Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-02
NO. 1870.
Gales aud Skftehes.
LOVE vs.. INDEPENDENCE.
CONCLUDED FROM YEsrERDAY.I

This feeling of love is something like
Southern plant, bursting into luxuriant
vegetation in the space of few DAYS or
week. Again, it is like the Northern
flower. sending its roots into the soil
slowly, expanding its petals surely, and
thereby becoming more hardy and more
firmly rooted.
With Tom the latter case was anala-
gous. Circumstances were such that after
this evening he saw Miss Fleetwood quite
often. Each time he saw new qualities
of mind and soul but so gradually had
the new passion taken hold of him that it
was only by shock that he came to know
the depth Of it.
He was walking down what is called
the "students' walk one day, when he
heard couple OF young fellows talking
in rather loud tones. as young men are
apt TO do when they have q pretty fair
regard for themselves.
II think they'd make a good match,
don't youP"
That depends. Joe .is a pretty good
fellow; got good start in the medical
profession but seems to me Miss Fleet
wood might do better"
might take you, ,"ilaughed the other,
but Tom dropped into the rear and heard
more. The little he had heard was enough
for him. 1t was plain now that he loved
this woman; not feebly, but with the
whole strength of his strong nature. He
went home bewildered. And the next
day he performed his duties mechanically
and absently, and at the close went off
by himself and every one else. What
business had he to fall in love with wo-
man. rich. accomplished, and in many re-
spects his superior ? He, Tom Wallace,
the man of all the world who prided him
self on his poverty and independence.
'rm fool" groaned Tom; and many
man has said the same thing in like cir
cumstances, but it didn't cure his disease.
Neither did it cure Toms in this case.
The weeks went by and Commence
ment was mar. Tom looked forward to
The day with a feverish anxiety. 1t was
to be his last day in c.. He gradual
ed at the head of the class, and had moth
ing to fear AS to his standing in college.
Better still, a position had been offered
him, upon the recommendation of the
President, of Professor in Western col
Iege. But it was as much as the poor
fellow could do to think that he probably
should never see Miss Fleetwood again.
1t is fact that you can no more reason
with love than with child. Arguments,
and logic. and common sense are alike
wasted on it. So Tom had discovered
since that day on the 'students' walk"
OF late, too, he had begun to think that
| his boasted independence was a-shall We
say sham?
Alter all. did not the man who had rich
es at his command, have more real power
than one who struggled for his daily ex-
lstenceP Notwithstanding this, Tom could
not give over all his previous convictions
at once, and thus several passages found
their way into his valedctory which his
pride would not allow him to erase SO
that as he found himself upon the plat.
Iorm that bright day in June, giving ut
terance to some of these passages, he was
frightened to think how wide was the gulf
between him and the one he loved.
'ln leaving these walls and faces so
dear to US, perhaps never to see them
again, it is deep satisfaction to many of
us to think that our greatest triumphs and
Joys have been won by individual effort.
And so we hope to find in the world that
| independence of seli-action that will un.
dertake anything, suffer anything, rather
than lean on another's means or abilities"
Thus spoke Tom, giving expression to
what might have been called once his
hobby, independence.
II Tom could have caught sight of Miss
Fleetwood's face during his discourse he
might have been puzzled how to account
for the expression OF it. She was per-
tectly calm, but looked so strange and was
so pale that her father was alarmed. But
she assured him she only felt faint, and
would soon get over il; as indeed she did
when the exercises We're over and they
were on the way home. Tom, however,
hardly dared look toward where he knew
she was sitting, and the incident escaped
him. To him the exercises of the day had
been very wearisOme. He felt that the
labor of those four years was almost
worthless; and he looked forward to his
life work in perfectly dispirited manner.
"Out on the man." you say, "to give up
like that because of a hopeless passion :"
but wait till you have experienced a like
feeling. and then judge him.
Toward the close of the day he found
him self taking the lone path up the hill to
the Fleetwood mansion. Pm only going
to say goodbye" he says to May, with a
guilty feeling, as she asks him where he
is going.
Give the dear girl my love-" replies
May, with look at Tom. as much as to
say "better give her your own, too" Tom
| returned the look, as much as 10 say show
| wish | dared" turns around and walks
on slowly. He knows that he is going to
bid farewell to all that might make his
life joyous and happy; yea, more than
that, something sacred which would be
almost too much joy for him TO possess.
He hears the birds twittering, and asks
himself why the passion of love was ever
| given to human beings; why could they
not have been like the birds, happy in
mere existenceP As be went up the steps
and laid his hand on the door bell he heard
| a passionate exclamation within, and the
| next moment Joe Walker rushed out.
nearly upsettng him in his haste. The
two stared at each other, and Joe ex-
| claimed with a sneer:
"What, are you going to propose to
Miss Fleetwood, too?"
''Do you mean to insult Miss Fleet
wood P" cried Tom, fiercely.
mot at ALL" replied Joe. as he made q
| mock how and walked dawn tbe s,ona