Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-04
Taks aud xketehes.
BY THE SAD SEA WAVES,
lCoNrISUEp FROM YEsrrRnAy.1

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.J
What culpable woman / am Bribed
with kiss to comprise But-poor OF
taIie And what a reckless, miserable
mood she in l hear her voice ringing
out over head:
"Et ryresse, Fiyresse, liyresse Ell ramourl"
Not an exalted sentiment, is it, readerp"
and for Sunday night Well she learnt
it in hard school, this poor Ottalie OF
mine
toss and turn my night away. Ottalie
fancy, does the same. When she came
down to breakfast her face is pale, her eyes
are encircled by purple rings. We
scarcely speak to one another.
Later. come into the room again with
my things on, look at her and wait.
81 am not going out" she says. 80 l
leave her sitting at the window. If she
is happy. she is better actor than !
thought-she hides it so well,
For three hours do l poke Jelly fish
with the end of my sunshade. But jelly
fish are pulegmatic. and the sun is hot In
the course OF time it becomes monotonous,
and rise and 60 homeward.
AS close our gate hear Jasper DANES
voice. Sometimes it has struck me as be-
ing musical, but now it fairly sets my teeth
on edge. What does it all meanP Well,
it may be better, think, as / walk in.
Ottale is bolt upright near the piano, and
Mr.. Dame is tramping up and down the
room. He comes to sudden pause be-
fore me.
"What is the matter P'' ask. not in the
least because l require information. l
think he guesses this, for he eyes me in an
extremely unpleasant way.
The matter II is this" he says in
his harsh voice "last night was led to
believe your sister would be affianced wife,
nay that she was. To-day, when l ask
about our wedding-day, she tells me she
is already-married. That is all that is
he matter, Miss Peyre."
unite my hat strings and sit down; l
have not the least idea what else to do.
Forgive me-" she says, or rather
means, coming few steps nearer him,
with scared, pitiful face. $50
For drawing me on! For making .
fool of me! For allowing me to love you
as have never loved mortal yet! And
when know not whether to believe this
strange assertion, and ask what your name
is-and why, if you are married. you have
let me call you Miss Peyre, Miss Ottaie
1ou itluSt W cpcdh hduduc, dp-
peal to YOU he adds, turning fiercely to
me. 'Is this the way to treat a gentle
man? Have /, or have l not, right to
ask any explanation ?"
Tell him, Deborah; tell him ALL" she
says, trembling.
But | hold my peace stubbornly~ /
feel angry with everything and every body.
Her own folly led her into this let her
get out of it as she can.
He stands waiting for me to speak.
Ottalie gives a great sob, which disarms
me. In spite OF myself l begin and give
him the outlines of the tale.
Our father was Major Peyre, of the
Regiment. He was not a good man; TO
say the least of it, not judicious one.
He drank and he gambled. After our
mothers death Ottalie and / were quite
in his power. One OF his gambling friends
to whom he became largely Indebted,
cast his covetous eyes ON Ottalie, who
was but young girl, shy and inexpe-
rienced. My father gave her to him in
marriage. Before two months was over,
my father died. Mr. Dame. who possibly
knows Major Peyre by reputation, may
remember what his death was. Before
the year was out, that man-Ottalie' hus-
band-fell into trouble and crime. He
was tried for it-tried Mr.. Daine, and
reader-and he is now working out his
sentence in prison. Can any one wonder
that we seek TO hide our heads?
Mr.. Daine standing with folded arms
and shortened breath, inquiries what the
mans name was.
Joyce, Walter Joyce" l say. eek
Captain. Once, by courtesy, gentleman"
Walter Toyce!" he exclaims. staring
at her. "And you are his wife Heaven
help you"
She wrings her hands. and looked up
at him with wide, fearless eyes. All her
coquetries are gone, all her pretty, be-
wildering looks and smiles.
Forgive me-" she says, humbly.
"Neverm The word seems to be wrung
from the depth of a desparing heart.
knowing all this. why could you not
checked me when you saw what you were
becoming to meP'
because II grew to care for you,"
she says. in her recklessness. her white
lips smiling family. because l never
knew what happiness was until you came.
was very wicked, know; Deborah there
is thinking me more wicked still for avow-
ing it, But this is the end of it all.''
In her sad eyes stands the ghost of the
dead and gone past. Mr.. Daine, looking
down upon her with strange compassion,
catches up his breath with sob.
Jasper, Jasper! Only forgive me-"
The silence is dreadful. 1 can't bear
these scenes; l was not made for them.
Her head falls in despair. All in mo-
ment he folds her to him.
''lf that be true, if you do love me. why
then all will be well. Why should he
stand between us?-that base, bad man
who has wrecked your life Pr
i put out my hand, aghast. Ottalie,
aghast too, turns her white face to him
inquiringly.
Don't you see that IL is not an ordinary
case?" he asks. what does it signify
that few carping Puritans may carp at
itP Ottalie. my dear one, come with mel
can make you happy now and always"
He waves me aside. i stand aside, and
wait. 1t seems to me like an eternity, but
| know can trust Ottalie.
She frees herself slowly from him.
GOOD bye, dear love-" she whispers.
"GoOd-bye pn he echoes ..[Vhat do