Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-21
NO. 224

s"o III shl ha'o rememDereo that you dis
IKE her engagement being talked about,
but then its her downright way; she al
ways. says she hates sailing under false
colors"
Such coarse expression! All nauti-
cal expressions are coarse r Said Mrs
Stewart. with the sweeping arrogance that
ignorance is so often apt To display.
1t was at length resolved between these
two that. if possible. all knowledge Of
hates "entanglement' should be kept
from Lord Paul. Maude regretted that the
chance OF title had not come In her way;
but, failing that, to have titled brother
in-aw was delightful idea; and then
as her stepmother observed confidentially
-''you never know what may happen, and
those Birleys are evidently delicate fami-
ly; why, my dear, the young man him.
self looks like ghost I" Truth to tell new
er had Mrs. Stewart felt so hopeful OF
Rates engagement being broken off as
now, for Edgar seemed destined indeed to
prove the truth OF those words, The race
Is not always to the swift, or the battle TO
the strong" lat.
He HAD energy and courage and perse-
verance enough to set up whole firm of
city merchants, but the tide of luck seemed
against him.
His mother, broken-hearted by the loss
of the husband who had been the centre
and handspring OF her life, had long and
dangerous illness. We all know the
expenses that severe sickness entails, and
the family finances had to be stretched TO
the utmost, and even then, no amount of
pulling would make both ends meet.
You must understand that Edgar was
never asked 10 break bread in the big
house at kensingtOn; and another arbi-
trary rule was that Kate never visited his
people" as Mrs. Stewart termed his
family. Truth to tell, the Brleys were
not the only old friends that John Stewart
had had to give up, just for peace and
quiet life in the domestic tent. and his
daughter Kate, as averse to wrsngling as
he had been-for the present. When she
was Edgar's wife his people would be her
people.
''lt 'urts my feelin's to see Miss Kate's
young man treated as If he was dirt hun
der their feet 80 it does - said q tender
hearted toOtman to the cook of the Ken.
sington establishment.
"There's deal of things done in this
world" replied the potentate, las would
never be done If some peoples eds was
not pillered in the silent tomb;" remark
that met with unanimous approbation In
the kitchen conclave.
But though yielding in many ways,
Kate was incorrigible in one particular.
She would make no engagement for
that one evening in the week when for
two happy hours Edgar was all her own.
"lt is light. and life, and strength to
me to know you are waiting for me herer'
he said to her once, when things were,
looking very black indeed.
Perhaps another woman than Kate
would have simpered, and said coquett,st-
ly that she was ''sure that it wasn't any,
thing OF the kind"
But that was not Kate's way.
She just looked up ut him with her
grave, tender eyes, and said, IL know 1t
is, while in her heart she registered q
vow that never, come what might. should
that "light and lite and strength" be
lacking
When that season was drawing TO a
close, there came An evening when she
put back the dark locks from her lovers
forehead, and, after long look into his
face, gave u heavy sigh AS she said:
"Im afraid, Gar, you forget your prom
ise sometimes. dearw
What can do P" he answered, crush
ing her hands in his.
Yes; that was just it! What could be
do?
By giving up even one weeks relaxa-
ton in the year, by taking other mems
work upon his own shoulders, by going
early to business, and staying late--far
later sometimes than he would have liked
to tell his darling of--he hoped to climb
into a certain post that was expected TO be
vacant by the end of the year. Then he
would rest.
"You look, oh, such weary boy ~ said
Kate, as he left her that night.
81 am always tired, more or less--gen-
orally more" he answered. smiliag; zone
must be, you know, just when there comes
pull upon one but the end will come
some day, and then, my darling. no one
shall take you from me-" ai
l lnger upon the record of this one
evening you see. Kate sat beside her
lovers knee and listened to the story of
his hopes and fears, entering into even the
smallest detail of his plans as only q low
ing, helpful woman can do. But ten
chimed all too soon, and Edgar rose to
go. Goodnight, my ownr' he said very
tenderly, and holding her close-close in
his arms. 1Hh
He was standing Just under the hanging
lamp in the middle of the room. and Kate
thought she had never seen him look so
worn and wan, and haggard. She threw
her arms about his neck, and for a mo-
ment the brave heart failed.
''Yes. yes; your very own she sobbed
in the passion and sorrow of the moment,
remember that. always; and, oh. love!
take care of yourself, because l am your
own, and because my heart would break
if | lost your
Dear heart r he murmured, very soft
u with his lips on hers.
1--WE need not be at this s0iree musicale
until II, so you would have plenty Of time
to dress after Mr.. Birley is gone,r said
Maud to her sister. No. il was one of the
Tiny barbed arrows with which she was
wont TO pierce Ka,e's heart. this calling
their old playfellow "Mr. Birley."
We'll, If you wish II very much, dear.
will CO." she said. unable to repress
little shiver as the arrow went home.
Lord Paul Nethercliffe is going with
u.s. said Mrs. Stewart purriDgIy, from the
depths Of luxurious causecuse.
"rm glad OF that" put in Kate heartily;