Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-03


protect him from the harm that could do
him.n r-.
my DEAR said the Engllshwoman,
Il believe you are indeed the stuff to
make good wife; and warn you not to
let your honorable scruples carry you out
ofreach OF well-earned happiness that
NAV be yours. You and Monsieur Law
renee are Young, ard can wait. Mean
time, you need not give the lie to your
hearts. Take the word of an old woman;
there is nothing so precious in this world
as love. when it is wise; and especially II
it has been made holy by passing through
Z little pain
Next evening Slime went TO the convent
n mile ont of the town, to fetch eggs and
melons for the housekeeping. Com
ing back again, along the canal under the
poplars, she sat down to rest minute,
with her basket by her side. The sun had
set, the brown sails in the canal had still
red tinge on their folds, and the spires and
peaks of the town doomed faint and far
through an atmosphere as of gold dust.
Shines heart bounded with n painful de-
light, as she saw Monsieur Lawrence
coming towards her, under the shadow oil
the poplars. She would have liked to run
away, but that was not to be thought of.
She rose, however, to her feet, and he
came beside her, and they stood looking
at each other.
~ did not mean to frighten you" he
said; land am not going to annoy you.
have come to bid you good-by, as leave
the town tomorrow. After all that has
come and gone, Slime, you will not deny
me kind word at parting"
ut is better for you to go. Monsieur
Lawrence. hope you will succeed,
wherever you are.'
II shall do pretty well. | suppose.
should have done better, | think. if your
love had blessed my life. But | will not
vex you about that any more. One thing
ask, that you will let that good old Eng
lish lady have care over you"
do not be uneasy about me. Good
bye, Monsieur Lawrence. suppose you
are now going farther up the road? |
am already late; must get home
Hard to the last" said Lawrence BIT
terly.
The reproach was too much for Slime;
it broke the ice about her heart, and the
waters of desolation poured in upon her.
She turned her face, white and quivering.
on Monster Lawrence.
81 am not hard she began pitifully.
'Stine!" be cried, reading her face
alright, at last, and stretching out his arms
to her.
ooh Monsieur Lawrence !" she cried,
and fell upon his breast, weeping. II
have been hard" she said, defending her.
self, "only because dared not be other
wise. | have hurt myself more than you.
Even now / am wrong. Do not let me
ruin YOU"
'You have been very near running me,
he answered; ''but that is past''
When Slime came into the inn with the
eggs and melons, she was scolded for be-
ing late; but Madame Van Meckelieke' 5
abusive words fell about her ears like so
many rose leaves.
That night when Stinc and the Dame
Anglaise were conversing up in the tower,
a tap came at the door, and Monsieur
Lawrence joined the conference. The
three sat whispering together, barely able
to see one another, by the light of the
stars. Here it was arranged that Law
renee should 60 to Paris and seek his for
tune, while Slime, as his betrothed, should
remain at her work in the inn. They
were to love and trust each other till Law
renee should find himself ready to come
and take his wife. The chimes rang, the
stars blinked, the old lady sat between
the lovers, like the good god-mother in
the fairy tale. Madame was to watch
over Slime till Lawrence should come for
her, while no one else i'm the inn was to
know the secret but Jacques.
Early one morning. while the inn was
asleep, Slime came into the cathedral when
the doors were just open, and even the
earliest worshippers were not arrived.
She laid a bunch of white flowers upon
the step OF the altar, and then Lawrence
came beside her, and they vowed their
VOW Of betrothai, and said goodbye.
After this the days went on as usual at
La Grue. The painters painted in their
studio, and supped in their club-roOm,
and regretted the absent Lawrence, but
yet commended him for running away
from danger. The English lady had taken
up her residence regularly at the inn.
The landlord was hardly pleased to have
her. lie always eyed lNr suspciously,
having fear that the craze about Slime
had not been altogether banished from
her mind. In this, however. ho was
wrong. The poor. little wearied out lady
had given in 10 Fate at last, telling her
self that her faithful search had been H.
vain. that the child she had sought mus
be long since dead, that she needed re-
pose, and might venture to indulge her
fancy for employing herself in a kindly
care Of Slime. She came and went about
the inn, sitting in her lofty chamber look
ing over at the chimes, exchanging civii-
ties in the garden with Monsieur and
Madame, wandering about the quaint old
town, poking among ancient churches, or
trying to talk little Flemish to the poor,
She did not dare show much sympathy
Tor Slime, lest the powers that ruled the
inn should take it in their heads 20 turn
her out-of-doors. She had to listen to
many a bitter scolding, and witaess many
an unkind action, and dared not interfere,
lest worse might come OF it. Only at
night, when Slime came to the room of
her little friend. did they venture on any
intercourse. Then Lawrence latest news
was discussed, and his prospects talked
over; and Slime went to bed as happy as
though there were not scolding tongue
in the world. Harshness did not hurt her
now as it used 10 do. She had lost her
fragile and woe-begone air; She grew
plump and rosy, and her eyes began TO
shine. She sang over her work. and often