Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-07-02
tCnnclndca from first rage. !

,,p facing them. An aged lady with sil,
very hair and Q sweet. placid face leaned
on the others arm, and the younger lady
carefully supported her feeble steps.
THAT'S Widow and her mother" whis
pered Sans cousin. Isn't she lovely?"
Sam looked. The fine delicate face was
the least bit faded and tired looking, but
not a bit soured or gloomy. Oh, no! not
the least. 1t was clear true face-hne
strong and pure. like steel or silk or some
thing of that sort. Little Mrs. Gerty
caught the school-mistress' hand.
Widow. said she, "this is Cousin sam
Harrington. rich, slovenly old bachelor
wish you'd take him off my hands. Sam
Miss Kildare"
"Wh-a-a-t!" screamed he. crazily,
Don't hurt my arm so. What did you
do that for?" said Mrs. Gerty
"Mr. Harrington and l used to know
each other long ago, when was young,
said the school-mistress. calmly. but with
an ineffablellook in her dark, softly fringed
eyes. II met Mr.. Harrington fifteen
wears ago at camp meeting. | have
never seen him from that day to this
Then she moved on in calm, graceful
way with little spot Of quivering sun
shine glancing across her gray dress as
she passed. And the very first thing Sam
Harrington did was to look sheepishly
down at his dusty old boots, while his
face redeemed slowly, with the memory OF
an old flame. He laid his hand upon Mrs.
Gerty's arm.
..Cousin Mary, you said a while ago
that used to be poet and an enthusiast,
with bright hopes and great aspirations,
:. L. opIaI INV holm a DSptnGS
slovenly old bachelor. who got rich at pa
tent brick making That woman knows
why"
'.Then I'm sure you wronged her more
than she wronged you. She is the truest,
best, brightest woman ever knew. l 40
wonder if you are the man she nearly
broke her heart about so long ago? I've
heard a whisper of that, I'm sure. You
were always too hard and unforgiving
Sam"
Little Mrs. Gerty, romantic as girl,
watched them narrowly. Were the Old
flames kindling into life again. Some
times little Mrs. Gerty thought they had
never died entirely out from the heart oI
either. Sam Harrington began to black
his boots and button bis wristbands.
One summer moonlit evening, Alice
Kildare sat in the porch Of the little cot
tage in which she lived with her mother.
She was looking down the avenue oftrees
in front towards the west. where the sun
was sinking in the glowing sky as Sam
Harrington came slowly up the walk and
Joined her in the porch.
"Widow Kildare, he said, IL have come
to bid YOU goodbye
Have you?" said Widow. She would
not ask word more.
"Yes, must go back to my muck-rak-
ing Bricks. you know, and clay, and fur
naces and things. l meant TO be poet
when used to be in love with you fifteen
years ago. Now am brick-maker.
Used to be That was what she stayed
an old maid for. Her heart was like lead
in her bosom, but she smiled and said
"After all brickmaker is as good as Il
poet"
"Are you sure you think that, Widow
Kildare ?"
"Yes, quite sure
Wouldn't you like to see 'em-the great
brick-yards, and the huge furnaces, bak-
ing the patent bricks by the half million p
Yes" answered Widow. II could tell
the school children, you know
Sam Harrington made face. Then he
looked at her, and saw, that in spite of the
brave, proud head which she held up so
stately, her face was as pale and sorrowful
as a face could be, as though she were
parting with last great hope. And he
actually smiled to see it. She had torment
ed him bitterly once. He threw his hat
across the floor, and sat down on the edge
of the porch at her feet
Ln hor hoar,
married.? What have you stayed single
all these years forP"
She looked at him and tried to answer,
but the sound died away in sorrowful,
bitter sob, and she covered her face with
her hands. The brave, proud woman was
crying. He took one of the slim, cold
hands in both his own.
"Alice--I never got over 1.-THE old hurt
you gave me once. never got over the
old love either Be my wife now, darling,
and let US begin all new again
A little old fashioned portfolio lay on
her lap. She took from it slip of paper
all yellow and creased with age. She held
the paper towards him.
Samuel Harrington! You said in this
note that woman was incapable Of truth
or faithfulness. Will you take it back ?'
she said softly. "Will you take it all
back?"
He tore the paper into shreds and frag-
ments, and blew it away through his fin
gers, and don't know where the wind
carried it.
$50, please heaven! my hand shall re-
move all that gives you pain and trouble
as long as you live. God bless you my
wife God bless US all :"
In spite of the globe of magnetized wa
ter. Alice Kildare didn't die an old maid.
There's no love like ones first love,
after all, said little Mrs. Gerty to her
cousin.
"No, there isn't-that is, if ones first
love changes SO as to suit as one grows
older" answered Sam, with miserable
attempt at being philosophical instead OF
sentimental
And that is the romance of the second
camp meeting.