Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-27
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RTcHARD DOuBLEDICK.
By CHARLES DICKENS.
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Don't move your head to look at me.
dear Richard. Let 1t lie here. while
tell my story. loved a generous. noble
man; loved him with my whole heart
loved him for years and years; loved MN
faithfully, devotedly; loved him with no
hope of return; loved him, Knowing
nothing of his higher qualities-not even
knowing that be was alive. lie was hon.
ored and beloved by thousands, when the
mother of his dear friend found me, and
showed me that in all his triumphs he had
never forgotten me. He was wounded in
a great battle. He was brought, dying.
here iato Brussels. l came to watch and
tend him as / would have ioyfully gone
with such purpose, TO the dreariest ends
Of the earth. When he knew no one else,
he knew me. When he suffered most, he
bore his sufferings, barely murmurlng,
content to rest his head where yours rests
now. When he Law at the point of death
he married me, that lie might call me
wife before he died. And the name, my
dear love, that | took on that forgotten
night"
Il know it nowP' he sobbed. The
shadowy remembrance strengthens. 1t is
come back. ! thank Heaven that my
mind is quite restored My Mary, kiss me ;
lull this weary head to rest, or shall die
of gratitude. His parting words are full
filled. / see home again"
Well they were happy. 1t was long
recovery, but they were happy through IL
all. The snow had melted on the ground
and the birds were singing In the leaf
less thickets of the early spring. when
those three were able to ride out together
and when people focked about the open
carriage to cheer and congratulate Cap
tain Richard Doubledck.
But even then 1t became necessary for
the captain, instead of returning to Fog
land, to complete his recovery In the
climate OF Southern France. They found
q spot upon the Rhine, within short ride
OF the old town of Avignon. and within
view of Its broken bridge. which was all
they could desire; they lived there to-
gether six months, then returned to Eng
land. Mrs. Taunton, growing old alter
three years-though not so old as that her
bright, dark eyes were dimmed-and re-
membering that her strength had been
benefited by the change, resolved to go
back for year to those parts. SO she
went with faithful servant, who had Of
ten carried her son In his arms: and she
was to be rejoned and escorted home. at
the years end, by Captain Richard Doub-
ledick.
She wrote regularly to her children, Gas
she now called them and they to her.
She went TO the neighborhood of AK,
and there, In their own chateau near the
farmers house she rented, she grew into
intimacy with a family belonging to that
part OF France. The intimacy began in
her often meeting among the vineyards a
pretty child, girl with most compass
sionate heart, who was never tired OF
hearing about the cruel wars. The fam
ily was as gentle as the child, and AT
length she came to know them so well
that she accepted the invitation to spend
the last month of her residence abroad
under their roof. All this intelligence
she wrote home piece as 1t came
about, from time TO time; and at last in
closed polite note from the head of
the chateau, soliciting. on the occasion OF
the approaching mission to the neighbor
hood. the honor of the company of Cap
tain Richard Doubledick.
Capt. Doublediek. now a handsome,
hardy man. in the full vigor of lite. broad
er across the shoulders and chest than he
had ever been before, despatched cour-
tcOus Tcpiys anu iOHoWco IL III peIsou
Travelling through all that extent oil coun-
try after three years of peace. he blessed
the better days on which the world had
fallen. The corn was golden, not drench-
ed in red; was bound In sheaves for food.
not trodden under foot by men In mortal
strife. The smoke rose up from peaceful
hearths, not blazing ruins. The carts
were laden with the fair fruits Of the
earth, not with the wounded and dead
To him who had so often seen the terrible
reverse. these things were beautiful in
deed. and brought him in softened mood
to the old chateau near AK, on deep
blue evening.
1t was large chateau of the genuine.
old. ghostly sort, with round towers. and
extinguishers, and high, leaden roof.
and more windows than Alladdin's palace.
The lattice blinds were all thrown open,
after the heat of the day, aud there were
glimpses of rambling walls and corridors
within. Then there were immense out
buildings fallen into partial decay; masses
OF dark trees, terrace gardens, balus-
trades; tanks Of water too weak TO play,
and too dirty TO work statues, weeds.
and thickets of iron ratings that seemed
to have overgrown themselves like the
strawberries, aud to have branched out In
all manner Of wild shapes. The entrance
doors stood open, as doors often do in
that country when the heat of day is past,
and the captain, seeing no bell or knocker,
walked in.
He walked into lofty stone hall, re-
freshingIy cool and gloomy after the glare
Of southern days travel. Extending
along the four sides of the hall was gal
lsry, leading to suites of rooms, and it
was lighted from the top. Still, no bell
was to be seen.
"Faith." said the captain. hating,
ashamed of the clanking of his boots
this is ghostly beginning"
He started back, and felt his face turn
white. In the gallery, looking down al
him, stood the French officer the officer
whose picture he had carried In his mind
so long and so far. Compared with the
original, at last--in every lineament how
like 1t was.
He moved and disappeared. and Capt
Doubledick heard his steps coming dowr
quickly into the hall. He entered thro
an archway, There was bright, suddel
look upon his face. much such look as i
had worn in that fatal moment.
Monsieur lie Captaine Richard Double