Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-03
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task would be accomplished before she
could reach the top. For, in addition to
other objections, she felt her errand rath-
er ridiculous.
But he did really experience some vex-
atoms hindrance through lack of the prop
er instrument, and was swearing iittie'
yery uneonsciously, under his breath
when Miss Strickland said, just beside
him: :, c.,,,
"Here is better hammer. Mr.. Gilbert.
Mrs. Gray told me to bring it to you"
THANK you," he answered, coldly. II
am much obliged to Mrs Grey, ana OF
course. to you also, Miss Strickland
mot at all to me. l would not nave
brought it. but she insisted
1t was only about hammer and piece
of green cloth. But so oddly is LIE com
pounded that this was the overpowering
moment of their lives. Never since that
fatal Sunday had they stood one moment
together. Never since then had eithef
spoken one voluntary sentence to the oth,
er. / have not the art to tell all that iilIed
their hearts as they stood silent.
For silently they did stand Tor one mo-
ment. Miss Strickland had tried to turn
and 90 down lstairs again, but her head
was 2 little giddv. and, raging at herself
for her unnecessary agitation, she SUI
found it would be wisdom to remain an
instant where she was.
Mr.. Gilbert did not glance toward her
again. lie was afraid to do so. She
stood so near him! Her dress touched
him. That meaningless contact thrilled
to his very soul. He, too, called himself
fool, aud invoked inaudible anathemas
upon himself But his heart was one wild
pain.
He took the hammer she had brought,
lifted it with unnecessary force and brought
it down-upon his own fingers.
"Ohr cried Miss Strickland. 1t was
hardly more than breath. but the tender
monosyllable, surprised from her lips,
spoke so much She stretched out her
hand instinctively, and drew it back with
a painful blush. r~
1T does no matter" said Arthur. 1t
did not hurt me-" And he scarcely felt it.
He used the hammer once more, with
better effect, loosening an odd, rough,
looking piece of wood that held the faded
cloth. The cloth fell down. and little
cloud of dust rose. Something rustled
and fell on the floor at his feet.
.sAh said he, "here is an old letter.
How long has it been there, | wonder? 1t
is yellow with age.''
He was thankful to the letter for being
there. 1t gave him something to say.
But it was only with dust that it was yell
low. Eight months had it lain there, hold
ing its little secret against the time of dis
closure. And the time had come.
He glanced at the address. and saw, in
his own handwriting, Mabel's name. He
opened the note without speaking.
don't suppose 1t ever did really happen
that q mans heart stood still-until it
stood still foreyer-or that mans living
blood ran ice. But ice and fire seemed
in his veins for moment His look
frightened Miss Strickland.
''What is it p she said. forgetting her.
self.
"Do you remember" he said in voice
that was not Arthur's voice-''do you re-
member the last Sunday that we sang to-
getherP"
"Yes, remember. Oh"
Ibid you have note from me that
morning?" he asked, in the same strange
voice.
"Ia A notep Oh mon
"Here is the note l sent you that day.
Will you read it now?"
"What do we thereP That taste of hea-
ven-more, that taste of heaven after a
black and bitter ught-belongs to them
alone.
Everybody down stairs forgot them. ex-
cept Miss Lahnman. Fifteen minutes
passed. Then Lahnman, not being in
nately lady, and no longer able to curb
her curiosity and her jealousy, came soft
ly up the steps.
"What an age it takes to remove piece
of cloth - she cried, as she came up
Some of the sweetness was out of her
voice. Irony and apprehension did not
tune it we'll. ave want your opinion
about the wreaths for the chancel Was
the second hammer success ?"
This she added as she turned the cor
her. and came in sight in them.
Entirely a success" Arthur answered.
1t has been worth its weight not in gold.
but in diamonds.
He was sitting on Joe's bench, with
somewhat such an air as if it had been an
imperial throne.
Miss Strickland was replacing some
ir-pins. and her face was that of the
goddess OF morning. celestial, rosy red
Some time after this, Mr. Gilbert en-
joyed the pleasure of an explanatory in
terview with the ingenious blower"
Without alarming his inventive powers
by any reference to the lost note, he con-
trived TO learn from that artless youth one
or two facts which threw some light upon
its fate.
"a while ago." said Joe, "there ere
piece o. cloth-no sense anyhow-gol
loose and tripped me up time or two
And down i came-bang! once, when
Mr.. Grey was prayin'. | didn't catch it
then / guess p Oh no he never said a
cross word in his life. He would not"
But these eulogies~ were explained and
commented upon by appropriate express
ions, which left no doubt that his remarks
were entirely ironical. He further
stated that, in Jealous mood he had then
improved the condition of his bench by
mailing the cloth fast, and by mailing over
it = strip of wood to hold it down. All un-
conscious of that letter that slipped from
his pocket between the cloth and the cush-
ion he thus locked up for little while
this key to two destinies.
Ion OF Il l. III.