Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-13

her hands and burst into passion OF
weeping as our eyes met, then hurried
away; and l heard her call FEATHER
father!' And then old Fairlop. in black
too, came with hating step out OF an
inner room.
For the very first time since l had
known him. the rough, selfish old Ken.
,uckian seemed softened. There were
tears in mis- eyes, and his voice was gentle
as he said: Poor lad, poor lad, I'm sorry
don't you know it then?"
Know il. know what ?" asked hoarse-
", as looked to right. and left. bewider-
ed. The farmer laid his broad hand upon
INV arm and drew me forward into the in
ner room. "God forgive me, / was too
hard with the pretty flower" he said,
grooming. "To see her alive again, even
as the wife of the poorest man in the coun-
try or the State, I'd give every red cent of
my fortune, but it is too late now"
Yes. old Jonathan Fair!op had spoken
truly. 1t was too late. There lay my
poor Minnie in her coffin, calm, and peace
full, waxen white, beautiful with that
strange fleeing beauty that the dead some
times wear, and with a sweet, sad smile
on her maiden lips, such as tired child
might wear when falling into dreamless
slumber. Dead The pure white shroud,
the black bier, the closed eyes that should
no more welcome me told their own tale
with terrible distnctness. And now
knew for the first time how weak, worn,
and i'll was. The voices of those around
me sounded as if they came from great
way off; the solid earth rocked and reeled
the walls swan around me, and l tell
swooning on the floor, and remembered
nothing more than that all grew dark.
When / recovered from the fever,
brought on, no doubt. by over fatigue and
exposure to the weather, coupled with in
tense mental excitement, they told me,
not unkindly, how Minnie had ceased to
be. Hiram Llloyd's suit, encouraged by
her father, the old mans peremptory COM
mand that she should give up all idea OF
the trash of Britisher" who could not
paw his way and maintain wife. and my
apparent failure in the attempt to wrest
from the soil the necessary sum on which
the farmer had stipulated, had proved too
much for that delicate frame and that
sensitive organization. at came sudden
" at the last, her sister said. Thin, frail.
and wasted, the mental agitation ha,s
pEOtcu u Uul bilCu tOO AC0N AVA nCt W. "S't
and at length the laboring heart had
ceased to beat, and with scarcely whis-
pered word Of farewell or forgiveness she
was gone.
Strange enough, she had died, SO far as
could gather from those about her, al
most at the same hour as that at which
she had appeared before me at the door
of my hut, eagerly calling upon me to
seek for the buried gold to which she had
so unerringly guided me. And when
heard this, there came relapse in my i'll.
ness. and delirium setting in, there ensued
a period during which ! was in hourly
danger, as thought. always with my
dead Minnie whom should never see
again, till we two shall meet in heaven.
They were tender with me during the
time OF my convalesecnce, and it was in
kindness, doubtless, that they strove to
pursuad ME that had but dreamed OF
Minnie's visit; that my mind, sorely task
ed and agitated, had deceived me; and
that the spot whence the gold had been
extracted had been one which had noted
rs a likely one In some previous ramble.
and had sought under the impression that
was guided to it by her OF whom my
thoughts were full. | smiled and let them
speak. My own conviction remained I'M
altered. That my dead love had been
with me was comfor. of which | would
not lei them rob me, but l said nothing
bowed my head, and allowed them to
believe me convert to the hypothesis they
suggested. soon left that part of the
country, seitleing in California. and work
ing-as others seek refuge in strong drink
10 Danish the mourniul thoughts that
were with me ever The gold had won
from the soil sufficed TO purchase Il large
extent of virgin soil, now blooming with
vineyard and corn field, and am a rich
man, and envied and all has thriven with
me. But the zest of life is gone out OF
mine, and l wish, how wish that the
weary pilgrimage were over, and | at rest
Nf;pp:o ;c-forovuv