Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-13
foestisusd from hrss rage,

ACADIA btOou sthTlng OlhnkIy lutO Tue
room. She could only see that her
husband sat there with another woman
in his arms-and that woman was the
upper house-msid. What desolation was
this! 0, what terrible pain was this in
her heartP
Did she rush forward ard shrek ou
to the guilty. couple that they were dis
coveredp No; that was not Agatba's
way. She turned back and went slowly
up the stairs again and into her own
room. She locked the door, and then
went mp to her mirror and looked in al
the reflection OF her face and form.
She was thirty-eight years old-a few
months more-and there were threads
of silver in her dark hair. Her cheeks
had lost their roundness and beauty.
Her eyes looked wild. her whole face
was haggard
.'She is younger than l. but am the
she said aloud; but she leaned her
cheek on her hand aud kept her eyes
on her reflection. A long while she
stood there, then with a heavy sigh I'M
locked her door, and went into Ruey's
chamber.
The young girl lay there in guileless
bent over her. and kissed her, and she
awoke.
''Ruey, may mother sleep with you to-
night p
''Close to my heart, dear mother"
So, with her head on her childs's pill
low Agatha lay all night. She did not
sleep, but she did not speak. 1t would
have disturbed Ruey
The nayt mnruint- tho rpnar hnusp-
maid was paid months wages in adj
vance, and sent to the station at once.
1t was done so quietly that Captain Ray
AS he was still called-knew nothing
about it until the girl was gone. Then
he said nothing. What could he sa, ?
But the trouble did not end with the dis
missing of the one housemaid. There
were many dismissals for the same cause.
and 1t made great scandal in the neigh
b0rhood, and the tongues of her neighbors
sent daggers to Agatha's heart.
Genevieve had inherited her faith
er's selfishness. She was fashioned after
q narrow way. She was beautiful, but
the beautiful face concealed carping,
selfish nature. Yet Agatha loved her.
She was the first born, and the mother re-
membered her as the innocent prattling
babe, which had brought CLEAN of sun
shine into her dark life. She forgave her
all her failings and loved her STILL hoping
time would bring genlleness and love to
the passionate, cruel creature.
She was indeed cruel. She became en-
gagged to dissipated guards man. Gem
tly and lovingly did Agatha point out to
her that a marriage with Peter Downs
would bring no happiness. She girl was
stubborn, and when her mother calmly re-
fused her sanction. she burst forth into
torrent OF abuse. Her mother did not re-
ply 10 the outburst. She only said "Wait
little, my dear child, learn mis- character
little better" She did not cry, Take
me tor an example of n hasty marriage"
but she might have said it, only she would
not disparage the father to the child.
Genevieve waited just a week, and then
she was not down to breakfast one morn
ing, and when Agatha went to her room,
she found only Il line of writing on a card ::
II have taken example of my mother,
and ran away with the man Of my
Ruey stood in the hall door as Agatha
came slowly down. The mother put her
arm about the waist OF her child and drew
her into room where they could be
alone. Then she gave her the slip OF card
on which Genevieve had written
She was quite unprepared for the effect
il had on the girl
Ruey looked up in her mothers face,
and saw the deep sorrow lying 10 those
hazel eyes. Hers was a warm, sensitive
heart. She put both arms about her moth.
er's neck.
ut is cruel to make you suffer 50, o
MOTHER
You are all l have left, darling"
A long shudder passed over the girls
form. She gave slight moan, and her
face twitched violently.
II had come suddenly on Agatha. this
terrible, terrible blow. o God, was there
anything more she could endure?
1t was not only one fit II 1t had ended
there Agatha might have recovered from
1T. But every few days Ruey was affect.
ed. They did not tell her that she was so
afflicted. They told her that she was weak
and nervous aud tainted occasionally.
When alone Agatha's face would re-
lapse into stony despair. She would sit
for hours gazing from the window on the
broad acres and elm and fir trees of the
manor. She felt no pleasure In them
now. She felt stunned, great despair
seemed to fill her heart. And she had no
one 10 whom she could turn for sympathy
and relief. She bore it all alone.
One evening Ruey was missing. Agatha
grew anxious and went to search Tor her
among the grounds where the poor child
often wandered.
Though the elm tree walk, and the
grove OF frs, through the gardens sweet
with June roses, Agatha went, calling.
''Kney." Darling" but no sweet voice
Through the cowslip meadow to an old
tree by The little river Agatha wandered,
still calling her darling. She bent over
the river and looked in. II was not deep
here, only about two feet. but dead face
lay under the water Ruey had been
seized by fit aud had fallen in.
Agatha went as dream into the water
and took her dead child in her arms. The
long, dripping hair hung over her should
ers. Into her face the dark sightless eyes
stared unmeaningly. The white arms
hung heavily down, and In one hand a
bunch OF roses was tightly clasped.
An hour later Damon Ray came in
search OF his wife and found her sitting