7'iA''e 14a1@a3 sis''@
polly you've good ways to co. he
said, in voice as calm as before, land
there's no moon" .t,f.,f .,s,ss, a. "a s,relg.
"Caleb promised to come," said Polly,
peering out into the road. '@s "f'' s'A~0i-
Caleb is old and forgetful,' responded
Bob; $50 Well play the role few mo-
ments longer. ] go right by the gate, yon
know"
Polly took Bob's left arm, quite fright
ened to feel the heavy, rapid beating un-
der it, and listened to his purposeless
talk, and was so grieved for hiln that she
almost forgot her own great trouble for
she knew that Bob loved Kitty, and she
feared that Kitty was not true to Bob
not, at least, as she would have been.a va9
Goodnight. and good-by, little Polly
said Bob. as they reached the gate that led
to Widow Lees cottage. ''You have al
ways been my steadfast friend !; you mustn't
forget me. Polly" sibls yS1
Forget you?" half sobbcd the girl, who
felt the meaning in his words. oh L
never, never"
.'No, I'm sure you never will, Bob re-
sponded, with new bang for in one
swift moment he OWNED that this sweet
child loved him. 80,
"You see, Polly" he went on, in a
lower voice, circumstances may compel
me to leave Piston I've q line otter
from friend Of mine in the Melton fac-
tories, and very likely shall accept 1t.
If do, l shall leave in the six O'Clock
train tomorrow afternoon. Good night,
little friend" a gaarfai psAncH
And his voice sounded in Polly's ears
Just as it had in that memorable never-to-
be-forgotten moment when he had said.
in the parlance of the play, how fondly he
loved her. a an saJ oa3e .s3Gsa a&a
At all the Pittston breakfast tables next
morning the little drama was discussed.
Some half regretted that they had lent
their countenance to play; others re-
called the mimic scenes with real pleas
ure; and still others, would-be critics,
pointed out defects and laughed at comi-
cal mistakes.
'I say, Kitty" said boisterous Tom
Bessom, II didn't blame the count for
going on as he did last night--though its
my opinion that he's a scalawag in private
for you did look confoundedly hand
some. I'd have kissed you myself II I'd