Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-25
FContinued from frs, page
N, l must be mistaken" poor. bewildered

Mrs. Baylor cried. "Our Kathleen could
never bring herself to cause such misery !;
but. why wasn't | told? No. she cant
have acted so basely. and I've wronged
and mlsjudged the girl love as a daush-
ter; II just sisters love she's giving |"
Archie. and perhaps he's in her secret,
and-oa, my boy, don't fret !"
The mother was powerless to combat
this grief. or to sssauge II in any degree
These sous had been her joy and comfort
all their lives, and now, when trouble fell
upon one q: them for the first time, she
could d. nothing to aid him to bear it.
nothing to tighten the burden To him
Such trouble too II it had been brought
upon him by any other man, she might
have been able to counsel him how to bear
ii. But to have fallen on him through his
brothers. agency They were both her
boys. and she loved them both better than
she did her life; and now one could only
be happy at ihe expense OF the other, II
b. r fears were true.
Ii her fears were true! There WAS slll
d ,ubt about it, She rose up from hi,
side, aud lifted his bowed head on to her
bosom, and babe him take courage, and
have faith in Kathleen still "l'll 60 to
her at once. Rupert. II tell her that my
son couldn't keep his foolish secret any
longer from his mother. and Archie shah
hear directly that he mustn't engross his
brothers bride; be hopeful my son -
You speak more hopefully than you
feel, mother; I've shut my eyes to the
danger, because it was too CHASTITY and
mean one for me to bear to contem-
plate il. But now you've seen ii, and
spoken about it, and | know I've been
betrayed; but Heaven knows it is not
Archie that blanche knows nothing
Mrs. Balyon determined to 60 to ktth-
leen. She would not compromise her
charge by implying, even to Archie, that
the girl had been less discreet than it was
we'll his brothers promised bride should
be. So she sought Kathleen, and found
her in her own room, doing nothing aud
looking sad.
.'You have come to scold me- cried
she, impetuousy, jumping up and put
ting her arms round Mrs. B ,lyon's neck {;
"don't do it yet, am 50 sorry. 80 fright
ened."
What aboutp Make Il clean breast of
il. Kathleen" Mrs. Balyon said softly.
al may have to scold you atterward. but
I'll hear what your trouble is first"
you'll forgive me, whatever it is ?"
stop a moment, dear instead OF hear
ing your confession or scolding you, In
make everything easy for you by telling
YOU that Rupert has taken me into his
confidence, and that | congratulate my
adopted daughter on the engagement to
my Oldest SON."
Mrs Balvon tried to speak cheerfuly,
but her heart was beating quickly with
apprehension Of what she might be call
ed upon to hear.
The girl fdgeted and blushed, and then
asked:
You say it as if you wouldn't have
congratulated me il you had heard OF my
engagement to your youngest SON.
'Ah. Kathleen, remember they are
brothers they love each other so WE'LL
"You do know-you do suspect some
thing more than Rupert has told You, " the
girl said eagerly ''oh. love me still, help
me, l am SO unhappy | kept the secret
as joke at first. and then Archie came
home, and now dare not tell him."
"Then i: is true he loves you too" the
mother painted. kathleen. child that
loved so, what have you dOneP Heaven
help them; both my sons deceived by
you Why have you stabbed them thro'
me in this wayP Their happiness has
been the only thing good that I've had
in my life; couldn't you leave it to me p
She had put away the girls clinging,
clasplng arms as she spoke. but Kathleen
would not be repused She had wot ked
mischief aud misery for want Of thought,
not want OF heart, and it CALLED her to
the quick TO be reproved and treated so
colby.
Don't push me from you" she pleaded
Rupert would he kinder than that. and
it's for Rupert's sake you hate me now
you don't care for Arches pain be loves
ne TOO, and he will have to lose me, and
Z have to tell him the truth and teach him
to despise me-and oh. no one will pity
mel"
II will pity you, will try to help you
Tiff you'll only be truthful, if you'll try
to mend the mischief; you must not see
Archie again. knew he couldn't have
wropged his brother Knowingly. | knew
he was ignorant. My boys are gentle
men, and they have always loved each
other and given each other their due.
Archie must be spared as much as posi-
Bile, Kathleen, but not at the expense of
his brother; you are pledged to Rupert,
80 Archie must bear his disappointm
You'll teach him TO hate me-" the girl
interrupted; ''let me see him once, only
once. and tell him of my fault myself;
that will be punishment enough for me
let me see Archie once again"
My sons ase gentlemen" the mother
repeated proudly; there can be no dan
ger in what you ask they will both re-
nounce you If you go with your heart to
one. while you leave the promise of your
hand with the other; what hes made you
do it. child ?" Why have you played at
love with nat ures so much finer than your
own, when it was only vanity actuating
your" g.
Continued tomorrow
H. Gar,. auA A.uorotoI