Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-09


came tapping at the door. l knew 1t
only too well! 1t was my aunt. and at
this moment! I quickly undid the iasten-
ings, but the impatient hand kept up its
summons, and | heard her say, half to
herself:
"Oh. Chris, Chris, in mercy's name
In mercy's name.'
l opened the door. In an instant she
flew in and seized me by the arm. She
was wild with terror.
"Who just left here, Chris who was it
that just parted from you?'
mo one, aunt ?"
"And you saw no one go down from
this foor?"
Mono one"
She FASTENED on into the parlor, strip
ping off her gloves and wringing her
hands in the maddest way.
"But there was some one-some one
| know it, for | saw him Oh, it is so
slrange!"
She pressed her fingers flat against her
temples, and looked toward me with her
fair forehead gathered in burrows, and her
lips pressed tightly together.
For fully half minute she started thus
in my direction, not seeing me, but look
ing through me and beyond me. felt
all the tortures of the damned. Ihelieved
that my miserable attempt at rectification
was producing insanity.
II came in at the south door. The
wind was blowing through the corridor in
a perfect gale. And You know how dark
it is, Chris, half way along, don't you ?
just before you reach the stone staircase :
It was there. He was walking fast. So
A. l,n Of
thing made me shrek out. | don't know
what it was. l only know that l opened
my mouth wide and gave cry louder
than any ever gave before. | frightened
myself. I just saw his figure and his
splendid beard, and then l found myself
running as if for life. Who was hep How
came he here? His hair was almost
whte-almost white! Oh, my God. and
it was then SO fine and brown! And he
was bent oh Arthur, Arthur, can the
world have treated you so i'll? Arthur
How dare Ip-Oh, Chris, Chris! Give me
your hand, boy, must hold by something.
/ feel that / am floating, drifting some
wherev'
Her eyes became vacant for moment,
then she burst out again, and spoke OF this
young Arthur's strength OF mind and
strength of heart. Then, with mighty
effort, she shook off the whole distraction,
and showed me new seal in her ring
Vain effort The ice that had formed over
the living water had broken, and there
was inundation everywhere.
Between US and the door was a tall
screen. While my poor aunt was uttering
her fevered words. and while she grasped
my hands with a strength that was almos.
ferocious, saw the door open. remov-
ed my eyes, and fixed them on the agitat-
ed face of my companion. l was unable
to see who it was that entered, yet | did
not doubt that it was Parry that he should
come at this critical moment, at this time
when an aroused spirit and yearning heart
seemed to utter mandate that could be
heard in the uttermost parts OF the world,
appeared to me to be so natural that felt
not the slightest surprise when he did i'll
deed advance into the room.
know that when he saw us he stopped !;
also that after some seconds he moved for
ward once more, advancing slowly and
noiselessly, and keeping close to the wall
where the rugs were.
His presence added a thousand fold to
my wretched approximations. l sat with
my eyes upon my aunt. my sight lnteut
upon him, prey to an anxiety that made
my brain whirl and my flesh grow cold.
The burden that had been borne for Il
quarter of a century was topping to its
fall. A single sound or single glance
would precipitate it, and at that instant
my craven spirit anticipated nothing bat
ruin.
How mistaken was! How feeble had
been my conception of the endurance OF
affection. How plainly, how simply, was
enacted before me the one short scene that
has since been the anchorage of my faith
in love
The light was white and meagre; and
Parry, now standing but short distance
of, with his gray head inclined, and his
hands caught behind his back, was the
very picture of dignity and repose. My
aunt, searching deeper and deeper in her
soul, poured out, with her face transform
cd the most powerful and tender words ::
Il fear that | can be passive no longer.
| fear that must go back to grief again.
and become the half-crazed girl once more.
This shock has thrown down all my forti-
tude, Chris-not trace remains If | can
bear to mourn, then can think of him.
mean that. if permit myself to weep. |
can open all the old pictures, the old
books, the old letters, and | can wander
about in the old scenes. All, that pleasure
should be so cruel Yes. yes, can strug-
gle no longer, must return to my old sor-
row. Perhaps it will seem less Christian
like-perhaps it will be less womanly but
the Overburdened heart forgets these
things, and"
Parry made step forward and called
her:
'Cartherine ~
For an instant thought the sound had
killed her But in the next she was upon
her feet. She grasped the top of the tall
chair as she turned, and then stood facing
from me. My agony at that moment was
uncomfortable. What changes her face
underwent do not know. | Judged of
the working of her spirit by her postures
For one moment she was rigid and antag-
onistie. No doubt she feared deception
Then she began to waver. Her hands
sank slowly by her side. her head dropped
and her figure become supine. 1t was
impossible that gestures could be more
eloquent What an instant that was 1t
was the last moment of dreadful quarter
Of a century. Parry walked forward with
outstretched arms. She advanced slowly,