The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-04-20


/ unreasonably supposed you understood
my feelings and would wait"
"A woman doesn't understand Mat until
She hears it, Cousin john
Aud when heard that you were mar
ried to Theodore, | said to myself, John,
You will go to your grave childless and
witeless, and went on with my work"
/ Mrs. Atkinson looked at the Governor a
moment in astonishment, then her eyes
grew blind with thick, hot teals.
'What have | done, What have |
done"' she exclaimed. bitterly "Oh,
what have | done. You, with al the
glory they have heaped upon you, are not
happy, and as for me, | am wretched
committed sin in marrying Theodore,
for knew did not love him as well as
| was capable Of loving. Young AS was,
John. believe | loved you before you
Went to England better than have ever
loved him. And now--nolc ! am punished
q God. the wretchedness Of knowing it
| might have been :"
Nv ell, all regret IN vain Now let Us
bury the past and not forget that. wretch
cd as we are, any step to relieve our
wretchcdness would only increase it, We
will bear our fate with brave hearts, Fan
ny dear; for il shall never be said 4 Went
worth was a coward.
THAT is true, john 1t would be I'M
( pardonably selfish, to say the least. for us
10 LET Il proud name touch the dnst'
Men and women OF the world will hard
, ly believe, perhaps. that a famous belle,
and gentleman Of brilliant talents and
accomplishments who was familiar with
the dissolute court OF George the Third.
laid firm hands upon the passion in their
hearts and bade it be still
Great men do not lie upon beds of roses,
and the bay and laurel often conceal a
crown of thorns. During the same month
/ i'll which Governor Wentworth arrived in
! Portsmouth was passed the famous bill
| levylng duties upon tea, glass, et,.-the
odiCus spirit of the Stamp Act in 4 new
| guise. Also one in July. for establishing
! the Board cf Trade; and still another.
making illegal any act not compliant with
! the requisition of the Mutiny Act. This
arbitrary taxation reused anew the old fire
| Of revolt, which had smouldered since the
| repeal Of the Stamp Act on the 18TH of
| the preceding March. Governor Went
! worth, owing to his own strong personal
! influence in addition to that of numerous
and wealthy connections. and the crown
officers for a time repressed the indigna-
tion OF the people Of his Province. Faith
in, to the interests of the English crown.
of which he was Il sworn servant, faithful
also to the interests of the provincialists
where those separate interests did not
clash. he endeavored to preserve his integ-
| rity in his narrow way between two par
! ties. He was soon TO prove the truth of
ho rjr.p hat am two
masters While these first low mutterings
OF the vet lar-distant Revolution were
/ echoing from Maine to Georgia, Theodore
his bedside, and noting the slow passage
of time, pondered during many weary
| watch upon the condition Of her country.
/ Governor Wentworth found that the exer-
else Of power was not sufficient to bring
| happiness to his lonely heart. Elattered
! and deceived by the temporary acquies-
| cence of the people, he followed the in
stncts Of his heart-the instinct of all en-
ergetic souls in grief--that Of hart tr0yk.
| He determined, as soon as spring opened,
! to commence the exercise of his preroga-
! tive Of Surveyor Of the Kings Woods
he adhered 10 his purpose. and one day
having penetrated as far as the region near
which stands the present town Of Wolfe
borough, he found the reward Of his eX-
ertions in the landscape which lay spread
out before him. The incompatible beauty
of the place fascinated him. Hope, the
/ spirit of spring AMI peacetulness, the
/ spirit of the place, suggested to him the
| idea of a home in these wilds-a place Of
retreat from the cares of state. That very
| year the plan ri pened into execution. lie
erected Il magnificent house near the east
ern shore Of the lake. known by the In
dlans as the Smile OF the Great Spirit In
It's neghborhood sprang up the scattered
dwellings of farmers, who, encouraged bv
him, had emigrated from England and
| congregated from different parts of the
| Province
| On Saturday, the tsth OF October. l1C9.
| Theodore Atkinson, Jun. one Of his Maj
eSty' Council, and Secretary OF the Prov
nce, departed this life The funeral took
place on the following Wednesday, 1t
was solemn day in Portsmouth. BY or
der of the Governor public buildings were
draped in mourning, flags were hung at
halfmast on the vessels of war in the har-
bor and during the procession to the fam
lily tomb in Queens Chapel, all the bells
were tolled, and the boom OF minute guns
from Fort William and Mary shook the
| town.
On rainy November evening, a few
days latter. Mrs Atkinson, in deep mourn
ing, sat before her drawing room fire. The
cheerful flames laaped and darted and
| flickering grotesque lights and shadows
| bf al
! ceiling. Her cousin, the Governor, was
announced, and she arose and went down
the room to receive him. He led her back
| to the hearth, and they both seated them
selves before the ruddy blaze For Il
while each was silent-seeing pictures
perhaps IN the Goals, for in each heart
memories Of the olden time were stirring.
Since their last unfettered private inter
| view, on their uncle Benning's birth-nigh
| Years ago, in the summerh house at Went
worth Hall, how much had transpired
How still the house was! The slow tick
tack of the hall clock and the occasional
dropping of a coal were the only sounds.
ii was as if the presence of death still lin
| gered in the room above. Presently the
| Governors voice, low with repressed
emotion. interrupted this solemn silence.
Frances, beg your pardon for what
am going to say, but speak | must. Will
you allow me to ask you a question which
will probably strike you as extremely in
opportune ,"
'Certainly," replied Mrs. Atkinson.
"Of course you remember my arrival in
Portsmouth two years and a half ago, and
the brief interview we had that night?'
"Yes"
"IIave you changed since then Fran
ces ~
Mrs. Atkinson sat for moment with
downcast eyes, but her reverie had more
the character of reflection than lover-ike
bashfulness. Finally she raised her large,
beautiful eyes, and flashed splendid
glance upon him.
"There's nobody listening, John, SO
there's no need OF pretending that you
don't know exactly how matters stand -
she said, with something of her old child
ish straightforwardness and impatience.
Very we'll. then, Frances he said,
with the old amusement at her bluntness