Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-23
NO. 27s.
Calls aud Sketfhes.
THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND HIN.


The passengers were gathered on deck,
conversing in little groups, as they stood
watching the green English shores, lying
bright and still in the afternoon light. But
one stood apart from the rest, leaning over
the stern taffrail, gazing with fixed eyes
and thoughtful face. He was man of
about forty-five years of age, of somewhat
spare build. with an ample brown beard
and bronze-tanned cheeks. A near scruti-
ny would have revealed something of sad
ness in his eyes at the moment, as though
the prospect OF again setting foot on his
native land, from which he had been ab-
sent for many years, was not wholly one
Of pleasure. 1t was not only the green
English shores that he saw as he gazed
from the vessels deck; ali day, ever since
the ship had passed Plymouth, vision,
summoned up by the memories which the
thought of that town brought back, had
been floating before his eyes. He saw
cottage on the outskirts Of the town. with
a garden soping to the sea- In the soft
twilight of the June day, two figures.
youth and girl, stood in the garden be-
meath the lime tree. They were bidding
each other farewell with many protesta-
tions, undying love and constancy, spoken
from the heart in the case of both. Cir
cumstances were sending the youth from
his home to try his fortune in far-away
land. But he would return, and take the
girl. his accepted wife, back with him;
and meanwhile she could wait contented-
ly, assured of the strength of his constan-
cy and her affection He had gone away,
and-well. events had not turned out quite
as the youth and the girl had intended.
George Herder had then looked forward
to returning to England with somewhat
different feelings from those which he was
at present experiencing. Instead of
thoughts of wedding bells, he was coming
back with no deeper sentiment in his heart
than desire to see once more the friends
and home of his boyhood, before finally
settling in the country of his adoption,
where he had formed stronger ties, he
thought, than any that now existed for
him in the land of his birth. And yet
came back upon him, and his memories
were neither gloomy nor misanthropic.
On the he'afternoon of the following day
the lamar dropped anchor of Gravesend.
Most of the unmarried men on board went
on shore at once, and among them George
Herder. On reaching London he took . cab
duu gave Tic uiiH stuuIcSS W uTiFc ".
He was set down in Heresford road, Bays
water, at house in terrace. He gave
the servant who opened the door his name,
and, following her up stairs, entered the
room into which she showed him. As he
did so man rose from the table at which
he was seated, glanced for moment at
the stranger, and then came quickly for
ward. and grasped him by both hands.
al Co. al
back to England. But cant't tell how
feel at seeing You again, old fellow !"
''Did you get my telegram" asked
IIerder
Eyes, got it. have been talking to
my landlady, and she can let you have
bedroom here, if you like. and we can
share this room in common. The ar
rangement might suit you for the present,
at any rate. What do you say ?'
cit will do capitally, answered Herder.
lit will be convenient, our being togeth-
er, for we have much to say to each 9TH
er.' I'll need be piloted about London,
too; I've forgotten my way greatly, and
find many of the places changed"
81 thought of that, too. I'm not very
busy just now, so we can have q good
deal Of time together. l shall be free
every dlttTuOOn ny lOuT y ClOCk.
Fred Hammond held position Of some
responsibility in the civil service. Next
day George Herder's time was chiefly oc-
cupied in looking up the few friends in
London with whom he had kept up an ac-
quaintance by correspondence. Ham,
mond and he had finished dinner in their
lodgings, and had produced their pipes.
when the former said: "I've got an en-
gagement for this evening. which it's too
late now to think Of getting off. Some
very good friends of mine, who live in q
square close by, have sort of musical
party and conversazione. / am on quite
such terms with them as to be able to use
the freedom OF taking you with me, if you
would care to go. l can't promise that
you will be greatly interested amonga a
lot Of people who are strangers to you;
but we need only stop an hour or so, and
ii may be less dull than staying here by
yourself. However, if You don't feel in
clined for it, you must try and find some
thing to amuse you till come back, and
I'll get away as soon as possible. There
are two or three ofthis months magazines
on the table yonder.'
II don't mind going with you for a
short time, if you can use the liberty of
Introducing me to your friends, said
Herder.
"All right, then, Wen finish our pipes,
and it viii then be about time to fix our
selves
Mrs. Norcott entertained a sufficient
number of guests that evening to fill her
drawing rooms comfortably without
crowding Music, conversation and cards
for the more elderly of the company
formed the staple of the evenings amuse-
ments. The host and hostess received
Herder with agreeable geniality; but as
the people about him were ali entire
strangers, it could hardly be otherwise
than that George should every now and
then feel somewhat at loss what to do
with himself. He had exchanged few
common places with an old Indian officer
to whom he had been introduced, and
was standing in a corner of the room gaz-
ing rather aimlessly about him. when
Hammond came up and said: ''I'm
afraid this isn't very lively for you, but
think we need not stay any longer. I've
explained matters to Mrs. Norcott.
Just want you to hear this lady play, and
then Wen 90. She is one Of the best