Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-27
(Coutiuued from first psge.)

grasped his hand and, as he was leav-
ing he said. do you know. sir. why
Jean held out--why Jean would not mar
ry me9 Her father is living; he is shut
up for a crime, but they could not punish
him for he has not his wits. He is a
criminal lunatic."
could not speak for a moment; then
said, "Does Jean know? | mean about
your vile"
An angry look CLEANED in his ewes, and
he said, "she told Jean when she was an
CRY the other day. She is very young, -
he said, in Il tone of defense, and went
out.
So this was the story-the higher nature
felt the disgrace. and gave up her hsppi.
ness and sacrificed herself. and then had
to stand BY and see that the sacrifice had
been in vain; and | thought OF her muir
INJURED words, "A day will come when we
will know the reason of ALL" Poor Jean
1t was nearly dusk when the faithful old
servant came into my little sitting-room.
Though yon man had the sense to leave
YOU in peace" she began, "here's an ur-
gent message for you. Mrs. Grants dy
ing, and would fain see you; and such
night" she said looking out at the never
ceasing rain.
Wrapping myself well up. hurried of.
contrasting the wet and dreary walk with
my first walk there. Nothing could be
more miserable than this one--in places
almost ankle-deep in boggy mud, the
heavy rain blotted out the hills, and the
wind sent it in slaps against my face, and
countermanded the use of an umbrella.
Kenneth met me close to The burn, with
the Intelligence that the poor old woman
had slept away peacefully; and we were
talking together, looking al the torrent of
water pouring down, when we saw the
bank underneath the plank bridge below
the house suddenly give way. The plank
remained treacherously in its place, sup
ported by sod of earth only few inches
thick. This is terrible" said Kenneth
as he started off and ran up towards it.
He was still on his way CT all passed in a
few mingtes) when the door OF the cottage
opened, and his wife, u girlsh-lo looking
creature, with lint white hair, ran down
and stepped on the plank, just as her hus-
band reached it. He was too late to save
her; and, with a shrll scream | never
shall forget. she fell. with the plank, into
the foaming stream.
can give no clear or connected account
of that dreadful night. remember see
ing Jean, with a resoiule face, wade in
from below and reach her; and the mem
DRY still haunts me of the two figures
struggling in the water, and kenneth's
face as he tried TO breast the torrent and
go to their assistance. hurried for help,
and help came. | saw Kenneth carrying
one figure home, and the others tended
one lying on the bank, and in the still,
Uhta unturnqd faca | rannunizat Ham
Though | was shivering from head to
foot, partly with excitement and partly
with cold, did not leave till | saw that
her eyes Enclosed and knew that Jean
lived.
lpaid the penalty of having been so long
exposed to the damp, and was in bed for
several weeks with rheumatic fever
When recovered, | heard that Jean was
with a neighbor, and that she and Ken
meth had been almost daily to ask for me-
Two summers came and went, and once
more was in that lovely Highland place
The cottage at Burnside was deserted. and
the primroses and foxgloves realized the
poets idea,-
Full many flower is born to blush unseen
And waste Its sweetness on the desert air"
But some miles away there is comforta-
bic farmhouse, where flowers also bloom
and linen lies bleaching In the sun. 1t is
essentially home OF peace; and kindness
is spread round. and is made 10 reach
many far beyond its boundaries. Here
Kenneth and his dark-eyed wife live, their
happiness tempered by remembrance and
her welcome is as kind. and her smile far
sweeter and brighter, than it used to be in
the days when l knew her as 'only Jean"