Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-10-25
Gales and Sketehes.
From Appleton's Journal.
AUNT LYDIA.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY. |
BY SARAH j. BROWN.

lcoNTISUEp FROM YESTERDAY.
One evening, on returning from the
lake, she found q letter on her bureau
post marked Italy" She opened it with
feyerish haste, and out Off fell bunch of
died violets.
With cry of deepest anguish she threw
herself on the sofa, and buried her face in
the cushions.
Deserted = -faithlessly deserted! What
was to become of her now?
And now came sad, desolatc days.
Among her gay and joyous surroundings,
she was alone with her grief. She longed
to be away, far away, in another land
among other people. Even the questions
of her guardians with regard to the cause
of her pale checks and mournful mien
annoyed her. What could she reply to
them? How would they have received II
confession OF the true cause Could she
make them her confidants? Could she
endeayor to picture to them the sutferings
of her soul? Oh, no, rather a thousand
times bear her great grief in silence.
When, therefore, the affairs of her
guardian called him for a year to England,
She begged, with morbid longing for u
change of scene, to be allowed to accom-
pany him, and her request was granted.
1t was misty autumn day on which
they embarked. The clouds hung dark
and heavy over land and water. Wrapped
in her mantle, Lydia stood on the deck
and gazed upon the land as it steadily
disappeared And, when the evening
came and the clouds cleared away, she
looked up at the gray autumn sky, and
thought of her los; star and her cheerless
life Her spring. time had passed--her
youth was gone. and she had nothing to
hope from the future. =
NV old friend had let her head sink low
upon her breast, and she held her hands
clasped in her lap stopped down and
gently pressed my lips to them. She
straightened up aud said: ''Oh yes, my
child, know that my life has not been
wholly wanting in love; since then have
learned that who sows love reaps it. !"
And she resumed her narratives
Years had passed since that day: the
young girl had become Il middle-aged
matron, the freshness of youth had long
since disappeared, and her dark locks be-
gan to be sprinked over with gray; what
was at first consuming grief had given
place to soft melancholy. Lydia had
remained faithful to her first love; her
heart had never warmed toward any 9TH
er man. her nature, however, was not
soured, and she gave to humanity what
she would otherwise perhaps have law
| ished on one, and therein she found con
ISOLATION and peace.
In these years it happened that young
Girl whose health had become seriously
impaired, begged Lydia TO accompany her
| for "A time to II warmer climate. she
readily consented, and they Immediately
set out for Meran. The young girl i'm
proved rapidly, thanks to the change OF
air and LYDIA watchtulness, ast
One day at the dinner-table at their little
hotel, IN old gentleman stated that he had
that morning witnessed melancholy
scene. In the garret of a neighboring
house there lived blind, consumptiye
painter, who at the most, had but few
weeks to live Even now" said the old
gentleman, II cannot for a moment escape
the mounful sight Of the poor unfortun-
ate man, with his white hair and large,
sightless eyes. lie seems, besides, to be
in needy circumstances for despite the
neatness of his lodgings. they are sadly
lacking in comforts. There is worthy
object for your charity, madame.N he con
cluded, turning to Lydia, who had a.re ady
decided to lose no time in hunting out the
poor blind artist.
The next day--it was pleasant, sunny
lcoNcLUpEp ON FOURTH rAGE.t