Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-26
HContinued rom frst page. |

And she kissed his hot forehead, and bless
ed him, and babe him sleep well; and
so he went out.
Goodnight, old fellow" the brothers
said to each other simultaneously. and
Rupert followed Archie halfway to the
door with extended Aand, but Archie did
not see him. Then Rupert turned TO his
love, and whispered:
"lts all clear between US, my own, may
tell my father now? We will never have
a secret from our nearest again. kath-
leen.n $50
Tell him when I'm gone to bed, and
! am going to bed now; I'm tired. I'm
worn out" she said. impetuously; "my
little eoncealment has been put before me
in the light of crime to-day, Rupert
let me 20 and recover faith in myself"
She rose as she spoke. and stood irreso-
luiely before him. and his father watched
him with faint smile. and fainter heart
Tell him TO let me go, mamma" kath
leen sand presently, with weary pettish
ness 81 will be rs obedient as "A slave TO
the voice OF nv owner after tonight, but
just tonight am slave to nervousness.
Tell him 10 let me GO
A sob broke her voice, aud filed with
pity and fear for them both, his mother
said.
Let her 90. my boy" and when Kath-
leen availed herself OF her liberty with
alacrity. and flew out of the room, the
poor lady added.
Heaven direct You in what you do.
Rupert. and teach her to reward vou,"
And teach her to love me better" was
his mental addition to his mothers prayer
poor fellow as he finally went away. hall
hoping. that Archie might have altered
his mind. and gone into their common
smoking room.
But Archie was not there, and the room
was dull and cold without him. A com
Portable old room 1t was in itself, too, and
endeared TO him by thousand associa-
tons connected with his happy boyish
days of free, loving. unfettered inter.
course with Archie and Kathleen. Would
that Intercourse ever be free and untet-
tered again, he wondered Had Archie :
love for Kathleen been npped in the bud
soon enough, and effectuallv enough, for
their respective barks TO noat serenely
over the sea OF family life for the future
All that must depend upon Kathleen, he
reminded himself 1t she had the tao,
and truthfulness, the grace and gener-
osity which he believed her TO have. it
would all be well.
He had been standing at the window
as these thoughts passed through his
mind, looking down into the heart of the
north plantation, which looked mystic
rious. uncomfortable place enough in the
cold starlight Presently he remembered
Kathleen's words at dinner about the
avenues being at their loyeliest when the
.r,aa ha Md ths IN
was up. In another minute he opened
the window and went down 10 the edge
of the belt of trees. A step or two more
and he was under their black shadows.
and then he looked back at the light in
his mothers window, aud saw the re-
Election of her figure moving about the
room; and, hall-consciously, longed the
more for happiness in his marriage, in
order that a portion of the reflected
brightness of her children's lives might
pass into his mothers.
'It's late in the day for her to begin to
enjoy herself" he thought, ''bul it will be
more perfect enjoyment to her than she's
ever known If all goes well with Archie
and me-"
The thought had hardly crossed his
mind when whispering voices caught his
ear, a woman's form rustled in the
bushes close to him, and he saw his Kath-
leen standing, her head on man.
shoulder-that mans arm enclrcling her.
In an instant he was by her sde-stiil In
the shadow OF the trees-speechess with
grief and shame. and outraged love and
trust he was unrecognized and Archie's
startled instincts caused him to raise his
hand and strike the invader heavy blow.
He reeled and fell, and when they bent
over him. and shrieked his name in their
horror and fear, no answer came, for the
sharp edges of jagged stump of tree
had cut into his brow, and it was dead
heart that Kathleen tried to convince of
her fidelity. In spite of appearances.
His mother believed Archie, when he
knelt and told her that he was innocent
Of the great offence of raising his hand
knowingly against his brother--believed
him, and loved him, and suffered for him.
and lamented him, even as she loved,
and sorrowed, and suffered for, and la
mented Rupert. But Archie had to take
his trial in spite OF her faith in him, his
trial by the laws of his country-that was
soon past. The trial that was never
over, was his vivid remembrance of how
his brother's life and his own honor had
been sacrificed
He never renewed his wooing of Kath-
leen, indeed. he never saw her again
after the terrible day OF the inquest. when
she was dragged before the jury to give
evidence against him. When 1t was all
over, he lett the service and the country
leaving his mother to take care of the
broken, penitent girl, who had been the
cause Of robbing her of both her boys :;
and Kathleen knew that there was justice
in his course. though there was little
marcy In it All he Year Rnlnd