Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-17
f1,or,;,nsneil from first page.

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Love. whose name should sometimes DC
Fine Ears. detects the sigh OF hidden
main. the sob of o wounded heart, culver
ing and skulking lest it be betrayed by Il
onaver of the fresh, sweet voice.
..Where is Benjamin, my dear asks
my cousin. II thought he went with
YOU" =,
..He walked into the village, replies
nv Alice. Il left him at the bridge, and
came back by the river path. | think he
will be here soon."
There is moments silence and then
the gate clicks again. This time they are
a mans steps that come up the walk
quick, eager, heavy steps, whose music
Fine Ears decides is tangled and ont OF
tune.
Young Beniamin's face is pale and ca
ger as he comes up and seats himself by
Alice's side.
Have kept you waiting?" he asks.
II went into the village. and was detained
a few minutes waiting for friend at the
depot. Here are the evening papers,
and he lays a package on his iather
knee.
.Times, Tribune, Telegram. says my
cousin, sorting them over. "No letters
"No letters" echoes young BENJAMIN,
looking down at his dusty boots. Ben Is
six feet high, and handsome.
1--WE shall not have the trouble oil an
swering any, them" says his father, cheer
fully. "However, thought the Roches-
ter Company would have written about
those trees before now. Remind me to
send them line tomorrow. Now let Us
have tea"
And .'let us have peace. supplement,
inwardly, for while we have been talking
sweet Alice had risen, and is standing
with her back to US, leaning over the rail
and looking into the distant night.
When my cousin Benjamin rises, crop.
ing for his cane, she runs forward and
slips her hand through his arm, not wait
ing to fall behind and chat with young
BENJAMIN, as is always her pretty habit.
Nv cousin does not see anything out OF
the way in this action. He stumbles on
with nv brown.eyed Alice; but feel the
shadow of cloud, and involuntarily turn
to look at young Benjamin. His face is
serious and set with certain firmness
that draws deep wrinkle across his no.
bile forehead.
He and Alice are 10 be married this day
fortnight. and do not like these symptoms
of lovers pouts.
What if anything were to happen at this
late day, when everything is in readiness
for the wedding?
Nv cousin has made over the farm for
young Benjamin to manage, and l pro-
pose to transfer to them considerable
property, which has been lying on inter-
est for years in the Bank OF Universal
Love.
"Property-why, have you got property,
nanny ?' says my cousin, when first
speak of it.
"Ay, millions on millions! tell you in
confidence. my dear friends-and you need
not all get up and begin to whisper, say
ing that l am not sound on the money
question-if you once make friends with
the directors of this bank, you can draw
on it for incredible sums, and its promises
to pay are always good. Good Will is the
President, Faith is the cashier, and Trust
the paying teller: while of messengers you
can have your choice between Truth and
Charity. One thing, overwhelmingly you
approach them in the right spirit. your
paper will be accepted only at an immense
discount.
We were rather a silent party at the
supper table. The tea is good as boiling
water and pure Oolong can make; the
bread is sweet and the butter unexception-
able. But we dawdle, and finally Alice,
finishing her cup. says "Good-night. She
is tired, and goes to her room.
make little, uneasy remarks about my
garden, about the strawberry and aspara-
gus beds; vague and senseless speeches,
that waste their sweetness on the silent
air. eliciting neither attention nor interest.
AT last young Benjamin. drawing back
from the table, and putting his hands in
his pockets begins to whistle Cham
payne Charlie"
Ny cousin turns to him with look of
rebuke in his fine old eyes.
"Whistling. sir. here Pr he says.
Young Benjamin 1ushes redly all over
his handsome face.
II beg your pardon" he replies, get
ting up out of his chair and coming up
close to us. ''Thesfac is, have some
thing disagreeable TO say, and have been
hesitating how to begin. But l might rs
well tell you now that have a Journey to
make. / am going west tomorrow"
drop my tea-cup, and my cousin fall
ing back in his chair. sits helplessly staring
up into his sons face. Then he RECEIVERS
his presence Of mind.
Going on a journey-west-to-mor-
row!" II don't understand you. Per-
haps you have forgotten that YOU were to
have been married in a few days"
mo, sir, have not forgotten it. | have
told Alice and asked her to wait, and she
is offended; perhaps just as she ought to
be. She will not be reasonable; but she
must be reasonable. If she is to be my
wife. she must trust me fully and uure-
servedly."
lcoNrtNrEu To MORROW