Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-19
Hailp Afnnetee yomnal.
ONE MORE CHANCE.
rcoNTINuEp FROM YESTERDAY. !

ONE MVkE VuANVEs
rcoNTINuED FROM YESTERDAY.
They had only half an hours converse
ton, and then Rab came out OF the great.
crandy desolate house, and walked across
the misty park, in front OF the setting sun.
like q man in dream!
.sOnly one chance Of life" A long sea-
voyage, and a settlement at Australian
Morecambe Bay or Adelaide, might save
him yet!
The WEAKNESS was heavy on him now,
dragging him like a death, even as he
paced to and fro under the dusky falling
leaves. They dropped upon him slowly,
surely; they would be all under foot soon,
as his hopes were already. Need he con-
tend any more with the fate that was fas-
tening itself on his vitals? Must he take
that long journey in such forlorn hope!
It seemed far easier 10 lie down and wait
for the swifter and shorter passage from
this life to THAT which is to come"
But it was only his body that was fall
ing; his spirit was strong enough to soon
rally. He would go. 1t was not Gods
appointed time for him to die, while there
was one available chance Of life left.
"For her sake, too" he caught himself
whispering. For it was revealed to him
then, like divine secret, that his life or
death would make all the difference in life
to her. He did not long keep that knowl-
edge as he had it at that supreme moment.
1t paled away, like starlight in grey
dawn. But ever after he knew that it had
been there and that it would come again.
Did those two miss the sweetness of love
BY silence? Rather, may not this silence
bear loves full chalice with such firm and
screening hands that no precious drop
shall be spilled, and no speck OF common
dust sully its crystal wilderness?
Yes: Rab saw that it was his duty to 60.
But he decided that it was not his duty to
fall dependent on the help that his home
circle would so eagerly render and could
30 poorly afford. He must not impoverish
poor Christian and Flora, though, like the
leal sisters that they were, they would in
sist on it if they knew of any need.
They should know of none. They had
never seen anything but the sunny side of
his affairs. They knew his salary; but
did not realize the cost OF the city living
and lodging, nor the more recent inroads
Of country trips and doctors fees. They
would readily believe that he had saved
more than he had; at any rate, unless he
could win his chance of life without prey
ing upon their industrious poverty, then
he should understand that it was not Gods
will he should have it.
The first proposition he laid down was
that he must work his passage out some
how. It was of no use 10 think Of going
before the mast. He wished he could
have done this. 1t had its destinations for
q native of Clachan on the Forth, who had
once had dreams of being mate in some
Arctic whaler, whereof brother-in-law
should be captain; it was an open, daring
life, which did not turn its worst side to
one who was far above any fear of har-
dening his hands. But that could not be
now; for it would kill him at once. He
must take some post that would deal more
gently with the fading body. albeit it
might bear more bitterly on the spirit.
To Clachan he first wrote of his voy-
age IS mere possibility, that would prob
ably be to his great advantage. His sis
tiers responded sensibly, quite open to the
benefits he might derive. and tenderly 81.
lent ~ to the fears and scruples OF the old
father and mother.
Rab got berth sooner than he had
hoped or dreaded. He was to be sort OF
ships handy man-assistant to the stew
ard, cook, and so forth. Rob Christison
was but tradesman's son, himself clerk
in London house of business. But the
old home in Clachan Market had digni-
~ and daintiness in its staid decorum and
severe simplicity; and Rab himself was a
fine clever fellow who had regularly car
ried off the best prizes at school. His
London employers had high opinion of
Rab Christison-that peculiar shade of
high opinion which credits its object with
its own respectable pecuniosity. Such a
superior young man must be well-off; his
family must be well-to-do. They only in
quired the name and port of the ship he
was:to sail in, and straightway inferred
that he would be saloon passenger.
Flora and Christian, who were the me-
diums OF most of the home correspon-
dence, were much troubled about their
brother. They lay awake at nights, and
talked 70 each other, about what he could
have saved and what he would need. But
it all issued in very timid suggestion
that the voyage must cost a great deal.
and that he must not land on a strange
shore without a considerable stock of
cash. Rab wrote back that all was well.
that he should not have spent all his mon
ey when he arrived out, and that with his
introductions and his London experience
he would be sure to get some light count
ing-house work very easily.
Rab bought few potatoes and prac-
tised scraping them, and made his own
bed and washed up his own tea-things.
His landlady and her servant girl seemed
10 think at first that he was going mad,
but presently came to the conclusion that
it was as well to have some preparation
for "roughing it in the BUSH" of which
they had curious mixture of ideas, based
on a picnic on Norwood Shrubs, and
the perusal of Mayne Reds Maroon"
They would potter about poor Rab. CIV
ing him instructions, and asking all sorts
of incopsequent questions. But he was
grateful for their good-natured interest,
and their ignorant sympathy even did him
good, though it was for trials and troubles
only of their own imagining.
But all Rab's manly independence did
not grudge his sisters the kindly rights of
n.1 c,sop1oh;, fThoprh hn could