Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-31

How he had shaken with signs as he re
leased her and went! And now what hat
this all faded to-? He was still tender
but half-concealed fear see med to Dome
between them. An airy dread appeared
to unnerve his embrace and kill the sweet
purpose of his eyes. An invisible hand
drew him back from her, and their lips
met but hastily. Whv should this be
Was not all arrangedp Were there not
to be deep kisses now, while they were
lovers ? Surely he might not fear she OBJ
jected to the delicious mystery which the
lips of lovers know.
In her no alteration had taken place.
What had caussd itlin him? What could
be the reason for his keeping awayP Why
did he seem to stand in continual eXpecta-
lion of something dreful?
She still kept on. She had only misty.
half-defned hope he would come. He
had never broken promise made to her.
She walked and listened mechanically.
Her spirit was busy with the past. 1t had
not yet gained the courage of desperation
requisite for looking into the future.
Why had he broken his promise and not
come Could it be --p
She put aside the thought that threatened
her, turned her head rapidly from one side
to the other to distract her mind and pre-
vent the swoop her reason had begun 10
make upon her peace. The house was
nearly mile behind her, yet no footsteps
sounded. A frozen silence held the earth,
darkness stood up like AN ebony wall on
the moor.
Would he come tomorrow morning
early and EXPLAIN Oh. if he would only
come and tell her, open his whole mind
to her, and put an end to!
She stood suddenly still, as though the
air had grown solid and she were cased in
shroud of bronze. Neither sound or
light had reached her, but she had trod-
den ION something soft, lying right in the
middle of the road.
A moment she stood in numbed horror
No thoughts formed in her mind her dis
covery suggested no idea. Her foot rest
ed on something soft, that was all
With frigid slowness she stopped for
ward until her hand might touch the
ground. Then she stretched it tardily
forth, listening with all ears as she did so.
Her hand discovered nothing She drew
it back toward her feet and encountered a
garment of some kind. She raised this,
stood erect once more listening with all
nature-but no sound came.
Then handling the garment cautiously,
as it ii were living thing and a rude
touch might kill it, she made out that it
was half garment. Had only one sleeve
The LETT sleeve. Half mans coat.
Torn from the back OF the neck down
ward. Two pockets In the button-hole
"a flower. In the breast-pocket two letters
:. One letter sealed with wax...A small
seal.."And near the seal two small round
spots OF wax. Exactly corresponding to
two small spots of wax which had fallen
on letter she had sealed two DAYS ago..
She sealed no letters but those to John
Name. Her letter to m....The texture
Of the coat such as he had worn when last
she saw him. "A light summer dust-coat
... In the other pocket a small leather osse
such as she had seen with him. In the
case II ribbon such as she had given him.
She replaced the portion OF the coat
where she had found it, crossed the road,
and, stepping slowly and cautiously over
the low dixie, stood beside one of the clefts
OF deep still water. There was not
ripple washing in the rushes-not a
breath of wind stirring. She felt her way
to the edge of the water and leaned for
ward and listened. After little time she
stopped down and softly thrust her hand
into the chill, mute waters. She drew
her hand out slowly. The drops falling
from 1t made sharp, clear, Kissing whs
pers as they touched the surface. Save
for this all was hushed. She rose, regain
ed the road, and, taking up the portion of
coat. walked deliberately in the direction
of the house, holding what she found in
both hands clenched on her bosom. She
scarcely breathed. She moved as though
she feared something-to wake some hid
den spirit that could tell hideous history
Or to wake her own benumbed faculties
into active dealings with the terrible dis
covery she had made.
She did not move her head to the right
or the left. She kept the upper portion
of her body rigid. This might be night
mare, but the waking might be still
worse. What when there was light to
see ? There was flower in the button
hole. A rose. If it were red rose
would it be the only red thing on that
coatP Hush Stop all thought. Hold
all conjecture. Dismiss all temptations
Of imagination, Hold the coat fast, and
yet not too tightly. Something might be
crushed by holding it too tightly, and
nothing OF his ought to be crushed
Cherish rhe thing--the relic-no! no!
Oh. God not tina. thought. But how?
Continued Tomorrow