Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-02
Continued from first page.l

Dul i've lOf puTpOsc. ItSbiNc
has entered like iron into my soul. Until
this has been accomplished ! can think of
nothing else. Forgive me. Mr.. Lyle, il |
pain you. In my eyes, my aunt tells me.
people can see something left of the
horror which froze my heart, made it dead
to love forevermore. Stay here. aud my
aunt shall come and tell you nv story. 1t
is due to you that you should hear it.
You will then never ask me again for
love-"
She walked away as she finished speak
ing. and left Wilfred alone by the old tree.
There as horror in her eyes" he
said. lit seems as if it had been frozen
there
A few moments went by. and then a
step startled him from the painful revery
into which he had fallen. 1t was Mrs.
Gage who came toward him, and seated
herself by bis side.
Lillian wishes me to tell you why she
rejects your love, Mr.. Lyle" said the old
lady kindly. I'm spiteof the GOODNESS and
reserve which enwrap Lillian at all times,
Ae is often made miserable by having love
offered to her as yours has been Just now.
To those who would honor her by making
her again wife, | tell the story of the
tragedy which seems to have deadened her
heart TO all but one thing. purpose which
she believes she can carry out, but which
seems wild to any one else, and the pro-
duct Of dsordered brain"
Tell me her story" said Lyle. IL am
sure 1t has been most unhappy one"
Not so unhappy, as it has been terrible"
said Mrs. Gage, but | will begin at the
very first Lillian Gage was the fairest,
loveliest creature that this world ever saw
when she was seventeen. Her great dark
eyes were always dancing with mirth,
and had in them none OF that terrible hor-
ror which lies in them now. Ii was when
she was just seventeen that she met Ju-
liam Gaylord, and they became ardentv
attached to each other. | did not think
my merry Lillian possessed such capac-
lily for loving. Her whole heart seemed
wrapped Up in Julian, and he was well
worthy such affection. think he was
the handsomest man | ever saw, ana we all
became yely fond him. and were quite
willing that that marriage should take
place at once, for we felt that we could
trust our Lillian with such a man as was
Julian Gaylord She was living with me,
then. her mother being dead and
the wedding took place at my house. her
father giving her away with satisfied
heart, so secure did he feel respecting her
future happiness.
Julian owned large estate in the coun-
try, on which was handsome commo-
diOus house. to which be took his young
and lovely bride. 1t was lonely place.
quite a little distance from the nearest
town, but Lillian did not feel the least
loneliness. Her disposition was so CAV,
and her spirits ever light that she found
it sufficient amusement to weed her gard
en-, tend her flowers and birds and ride
her little pony over the country roads.
And when a child was added to her other
delights she knew no bounds to her hap
pness. ] think Lillian loved her child
more dearly than most children are loved.
and she devoted nearly her whole time to
him, having him constantly with her
whether waking or sleeT ing.
She was never weary of writing to me
of her baby, and detailing his numberless
pretty ways and infantile charms. JUL
ans business called him much from home,
and it was well that Lillian had the babe
to compensate for the loss of her hus-
bands society. She had. before the
child's birth, felt Julan's frequent absen-
ces very much, though she had tried to
conceal this from him, knowing that they
were unavoidable. Her great terror was
of being alone. She was terrible cow
ard in the dark, and had been so from in
fancy. and when Julian was away she had
the child's nurse sleep on Il co-tbed in the
same room with her
at was in the month of June three
years ago, that went to Lilian's home to
hQr visit tho hahu haipn
months old, aud never yet having seen
it. | found Lillian as brigh, in appearance
as on the day of her marriage two wears
before, and the dear girl was never tired
of telling me of the goodness and nobil-
ity of her husband and the charms of her
babe. Two days after my arrival Julian
was called away on business. 1t was
Thursday afternoon when he left, and he
said he was almost sure that he could
transact the business so AS to be at home
on Saturday. He had not been gone an
hour when Lisbeth, the little Percy's
nurse. was sent for by her mother. ItI
seems that the woman's little child had
been taken with commissions, and OF
course Lisbeth was frantic until she got
off to see it. Being cold wet day, was
suffering much from rheumatism, and
had caught cold the previous night by
leaving my window open too wide
Therefore. Lillian persuaded me to go to
bed at eight o'clock and find rest in sleep
from my miserable pain.
told her she had better let me sleep
with her, for | knew she would be afraid,
but she replied that she would not hear OF
it, the baby would keep me awake and |
would get no rest. She said she intend
ed to keep the night lamp burning. and
with the baby by her she feared nothing.
So | fell asleep. Lillian waited until
nine o'clock and then went to her room.
leaving the coachman to attend to the
locking up of the house. The baby was
little irettul at first. but finally both
mother and child fell into deep sleep.