Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-14
rConclpded from first page.l


wretchedness to bis house.
In answer to o letter which be at length
veptured to his aunt, he was told tina
Maud was under more careful treatmen
than his, and that she would prefer to hea
no more from murderer and destroyer
Young Vernon, for few weeks. gav'
way to an Undesirable melancholy, ant
it was only through tender sympathy o.
his father that he survived. He then de-
voted himself to hard reading, passed a
very creditable examination; and to ms
men and superior officers alike in lndia,
as a young lieutenant, was only known as
the strictest disciplinarian, and the stern,
est and most embarrassing companion ~
the mess. The unhappy state OF ms nlinu
had the usual effect on his heaItn, anu
returned to London to appeal to my symPa-
tby and friendship. As dying man ne
reonested me. when he was gone, TO
search ont his aunt, and convey to her
bis last message of forgiveness for the
harsh treatment he had received at her
hands I: whilst he assured me that if by
his death he could have secured health to
his once bright and merry darling he would
have died long since.
And now at length his tale was told:
He gazed at me with earnest eyes. lcouid
only press his wasted hand, and prom
Use that would sacredly carry out his
wish. He slept. watched over him that
night. The succeeding day he slept con-
tinuously. Toward evening the doctor
called. He had seen from the first that
he could do little in such case. He
looked fixedly at his patient as he lay in
sound slumber, felt his pulse, and then.
tnrnino to me- said: You are Mr.. Law
renee Pr
YES" replied, Il am"
"Ah!'' he said. give heard him men,
ton you. You see what your poor friend
is suffering fromP You've done him
pounds worth of good already.
And what had donep By beings quiz
ct and sympathetic listener had brought
that feeling of relief to the poor sufferer
which undoubtedly ensues when the bur-
den of sorrow is lightened by being borne
on the shoulders of two, instead of being
endured by the strength of one alone.
Harry and / spent that week quietly
enough; he slept and read and thought.
When awake he always sought me with
an anxious look, which Immediately
changed to a peaceful smile, when cheer
fully spoke or affectionately pressed his
hand; but he never spoke OF getting bet
ter. When he thought of life, the old
wretched look came back; when he
thought of the grave, eternal rest seemed
all that he desired. My thoughts at last
took definite shape. Iexplained to Har-
~ that he must allow me a day for bust.
ness in the country, and that then would
return to him. The next day took the
train for Stonebridge, small town in
nts hot /
CLEAN from Harry's uncertain informa.
ton, strengthened by the Postal Directo'
~, was about to play the last chance
Mrs. Vernon had, some time since, sold
everything, and left the neighborhood o.
Waterthwaite; and now, as l walked
through the principal street of Stonebridge
and neared the good lady's supposed resi-
dence, I felt as though walking into the
lions mouth.
docs Mrs. Vernon live hereP P"
Eyes sir" answered a very respecta.
ble-looking housemaid; "but she's out for
a drive, SIR, and won't be back for some
time" / had pulled out my card-case ;
and seeing me look very much annoyed
and perplexed, as indeed l was, she ad'
ded: but if it's anything important Miss
Hamilton is at home, SIR"
"Miss Hamilton p exclaimed: miss
Maud Hamilton p
Eyes. sir, timidly replied the astonished
maiden.
knew not what to think of it; the girl
must be an idiot to imagine that could
have any business with the poor imbecile
Maud. However, stirred by some inward
feeling, perhaps only wish to see the
unfortunate lady. in whom / now felt, on
Harry's behalf, SO great an interest, sent
up my card, and requested to learn from
Miss Hamilton's lips when l might ex-
pect the return of Mrs. Vernon. as / had
important news. This was followed by a
request 10 walk up stairs into the drawing
room, and in another second the side-door
opened, and young girl advanced most
gracefully into the room. She looked pale
and very thin, but if sadness reigned in
those beautiful eyes, reason reigned there
too. My gaze must have been too ear
nest, for with a slight blush and little
confusion of manner, she expressed her
regret that Mrs. Vernon was out, and
feared that she would not be at home for
an hour or more. My resolve was taken.
"If you win be so good as to seat your
SELF" l said, II daresay can explain the
nature of my visit to You quite as well as
to Mrs. Vernon; come from an old friend
of Mrs. Vernon"
"Oh, indeed pray, be seated" she said.
II feel rather tired with my Journey"
broke in with: MAY ring tor glass of
wine?" / rang the bell, and the poor girl
had sufficient strength of nerve to say
Bring in some wine." I hastily poured
out glass OF sherry, which forced her
to take and then, as the cat was out of the
bag, / quickly concluded all had to say
/ did not tell her how desperately i'll and
near deaths door Harry was; but her
tears flowed freely and she held out her
hand to me, to express the thanks which
she could not then utter, as / told her
enough to convince her that 1t depended
on herself whether misery or happiness
was to ensue from my visit. OF course ]
had to wait for Mrs. Vernon's return, and
of course that lady was much surprised TO
find me at her house, and her daughter in
an excited state of mind. The tale was
once more and more connectedly told !;
and my urgent appeal to humanity affec-
ton and sympathy, added to Maud's tears.
had tho desired effect. The old lady was
softened; she burst into flood of tears
over her unfortunate nephew, and it end
ed in my leaving by the last train at night
for London to prepare Harry for their COM