Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-16
'Concluded from first page. !

Louise turned quickly, and spoke for
the first time.
IL thought you would 60" she said {;
land you'll take me with you-wiIl you
not?r
There's no need for that he began.
when she interrupted him.
"Yes, there is need. Ii is all that we
can do for him. and he--ah, he did so
much for Paul and me must go! Don't
say anything 10 dissuade me--on'y tell me
when to be ready"
WED best start as soon alter day
as we kim" said the man standing by.
Very soon after daylight the next morn
inc Louise bent over Paul and kissed him
tender good-by. He took both her
hands and held them together.
Keep heart" he said. 1T may be all
a mistake. 1t may not be what we fear
/ don't think he is the kind of man TO be
accidentally drowned"
''But he may have been robbed, and
murdered" said Louise. Paul. | feel
sure that il is he: and oh, my dear and
the great tears began To roll down-"l am
so sorry that the only return | ever made
for all his kindness was To give him pain"
Never mind" said Paul, gently. You
did what you thought right, and he knew
it,"
Zone often makes great mistakes about
what is right" said Louise. Then she
drew down her veil and departed.
They travelled rapidly. and at last they
reached the home of their guide-a sub
stantial log farm house situated in val
ley, where the mountains reccded little
from the banks of the river. As they
came in sight they perceived that it WAS
evidently the scene OF commotion and ex-
element. Horses were fastened to the
fence. and under the trees men were
lounging here and there; a group Of wo-
men stood gossiping by the door Louise
turned so faint-that deathly taintness
which comes only from the heart-that
everything grew black before her. She
clutched her companions arm.
''Please take Inc at once, she said. II
cannot bear this suspense much longer"
So they went in at once-stopping to
hear nothing, putting aside those who
would fain have spoken.
''Only show us where the body is, - said
Louise's companion. THAT is all we ask !"
Some ore led the way. and pushed open
the door of a lean-to room. They entered.
and the sick horror seized Louise again as
she saw the outlines of a rigid figure ex-
tended on a bed, covered with coarse
sheet. But she was resolutely determined
that she would not fail until all was over
until she knew. She held herself, there
fore. in a powerful cOnstraint. and walked
steadily forward. As she lifted the thick
veil which she wore, a man who was
standing by the bed turned quickly around.
For one GREATNESS moment they faced each
other. What was this? Had the dead
risen? II so, the dead could speak, for
this man cried:
Louise for Heavens sake, what has
brought you here P"
Poor Louise The revulson was too
great. All her self-control gave way sud.
denly, and she fell forward fainting in
George Dunwardin's arms.
When she recovered it was to hear story
which can be more briefly related than 1t
was told by Dunwardin on the banks of
LAUREL In his mining expeditions be had
been led farther into the mountains than
he had anticipated, but had been abun-
dainty rewarded for hardships and delays
by finding all-and more than all--of
which he was in search. On his way back
to Alexander's he had been stopped by
news OF the drowned body-supposed to
be his own-lying within this farmhouse.
he identified it at once as that of a Meth
Odist preacher whom he met the week be-
fore among the mountains, and who had
been, no doubt. accidentally drowned in
attempting to cross the swollen stream.
"lf had travelled faster. if had been
a day earlier might have spared you all
this" he said remorseiully, in ending his
story.
But Louise laid her hand on his
Don't regret your delay" she said in
her sweet voice. mo doubt it was best
i have suffered terribly, but if this suffer
ing had not come. l might never have
learned how much love you"
And SO, to this day, Dunwardin says
that he won his wife "up Laurel. "-Ap,
pieton's Journal.