Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-08
no. 2l3.
THROUGH WIND AND RAIN.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "OLD MYDDLEToN's
MONEY!

MONEY!
| CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.l
| This Is goodbye" she said presently,
raising her white face and at that moment
the steadfast light within her eyes was
sad to see. Goodbye. This dear lie
is over for me from tonight
my dear" cried, as took both her
chilly hands in nine. "what is it that you
mean. Miss Agnes ?'
"l am-going." Her voice sank to
whisper at the last word. so no wonder
could not feel sure that had heard Alright.
Yet not for anything could ask her
again, because seemed to understand il
all so well. after these suspicious of Can
tain Wardel's which had overheard.
II am going-to-mOrrow," she whis-
pered, her wide eyes meeting mine with
an unultered longing in them. II am
going because-my uncle has lost-his
son's-life. | ruin it! have an old
| friend who will receive mel think. She
is poor, but will help her, I-need NOT
be a burden" kg
Where is she, Miss Agnes ?''
But no. not by hinting. or asking, or
even enlreatng, could win that inform
alton. She would not leave me the pow.
er of telling Mr.. Will where she had gone
But tell him." she whispered very
softly, "please tell him-only this one
thing; that kneeling here. just as might
have knelt ut my mothers side, pray
that he will do as his father wishes. l
shall be quite happy-presently. His
father has been as my father, and have
no word to say tonight. or ever, but
God bless him.
l don't know whether | answered at all;
l fancy not; but l held her to my breast
well, never mind that.
Strange to say. it was on the very next
morning, just before Miss Agnes left US,
that Lord Luxleigh brought his daughter
to Wesmede; then. of course, but did
think that the frail, sad girl. who was GO
ing alone into the world for the sake of
Mr.. Will. was far better worth his love
than the girl who, with her foreign voice,
and dress and manners, was come to win
what my dear was resigning. Quite
courteously the Squire introduced his
young cousin to Miss Luxleigh, but some-
how, his voice sounded all different.
An !! how the minutes fled till she was
gone, then how they crept by US, bring
ing us never the music of girlish voice
aud willing step; bringing US even no
word from the outer world to tell US of
her Though | could see that the Squire
missed her more than words could say.
he never even uttered her name. Cap.
tain Warder did wisely not to leave him
alone just then. knowing what the empty
rooms would be for him, after the bright
companionship of his adopted daughter.
The intercourse between Luxleigh and
Wesmede became very close Perhaps
Miss LuxIeigh enjoyed the Squire's per-
petual narratives of his sons per-
tections and perhaps adulation of every
kind was welcome to her. In any case
she came very frequently to Wesmede,
and so aided Captain Warder's attempt
to keep Mr.. CapIeton from being solitary.
So the time went on till Mr.. Wills re-
turn. or course | knew nothing of what
passed in that first interview between the
father and son. but l happened to meet
my young master on the stairs Just after
wards. and he passed me without word
or glance, his eyes burning, and his lips
drawn tight upon his teeth. Later on,
when | was tired of hearing him pacing
to and fro in his room, ventured quietly
in to him, to give him the welcome I'd
always given in Olden times, when he had
come home from school or college.
AT first thought he was going to turn
away from me, but quite suddenly las il
he remembered that his secret was in my
keeping) he turned and greeted me. It
was good while. though, before trusted
myself to give him Miss Agnes message,
and almost as soon as ever repeated it,
he, standing in utter stiffness to listen
the door opened. and Captain Warder
came in with his greeting far too loud and
cordial to be quite honest from him.
MIR. Will looked down with silent con-
tempt upon his cousin ) Outstretched hand.
and then he turned to me as if he were not
even aware that any one else stood there.
''Old FRIEND" he said, IL am going away
again, to fetch my cousin Agnes back to
Wesmede so you see | must answer
your welcome by another goodbye"
| was looking straight into Captain War
der's face, but could not find out wheth-
er his surprise was real or feigned. 'Your
father found himself deceived in Agnes
Capleton." he said. land naturally he will
never consent to her return here"
Shall | ever forget my young masters
fierce reply. or the savage gloom OF Capt.
Warder's face when he left the roomg
Mr.. viii had long interview with his
| father after that; ; and from what he told me
afterward, when he came to see If l could
help him to the faintest clue to Miss Agnes
present home, l understand that my MAJ
| ter had SAID II he could not return to marry
Miss Luxleigh he need never return at all
and had strictly forbidden him TO bring
Miss Agnes to Wesmede. From that, even
without being told-I could guess that
Captain Warder had been present at the
interview in spite of Mr.. Wills earnest
wish to see his father alone; but did not
wonder the father should fear trusting to
himself this refusal Of his sons anxious
prayer.
Not for months after Mr.. Wits depart
ure, did the Squire betray any symptom Of
having taken to heart the defeat oi his
scheme or the absence of his son and 90
the people grew to say he didn't care. and
that Captain Warder was as good - any
son to him; but knew better. Some-
times. wandering to his door late In the
night, to be sure that all was well, would
hear the old man weeping like girl; and
year afterward l found those letters Of
Mr.. Willis which were never answered.