Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-28

mother.
Eagerly Owen waited for her answer
IL do not think really low-born man
could succeed in such an impostute, papa
She careIcssiv said. 'even II he tried.
The Christmas mirth had ali died out OF
Owens ewes when he Joined Alice again,
and her shy. kind words could not bring
il back: neither did their memory bring
a tender smile 10 his lips when he recalled
them aiterward.
Well and bravelv Owen kept his reso-
luton: while Alice, from the sombre
rooms OF the old school-house, listened IN
vain for the familiar step upon the pave
ment, waited in vain for the old clasp OF
the slight firm fingers, hungered in vain
for the old pleasure his coming ever gave.
And he? He performed his old tasks just
as he had performed them always.
As the Spring came on she dropped and
pined so sadly that they said she needed
sea air, and they begged her to accept
the invitation of an old school friend, who
had lately married and gone from her
home in Scotland to stay with her nus
bands relations on the Welsh coast.
. at is to Llanvriar | am going, Mr..
Vaughan" said Alice. a little YEARLY, as
she told Owen of her approaching depar-
ture, while he stood steadily before her
looking into her pale face. Papa says
he thinks shall be close to your home.
May l take anything for you Is there
anything / can do?'
No, there was nothing, he told Ter,
speaking with cold. tight lips. while his
heart grew hot and wild with rebellion As
he thought how, if his home had been dit
ierent, Alice would have frightened 1t
now for his sake. And so they parted
with simple hand shake.
While Alice was at Llanvriar there was
y concert given by the patrons OF the
Ferrybank school. One OF the singers II
pretty, grave looking girl Of about TWEEN
~, struck Alice particularly.
ut almost seems to me rs if had seen
her BEFORE she said to Mr.. Gwynne. her
host land vet / know | have not. /
have not even seen any one very much
like her, and yet something in her eyes,
think, seems familiar to me Who Is
she ?''
..She is supposed to be rather a peculiar
GIRL was the answer; "yet no one knows
way, unless to be good and helpful to
ones mother is peculiar Perhaps they
think so in Ferrybank, for ii isn't Il vc-y
cOfllIIIOU tutIC. 0HN ms 81 OiCthN't
though, who is peculiar really; speci-
men of that rare wild plant genius, spec
linen no one would expect to find drilled
into wretched fisher cabin on our shore.
He was one OF my unclc's portegeS.
wish Sir Buckley was at home now so that
YOU. might ask about him. My uncle is so
proud to rehearse his career. believe he
is doing excellently in England, and sup
pose he deserves ii, for he studied like any
old don you like to mention. Miss Hope.
"Did he P" asked Alice, bu! little inter-
ested. 'Please to tell me what is the girls
NAME"
"Duddgha Vaughn. Her mother is
washerwoman, and lives in one of those
desolate cabins on the shore, in the very
midst of the fish odors lasting disgrace,
think-though dare no. say so to Sir
Bulkley-to the son, who lives in album
dance himself, and leaves his mother and
sister to earn their own livelihood in such
hole. Yon can see the cottage from our
windows. Twill show it to you; such a
poor place it is
"What ?'
The word came from Alice in whisper
and seeing she was anxious to hear, Mr..
Gwynne told her his version to Ovens
story while the words crept into her icy
heart, and the music to which she had
come to listen died unheard.
That Owen should have been her truest
friend for all two years-her nearest and
first friend, she repeated to herself, the
flush Of anger and modification rushing
into her face at the thought-only give
her pain at last!
IL think | will go over just once and
see his mother" she said to herself over
and over again during her stay at Llanvr,
lar; but strange new feeling of shame,
which she blushed to recognize, prevent
ed her.
Alice had been back at home week or
more when Owen Vaughn came voluntar-
lily once more to the school house. DR..
and Mrs. Hope were both out. and Alice
sat alone The familiar step. for which
she had so often listened, was close behind
her now. yet she never turned. How
could she turn while that light,--half of
eager. but half of passionate Affection
burned in her eyes ? He sat beside her,
grave and gentle as of old, but there was
i new tone in his voice when he told her
the story of his life, new longing his face
when he told her how he loved her. In a
few simple words he told her; but these
words she saw We're uttered from his
heart, and their truth and enrnestness were
like the truth and earnestness of prayer.
IL have determined many times that
would never inter these words to you, Al
ice," he said. Il have struggled long
and bard against temptation, but it has
mastered me at last. Before yon went
away looking so frail, almost broke my
resolution. But when you came back,
still looking weak and i'll, and when
found you cold and strange to me. said,
i will listen to nothing now. but my own
heart will tell her the story OF my early
life, and then how fervently have loved
her and must love her always. | will tell
her both these things, and leave my fate
in her hands. Alice, Tread my answer
in your face. You disdain this love of
mine. You send me from you, and it will
be hard to hope, or trust in any one again.
Wait; do not say it yet. | thought | had
prepared myself, but the darkness falls so
suddenly"
But Alice did say it. She told him she
disdained the love he offered and told him
so in cold and scornful words which were
to come back to her aftrrward with crush