Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-12-31
NO. 800.
A WELCOME WINDTALL.

| CONTINUED FROM YEsrERDAr.1
You are curious being, Alice" ex-
claimed Mrs. Atwood. II don't thing you
know when you are we'll off; but won't
enlarge upon your good fortune, since you
don't like it. We want you and Charley
to spend August with us in Scotland
Fred has secured the shooting he wrote
about, and he would rather have Charley
with him than any one else. Do think
you can promise to Gomez"
II must ask Charley" answered Alice.
ut is very kind OF you. Clara, and you
know how much we should both enjoy IT,
Then, l shall consider it ssttlsd.'' said
Mrs. Atwood II am sure you Aeed
change Alice. heard you were looking
shockingly pale last hight, and even
Charley does not look as il such gay life
suited him. How nice he Is - she added
refectively. II am really very fond Of
him myself" Then she indulged in many
self-gratulatory remarks on having been
the promoter OF Alice's good fortune,
whilst the latter quietly acquiesced. bear
ing the unmeant shafts which Mrs. At
woods illusions to her husbands pros
perity inflicted, as best she could.
Two nights afterwards, the Vivians
house was the scene of splendid enter
tainment-rich and noble guests thronged
the brilliantly lit drawing rooms. and
amongst them their fair hostess moved
with glow on her cheek of almost un-
earthly radiance. Never had she looked
more lovely, but never had her heart been
so wrung as on that last gay evening in
the house in which her brief reign was
now over; for before the first guest had
arrived Mr.. Vivian had heard fatal tidings
and he and his wife both knew that the
worst had come. It did not look like it.
Those magnificent apartments. the signs
of wealth in every direction, surely did
not mean ruin; but the words rang in
Alice's ears. As each arrival was an
nounced she pictured their faces on the
morrow when they should hear of the
Vivians' ruin. Ruin was written on
the walls, ruin" rang out above the
voices OF the multitude, ruin seemed
everywhere to poor Alice. Only one NOR
tai eye guessed her secret-one honest
heart felt for her. and that was good John
Upton, her fathers friend, who had known
her from childhood, and loved her as
though she had been his own daughter
John Upton had always doubted; and he
resolved to watch over the fate Of one
whose interests he had always tried 70
guard. With sad foreboding he regard
ed Alice and her husband alternately. But
ominons as bis fears were, the reality far
surpassed his worst suspicious. Alice had
always been fond of Mr.. Upton, but now
she avoided his kind and penetrating
glance. She had invited him frequently
to her house, and included him on this oc-
casion more because she did not wish to
omit him, than from any idea that she
surprised to see him and if he had known
how keenly his fatherly manner toward
her touched the heart of the unhappy girl,
he perhaps would have been less gushing
in his greeting. But at last the entertain
ment ended:
The lights were fed, the garland. dead,
And all the guests departed.
Mr.. Vivian and his wife were alone now;
and in her ball dress-such a mockery il
seemed-she sat by him until another June
morning shone brightly forth, ccrrohorat-
ing the fatal particulars OF the previous
evenings Information. They were ruined,
utterly and completely!
1t was only nine days wonder, and
then it was forgotten, except by those who
had lost money by it, and who in conse-
quence heaped the strongest censure upon
Charles Vivian. Fortune makes friends
ruin loses them; and when it became
known that the Vivians were absolutely
penniless. it was marvellous to note the
change that came over their summer and
self-constituted friends. 1t is useless to
describe the Ordeals through which the
unfortunate Vivians had to 60, and only
painful to detail their departure from their
luxurious home, which they quilted, of
course, Immediately.
Mr.. and Mrs. Atwood did come to see
them, but neither assistance nor even tenn
porary shelter was offered; and during
their visit, the unhappy Alice had to en-
dure the most painful part of her trial,
that of hearing her husbands conduct
called in question, and terms applied to
him in her presence to which no wife
should be called upon to listen.
Late one afternoon, Mr.. Vivian and his
wife set out upon dreary quest for lod2-
ings. very humble ones they would have
to be, for their money was all lost. Only
one little pittance could be relied on, and
that was the despised one hundred and
fifty pounds year, which the wisdom and
forethought Of John Upton had secured
against the probability of loss for the
daughter Of his old friend Miles Annesley.
To the north of London they went, and,
after fatiguing walk, for which Alice es-
pecially was little able, they decided upon
an abode whose principal recommenda-
ton consisted in its cheapness and clean
illness. in addition to the pleasant face OF
the landlady. The latter was evidently
at loss to imagine how two people OF
such apparent position, could condescend
to so humble dwelling. However. after
giving Mr.. Upton as their reference. they
secured the rooms. and departed promis-
ing to take possession on the following
day. Their few remaining things were
left behind, to be sold; and. early the
next morning, cab conveyed them from
the scene OF their prosperity to the little
lodging which. for a time at least, they
would have to regard as their home
But if fortune had frowned on them, and
friends had failed. the love which in bright
er days had been precious, in no way d.
mjnished now; and the darker their pros
poets became, the more they seemed TO
become to each other.
Bitterly did Charles Vivian blame him.
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