Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-28
NO. lOl.
Tales and Skstehss.
ONE WOMAN'S ROMANCE.
BY ELEANOR I. sHARPLEIGH.
Continued from Thursday

''Ies, l have deceived you all. Your
sister engaged me as governess for her
children without recommendation she is
kind and tender hearted, and she pitied
my homeless and friendless condition. l
did not tell her of my marriage, because
ii was so painful Tor me TO speak of 1t.
wished to forget all. and go back to nv
girlhood days ii | could. was married
when was only sixteen, against my faith
er's will was scarcely more than q child
wilful and foolish. There was some ex-
cuse for me; had never known a moth
er's care, and my father was a stern, grave
man, who, if he loved me never showed
his affection by the fond words and ten
der care that win child's love and conf
dence, and it was so new and delightful
to me to be loved, as l thought he-Ar-
thur Nelson-lOved me !; | think still that
he loved me rs much as he was capable
of loving. We were married privately,
and l left my fathers house. He was very
kind to me at first but before we had been
married year discovered his true CHAR
acter. He was drunkard and gambler
Sometimes for weeks together | did not
see him, and when he did come home II
would be with harsh words and terrible
oaths Oh his lips. think the agony
felt in those terrible years crushed all feel
ing in my heart; even the terrible shock
that came afterward did not move me- He
was carousing one night with some of his
drunken companions, when they got into
quarrel about some trife, and he, my
husband, mad with liquor, stabbed one Of
the men and killed him. l never saw him
after that night. don't know how he
escaped from them then. but he came
home to me thoroughly sobered by his
terror. and told me what he had done, and
that officers were already on the track;
but that he had friends, his own family.
who, for tho sake OF their own honor il
for no other reason, would conceal him
from detection. And so he went leaving
me utterly penniless and alone. The wo-
man with whom we had boarded was
very kind, and l stayed with her long
time; got some sewing from the shops,
and paid her little something for my
board. was not unhappy while stayed
there. had no feeling, as l told you,
but all energy and hope were dead. But
she-the woman with whom l had
boarded-died, and was obliged to seek
some refuge from starvation; my father
was dead, and l had no friends; l saw
your sisters advertisement for govern
ess, and answered it. have been con-
lent here; l have been awakening from
the sort of dream into which had fallen;
| do not allow myself to think of the
past, nor of what my life might have been
but for that terrible mistake of my girl
hood, but for the sorrow that crushed
youth. and hope. and joy in my heart.
You know why have no heart to dress
myself in gay bright robes. and that l
wear this dark grey dress as a sort of en-
blem of my life, not like black. as a
token of deep sorrow and mourning
that may pass away, but of sadness that
is calm and peaceful, but utterly hope
less.'
The face into which she looked as she
ceased speaking was pale and rigid. and
the lips were tightly compressed, but he
said, quietly, in voice that was calm and
unfaltering
You said that your husbands name
was Nelson P''
.'Arthur Nelson"
''Are you sure that that was his real
nameP Might he not have given you an
assumed one ?"
II don't know. Possibly; / never
thought of that" she said, in the same
tone of careless Indifference.
81 have had some sorrow in my own
life," he continued, in the same quiet,
grave tone. "a trouble strangely like your
own. Perhaps You did not know that
had brother. There were four of US,
and we were left orphans when very
young; Alice, Mrs. Rutherford, was only
ten years old, and Nina was an infant OF
few months. Ny brother was three
years younger than !, a bright, roguish
fellow, who had always been the pet of
the family, but he grew up to be wild and
dissipated He left his home when he
was sixteen years old. and for years we
heard nothing from him; but at last,
about two years ago, be came to us. seek
ing refuge and protection; we could gath
er nothing from his wild story, except that
he had murdered some one, and that off,
GERS were following him. OF course we
concealed him; the ties of blood are
stronger than the claims of justice. He
stayed here in this house concealed for
months; then we obtained passage for
him to Europe in steamer whose cap
tain had been friend OF my father, ard
who concealed him in his own stateroom.
We have heard from him occasionally
since.'
He looked down into the paid face,
into the dark eyes fixed upon his face,
with look of wondering, bewildered in
quiry, and said:
HE was named for my mothers only
brother-his name was Arthur Nelson
Kingsley"
They stood there a moment in silence.
His face was very pale, and his lips pressed
rigidly together. but there was the look
on his face of one who has struggled with
himself, sharp, desperate strugg. e, and
has come off conqueror.
"Shall we go in ?" he said at length, as
calmly as if their conversation had been
chat; 'you are shivering in
this chilly air."
They passed through the low window
into the light drawing room. At the fur
ther end OF the room Mrs. Rutherford was
sitting. her little form almost buried In the
capacious depth of crimson velvet arm
chair. A bright pretty woman. with u
face very like her brothers in features,
very unlike In expression; she had bright
black eyes. as clear and sparkling as il
no tear had ever dimmed them, and her
F,I a. a