Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-27
p fconcindcd from first page.i

for the pain that | inflicted upon him 9''
"Yes, il is
You are sure ~
Il am"
Possibly he has told you that it IS
Yes ?-Then can You repeat what he
said?
did so. | did not convey any OF my
own feeling. but think that gave 1hur,
mans in full, Ii was a hard task Tor
could see the listener shudder and dfoop
under the successive assurances thas all
was lost to her. After had finished there |
was a long silence looked downward.
not caring to witness the perturbation OF
NV companion. After minute | was
aroused by Il movement Oh her part.
looked up. A great change had come
over her Her cheeks were flushed with
color her eyes had lost their mournlul-
ness and were now bright and piercing.
She stood erect, aud faced me with an air
of aggression.
knowing your aptitude for business,
have no doubt that, in spite of the demands
that friendship has made upon your time
and attention, you have observed the con-
dition of the Reinhart farm"
indicated that had.
1T is clear to you, suppose, then, that
its tenant will again fail to meet his en-.
gagements with us P''
II have not seen enough yet to warrant
such decision"
"Ah-then you are troubled with blind
ness! l have examined everything; |
think that nothing has escaped me. |
request you to take steps for the fore
closure Of its mortgage"
The motive Of this was only too plain.
A sudden revolution in her temper had
made it possible for her to conceive this
fierce but feeble plan TO gain her object.
I, of course. could not be instrumental in
the transaction Of business that arose from
any such sources. and said so in as many
words.
She gave me an angry reply.
This enabled me to address to her
speech which treated, think. of every
phase of her conduct in the matter with
Thurman, and every sentiment that had
been evolved from the outrage. / did not
spare her. The indignation that l felt
found ready words, and think, if recall
these words with any degree of accuracy.
spoke as If from the most elevated height
the height where the love was first con-
ceived-a height immeasurably above the
had been great, SO my denunciation of its
ruin was severe and relentless uttered
the last words in the colloquy.
/ left Miss Walling trembling between
rage and remorse, unable to gainsay me,
yet beholding, in far higher colors than |
had painted It. the picture Of the error she
had made left the room and the house,
and returned to the hotel, where l cast
myself down to puzzle out the course that
it was best for me to pursue. It was then
3 o'clock in the afternoon. The day was
cloudless and warm, and l vaguely re-
membered that had seen the grape-pick-
ers in the teeming fields, and that the day
was like day Of heaven.
At 5 O'Clock heard Thurman's steps in
the corridors. They were hurried, and ]
had hardly time to raise myself to my feet
before he came into the room. He terri
fed me q second time by his wild appear
ance. He looked much as he had looked
upon the day that he came from his defeat
at Lahill He fixed his eyes upon me, and
passing by, went into his own chamber
lie opened his trunk, searched in it for q
moment, closed it, and then came back
still walking rapidly. He gained the dool
before could utter word.
Thurman Thurman"
Weymouth" cried he, suddenly, "givc
me your word that you have not Interior
ed against me over there. He nodded in
the direction of Seibel's house.
II give you my word that have not. ,
Good / knew that. May God bless
and keep you. my dear, good friend!'
In an instant he was gone. He de-
scended the stairs, crossed the hall. crossed
the echoing piazza. and then his footsteps
were lost upon the lawn. ] cannot say
what stupidity kept me wondering, as
did, for fifteen minutes, about the reason
and force OF both his act and words.
Then leaped to my feet with the question
in my mouth "What did he take from
his trunk P" I ran into his room, and
found the box locked and the key gone
Ihad once seen a hall porter spring lock
with a well-placed, vigorous kick. l tried
this kick Ii succeeded; the lid flew up.
and seized it. looked for Thurman s
pistol-case. As now fully expected, one
of the glittering weapons was gone.
Now. then, for Remnants house
caught up my hat, and was out Of doors in
an instant. 1t was not time for roads
and corners. and took straight line
over fences. through yards, and across
vineyards, and never halted for an instant.
came up to the old red house with its
dumped wood by side-path, that, being
grass grown, gave no echo to my foot
steps. caught glimpses. while l was ye.
thirty yards away, OF figures moving in
the little courtyard. l was about to burst
in upon them, when their positions and
behavior deferred me.
There were present Thurman, Seibel
and Reinhart. Thurman, almost facing
the covert where was, was standing be-
side the bole Of one of the willows. The
girl was locked close in his arms, with her
head turned sideways and upward upon
his breast. Her eyes were closed. but be-
tween their lids there trickled few tears
not a current that denoted a turbulent
passion, but those scant drops that utter
woe sometimes wrings from one whom it
has paralyzed. The father grasped the
skirt of his daughters dress with his
gnarled hand, and, with the rim of his hat
half covering his trembling lips, sought
to draw her away.
For one splendid instant they stood thus.
All was was absolutely silent. Even the
rustic of the leaves was hushed, and the
falling sunlioht snraad unOn their heads