Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-19
GALES aud Skstfhss.
For the Journal
MI ROMANCE AND HOW 1T ENDED.
IlContinned from yesterdayl
BY CONSTANCE STIRLING.

not endure your cruelty. May you i've 10
see your error. Your heart-broken Ada. "
thought the above would wiring the
heart of my parents-and for once | was
right 1t did wiring them to think had
gone to Mark.
Once in the train tried to become calm
and collected The train would reach
Stavelow, the nearest station to Marks
farm, at four O'Clock. 1t was an express,
and we fairly flew, but none too fast Tor my
excited mind. ! imagined my meeting
with Mark | wondered ii | would faint
as saw his dark eyes once again, heard
the tones of his dear voice murmuring
vows of love, and thanking me for flying
TO him In my dire need. | knew his aunt,
an old lady OF sixty, lived with him as his
housekeeper. Poor fellow how lonely
he must have been these dreary six months
since we had parted. We had both sut
fered, but it would soon be all OveI. At
four o'clock the train put me down at
Staveow. and was amazed 10 see that it
consisted only OF a telegraph office and
warehouse. A cross looking man who
stood on the platform was the only human
being in sight. went up to him and tim
idly inquired if he knew where Mr.. Mark
LerouX lived.
Lives tour miles up the road Keep
right ahead till you come to little white
frame house with picket fence round it,
and Two Gins front the door. Can't miss
it,
But cant walk | said in dismay
"ShOuld have wrote to i'm to meet yer
then" said the man in his jerkey way
Guess stout gal like you can walk it ;"
and be turned away.
Four miles my heart felt like lead in
my bosom. almost burst out crying
-Four miles on a strange, country road.
But there was nothing else to be done but
walk it, | wondered, as ! started on nv
weary tramp if Lady Luella had to walk
four miles to her lover over lonely road,
just as night was coming on | passed
only three houses. At one a big dog
rushed out at me nearly frightening me o
death, and causing me to yell SO Justify
that woman came to the door and called
him back. The road was dusty. My nice
dress was covered thickly, my shoes were
a sight to behold. But at last, at last a
small white house came in view, with a
picket fence around it and two ems
mounting gaurd in front. But as drew
closer to the object of my weary walk,
saw to my Amusement the pretty lawn in
front of the house was studded with rose
bushes, and over the latticed piazza vines
were growing luxuriantly. All looked
neat and pretty around the little house.
My heart swelled with pride and love, in
spite of my WEAKNESS. Dear Mark he
had done all this for me he had hoped
some day to welcome me to this little par
adse | knocked at the door. It was
opened by a little maid servant OF about
fifteen years OF age.
''ls Mr.. Leroux at home p | asked.
mo, Miss, Mr. Leroux is out in the
field. Mrs. Leroux is in; won't she do p
Yes, ! would see his aunt, then, tell her
my story, and send for Mark
| entered the pretty parlor. 1t was as
neat as wax, and fancy tides and match
safes, wall pockets aud autumn leaves
adorned the room. What nice old lady
Mrs. Leroux must be how handy to be
able to make such pretty fancy work.
rose from my seat to look in the mir.
ror which hung over the mantel and Just
as did so, and had caught one glimpse
OF my travel-stained attire and tired coun.
tenance the door opened and young lady
entered. young lady with soft blue
eyes and tlaxen curls, not day over eieh-
teen. Gould this be Mrs. Leroux's dauph-
ter2
''You wished to see me ?" said the soft
voice OF the flaxen-haired doll.
81 wished TO see Mrs. Leroux."
81 am Mrs. Leroux," was the reply.
ut was Mr.. Leroux's aunt | wanted to
see," faltered, thinking this must be a
distant cousin of Marks.
20, am so sorry, Marks aunt has not
been living here Tor three months past
Won't | doP'
WHO are you, Marks cousin Pr ! asked
'No, ., no." with rippling laugh and
toss OF the curly head, what made you
think that | am his wife,
His wife y repeated in tones OF hor
ror.
why, yes. We have been married
three months. Ii was a short acduaint-
ance know. but then Mark was 50 lone
ly and there was no use in waiting Are
you his cousin Jane? He has told me
you would visit US some time"
mo. | am only friend-a friend of
his aunt's, / said with remarkable pres
ence OF mind. "Since she is not here
will take my leave"
But you cannot 90 back to-nipbt-wby
it is nearly six O'clock
@NSef CitNi anu DOMlnN 10
the flaxen-haired little creature in nv
coolest and most impressive manner,
left the house / seemed stunned
by the revelation had heard
Where were Marks vows? Turned
to ashes ., how false, how deceitful he
had been Three months married and
had never let me know. He was ashamed
probably. And had been wasting nv
love on such a wretched imitation of a
man How different he was from An
drew Ashley. ., how / had bartered the
gold for the drossi How foolish | had
been, and what would my family think of
me. Burning bushes dyed my face al the
thought. How,tired was icould hard
ly drag my weary feet along. | felt
frightened at the dusk which surrounded
me and tried to hurry ! felt hall faintino
from fatigue when the first mile had been
passed, but kept on. After WALKING an.
other hall mile farther | heard the rattl4
OF wheels and my heart leapt with low a,
dilapldated old wagon and bob-taile,
morse came up to me. An old man eyi
IDENTITY farmer sat on rude board scat
and to him made my appeal fer a ride +,
the station.
.'All right. Whoa, Robin. Hon nm