Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-08-24
continued from resterdav. J

Continued from yesterday
| spent a fortnight and more with my
aunt-n-law after the bride and groom had
gone, and DIR. Wilder and little Rose and
some others stayed, too, TO break the edge
OF the first lonesomeness for the good lady.
who however, wanted none of us in real-
| ty; but it was Marcia's arrangement. The
| doctor prolonged his visit, and we left lit
tie Rose there with him. and a lame ankle
What time 1t was in the clear, bracing
December weather all life seemed a mere
trolic; and sleighing and skating, sing
ing and dancing, watching the high hea-
veus OF stars, sitting in the twilight by
the fire, up to see winter sunrise-we for
get it was ever going to stop. passed
through it in a state OF exhllaration
amounting to t-headedness. have
since understood that my behaviour at the
time was a credit to me. But an intoxl-
Gated man has as much remembrance OF
himself as | have of exactly what | did
on any fixed moment of these seventeen
days. | lived inside gigantic bubble full
of sweet eolors, sweet tones, sweet smiles.
which only broke and dissolved into worth
less, liteless air, when | found myself
tramping over the fields in driving rain
to my pig-sties without my umbrella
|
OF course tor some DAYS | was in all the
aatness OF that despair in which people
are apt to find themselves after fall from
any great height of exuberant spirit.
could recover my umbrella; but how was
| to recover my old equanimty or peace
or grain in its place that crown OF content
which belongs to the consciousness OF the
accepted lover | was child crying for the
moon. My cousin Marcia's cousin Rose
was just as far beyond me. What right
had | with my narrow means. my quiet
life, TO think OF this petted beauty, the
darling OF wealth and pleasure, who had
ouly fed on the roses and lain on the lilies
of liIe?' They were on the sunny side
was in the shadow. All the lands and
ttle-deeds of the family had gone on
Marcias side; | had my two hands
and my lew acres. Why, | could not
allow wife for her whole Years
outfit the price OF the silk and lace and
pearls Rose wore at Marcia's wedding. Ii
She had no money OF her own, as once she
hinted, she was used to other peoples
money. | must put that lite that people,
out OF my thoughts. As-as-well, the
best way to do it, went back to Water
way for that umbrella.
| My aunt was so sorry that DIR. Wilder
had taken it by mistake, and lett that
morning with Rose tor Brentford-her
leave was more than up. The Burbanks
OF Brentiord were very particular people.
and her position-my aunt had had 50
much trouble to get it for her, she was so
! young and SO pretty-as govefness there,
blowing no triliing.
"Goverues- Why, | thought
Yes, s.'q oose so,' said my aunt enig-
maticalIy. odd Rose she mast let you
know 81 no fortune"
IT s.r!n
~ Uu have been apart from us SO much.
Allan, and your side OF the house has al
ways married for love and grown poorer,
and ours-well, ours is like the old farm
er, II goes where the money is
"Well, then, why has Rose no fortune ?"
'Oh, Roses father, said the good wo-
man, ran through with everything, like
Il winnowing machine; and when he died,
/ she had nothing but her wits, and some OF
her mothers old finery. Why, my dear,
Marcia had to send her her dress and veil
tor the wedding. It's great shame. SO
pretty and sweet as she is. He was
graceless scamp. | told him just how it
would be. said my aunt. leaning back
among her cushions and folding her jew
eled hands.
why don't you take her to live with
YOU, aunt. in Marcas place ~ said
boldly.
"In Marcia's place AS if anybody
could take my daughters place And
when have been looking forward to be-
! ing alone ever since Marcia had lover.
now that the thing is done, go and undo
it My child"
| That proposition cost me q legacy.
Bat little | thought of legacies then.
! My one idea was that now | could go to
l'rentford. and call-for my umbrella.
How differently people are made Here
was my aunt-in-law longing TO be alone,
and here was /
Certainly, the officer told II at the sta
| tion, the accommodation train had ten
minutes start, but the limited express over
hauled it at the Junction. The tickets
were half a dollar more by the express
the express was Just leaving. When it
left, it took me with it; and it did over
haul the accommodation, but in a very
sudden way. TO be concise, Just round
ling bad curve, the express engine and
the rear accommodation car telescoped.
One moments too long delay occasioned
10y some woman's stopping To Kiss all her
relations, and couple of miles farther it
was all over. Fortunately the rear car
was empty, and IN old one, going TO pieces
easily, and beyond few bruises and the
shock, nobody was hurt; but the trains
were of the track, the ears off the trucks,
and there was general wreck and ruin,
splinters and smoke and steam and snow
| | pulled myself together and fastened
! forward to see Rose before me leaning ON
my umbrella. The quick, eager way la
which she held out her arms 10 me To be
lifted down from the place where the con
cussion bad thrown her made my heart
bound. "Oh, | am so glad to see you
where did you come trom9 / have been
so afraid the wreck would take fire ~ she
cried. Her tone seemed to say, But now
there is no danger" Perhaps. as lifted
her down. | held her the fraction of an
instant too long. Then she was only u
piece of sugared ice.
"Well, said. looking at her aud laugh
ing-l felt SO ligbt-hearted aud happy all
at once--'w hat are you going To do now !"
"Give you your umbrella" she said,
land find DR.. Wilder"
[Coutinued on fourth page.l