Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-07
Calls and Sketehes.
From Appleton's journal.
THOMAS YARN.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.

Deborah produced some very large
glasses, and proceeded to tit them with
difficulty on very small nose.
"Well. yes. / wrote that. | never was
good with my pen; and 1 was kind OF
tlustered when the Governor he called me
aud Deacon Ramsey he was coughin' aw-
ful at the time; he died, poor man. be-
fore the Governor did snd then l had my
dinner on, and the soup was a-burnin. :"
Thomas Yarn was half up the street be-
fore Deborah had finished, and reached The
Register office. Yes, Emly's will was
recorded; this was not, but this was writ
ten year after the other.
Then the poor soul Travelled back on his
recolections, and he saw, here and there,
the figure of that stately man, who had
been his father; he recognized, here and
there, that he must have secretly helped
him from time to time; he remembered,
too, that he had not helped him when help
might have saved Mary, and his soul
sweiled with bitterness. But, in the hours
that death waited for the Governor, he had
paid this tardy debt to conscience. He
had laid the paper in the old book, he had
sent Thomas Yarn to the library, and he
had lett the rest to chance. Miserable,
vulgar fraction of conscience money! Mis-
cradle playing with justice! Gov. Ham
mond, like many dignified gentleman,
uncovered his real charater in his will,
and showed the poor and mean thing
which fine appearance had draped and
ornamented.
Thomas Yarn went to Mary's grave and
considered. He saw from that humble spot
Governor Hammond's tall Corinlhian col
umn gleam through the trees. He
thought Of the change it would make in
the village treatment if he announced the
fact. The tavern-window would cease to
be his post of observation; he would sit
OF an evening on the broad piazza where
Miss Margaret and Emily received their
guests; it would be his own.
He would become a man of fortune, a
power in the State. He looked down at
b garments. 1t even occurred tn b;v.
that ne should have a new suit of clothes
but, as these airy visions iloated before
him. he looked again in the grass at the
stone, and read:
''MARi, WIFE OE THOMAS YARN,
DIED SEPT. %, 1885,
AGED 22.'
and he decided that he did not want for
tune, fame, consequence, enough to take
it away from Emily his child-trend She,
|
Thomas Yarn.
Often he determined to burn the will,
but he did not. He even bought piece
of oil-slk, and carefully folded it around
The paper before returning it to his ragged
pocket Sometimes, when he was partic-
ularly torlorn, he would take it out and
read it. and become a rich man for few
hours; then Emily's laugh would resound
through the house, or he would see her,
gay and triumphant, driving off to picnics
and to sleigh-rides, the successful Young
Eeiress and belle of Mossbrook and he
would fold it away
Thomas Yarn watched with Jealous
eye the men who approached Emily. and
he saw to his sorrow that she began to
blush and look down when Horace Frazier
came near her. 1t began to be village
talk that there was to be an engagement
Now, Horace Frazier had come to Moss
brook to study law; he was not of the
town Perhaps he brought some foreign
graces with him; he was handsome
diesSed well, and had fascinating manners.
But the tavern, in this instance, had be
come an important post of observation,
and Thomas Yarn knew of nights passed
in gambling. of drunken bouts of the
CRIME and degradation OF disoute lite.
Yet what could he say or do What head
way make against this Young and clever
man?
Before he had resolved on his course of
action. Emily had come into the library,
and had announced her engagement to
him.
20 Miss Emily don't He isn't worthy
OF you He is gambler, a drunAard,
and worse, Don't love such man; don't
marry him, 1 beg of you, ~ burst from
poor Thomas Yarns lips.
To describe Emilv's indignation would
be impossible. The sun in the heavens
was not more illustrious than Horace Fra
zier in her eyes. To attack him-and to
her.
She swept out of the library, after a
vigorous denunciation. and Aunt Marga-
ret swept in. 1t had been part of Hor-
ace Frazier's policy graceful good for.
nothing) TO win the older woman first,
and she had but to hear the dreadful news
of the attack TO rush to the battlemenis
and NOW down Thomas Yarn with Il we'll
directed vollev.
IL hear that you dare, Mr. Yarn, to in
suit my niece, and to assail the character
OF her Intended husband-you, Mr.. Yarn
Who are you? Why my relative, Gov
hammond, descended so lar rs 20 mention
you in his will. never could understand.
You, slothful, dirty poor. mean. nsignfi-
cant-you dare to speak of a gentleman
a well-dressed gentleman like Mr.. Fra
zier Leave this house Mr. Yarn (you
never ought to have been allowed to come
into iD, and never let these eyes behold
You again !"
Miss Margaret held out thin foretinger
rs she spoke, like a third-rate Lady Mac
beth. Thomas Yarn rose slowly and
walked out yet, as he passed her, he fired
one Parthian arrow.
Il will save Emily yet" said he
60, base creature!' said Miss Marga,
ret, furiously.
When Mr. Frazier came to tea that
evening, both ladies received him with
greater tenderness than ever. His waist
coat was very perfect; his necktie and
conversation delightful; he was hand
some fellow, and in love. They did not
tell him how cruelty he had been SLAM
dered.
Thomas Yarn watched him for a few