Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-24
NO. 27s.
Tales and Sketfhes.
THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND HIM.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY I

Years passed on, and still there seemed
no prospect of his being soon able to re-
turn to England. At last the girl received
letter in which her affianced lover-whose
name l never happened to hear-stated
that he could not possibly say when he
would be in position to fulfill his prom.
ises to her. Under these circumstances,
he could rot ask her to wait any longer
for him and he therefore released her from
her engagement Well, the girl was sad
and depressed enough for awhile, they say,
but by-and-by she seemed to get over it.
About this time, Mr.. Valance, an old
friend of the fathers came a good deal
about the house, and it was soon evident
that he was attracted by the daughter.
Valance was partner in long-estab-
lIshed mercantile house in London, and
was reputed to be rich He was kind
hearted and estimable man in many ways.
The parents looked favorably npon his
suit, and. when he proposed for the daugh-
ters hand, she accepted him. They were
married. Mr.. Valance took handsome
house in London, and made kind hus-
band and a generous son-in-law. But this
prosperous condition of things did not
last long. In little more than two years
after his marriage, the house to which VAL
lance belonged, to the astonishment of the
mercantile world, stopped payment. The
affair made considerable talk in the city
at the time. Nobody seemed to have an.
ticipated the firms failure, and l don't
think Mr.. Valance could have had any
thought of the possibility of such change
in his circumstances when he married his
wife, from the way he took the matter to
heart. He never recovered from the
shock, and in year after the firm had
suspended payment he died. His widow
was left almost entirely dependent upon
her exertions for the support of herself and
her two young children. She removed to
Plymouth again, began to give music les
sons, and in this way has maintained her.
self and family ever since and nobly she
has done it. 1t was shortly after her hus
bands death that | became aquainted with
her. have given you the most favorable
version of her story. AS regards her en-
gagement with Mr.. Valance, there were
not wanting people in Plymouth who hint
ed their doubts at the time as to wheth-
er she had ever received such let
ter as | have mentioned from the young
fellow in Australia Gossip said that she
lent willing enough ear to Mr.. Vallance's
address"
"Was that the general report p asked
Herder.
"Well it was not uncommon to hear
the matter talked of in that way.
"And what is your own opinion ?''
There is no lady of my acquaintance
for whom have q greater respect and
liking than for Mrs. Valance" answered
Hammond; land would not believe any
thing unworthy of her. But it is perhaps
too much to expect from average human
nature, and don't claim anything ideal
for Mrs. Valance, that a woman should
be able to keep up strong affection for a
man away in Australia for number OF
years, and under the cherries condition
have described, with nothing to feed it on
but an occasional letter. No doubt, the
girls sentiments lasted longer than the
young mans. Possibly she may not have
received such % letter; and what Mr.. VAL
lance could offer her, e.erything that is
pleasant and attractive to woman may
have had its effect. Her fathers worldly
circumstances, too, which were latterly
not IN a very prosperous state, would very
likely have an influence in the matter"
There was short pause, during which
the two men pulled their pipes in silence.
Then llerder said: II think life spent
as mine has been has at least one advan-
tage over yours, Fred-it is not so apt to
make man become so rapidly skeptical
about everything as one passed in cities;
not SO prone to think that people are much
the same everywhere, or so content to as
sign the least noble motives for human
action. Now, in this case of Mrs. VAL
lance. am able to inform you that both
common report and yourself were wrong,
at least in one important respect. Miss
Maurice-that was the young lady's maid
en- name, think, though you did not men,
ton it-did receive such letter as you
describe, from her friend in Australia; a
letter, too, that released her completely
from her engagement"
"And how on earth do you know all
this ?" asked Hammond.
''For the simple reason that l am the
young fellow that went to Australia
You, George y exclaimed Hammond.
starting from his chair and staring in his
companions face. ''How is it / never
heard word of this before? thought
we knew most of each others affairs. as
young men,
"Well, Fred, for year before became
engaged to Miss Maurice, you were in
Germany with your mother and sister;
ana 1 was away, you KNOW, DelOre you
came back. | never mentioned my ac-
quaintance with Miss Maurice to you;
was rather shy and shame-faced fellow.
somehow. about that sort of thing, and
did not tell even so close chum about it.
though | was on the point OF doing SO
when started so suddenly for Australia.
After that, | felt the less inclined to write
about the subject; my prospects were SO
vague and uncertain In every way"
''lt was rather strange, George, that |
never heard your name mentioned in the
matter, and there was nothing to make
me think of connecting you with Miss
Maurice's friend. You knew Mrs. Val
lance again, then, tonight? could not
think what made your manner SO odd
"Ies, knew her. She is much changed
of course, though not more so. suppose,
than was to be expected. left behind
me girl OF twenty, with bloom on her
cheek like June rose, and eyes like sun
shine. Both the rose-red and the light In
her eyes have faded; but she is still Kate
Maurice, the same sweet-looking woman
| knew long ago One thing only made