Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-08
Gales and Sketthes.
For the Journal.
MY HERO.
BY CONSTANCE STERLING.
Continued from Yesterday

Can not assist you, MissP"
| looked up, and turned first scarlet and
then pale For wonderful to relate. there
stood my hero. Yes, there were the fash.
ing eagle eyes, dark as midnight, the ra-
ven hair, the broad brow of marble, and
the naughty mein. | could only stammer
forth something about being wet
You must go at once to your home,"
said my knight. in a low, musical voice,
land pray permit me to hold my umbrel-
la over you. Ii is not necessary that YOU
should be any wetter than you are al
ready | stammered my thanks and
walked along by his side in the direction
OF my aunt's house. How bitterly | re-
GREETED the state was in. How unprepos.
sessing must appear. In nv wet gar
ments, muddy hat and clinging 10 my
battered umbrella.
AT my aunt's door he bowed, lifted his
hat and left me. first, however, giving me
his card. and hoping | would suffer no
disagreeable effects from my bath in the
gutter flew up the stairs to my own
room, locked the door, and then. before
even removing my wet clothes examined
his card, Augustus c. Fitzmorris." l
read it in a transport OF delight. l had
always had fancy for the
name OF Augustus, and what could be
more delightful than the combination with
Fitzmorris. How elegant and patrician it
sounded. So widely different from plain
George Dodd. Pshaw at that minute
was half inclined to pity George for his
plain name and palmer manners.
NV aunt laughed over my adventure,
and said she had heard of Mr.. Filzmorris,
who was boarding at the Stoketon Hotel.
" tratfa .r,., .l.~.
friend came in the next day. and to her we
recounted NV mishap.
Phil has become acquainted with Mr..
Fitzmorris, said Mrs Canon, "and they
are often to gether. want you to know
my Phil. Miss Luela."
But who is Mr.. Fitznorris ?" asked
overlooking with curiosity to know all
about my hero.
Phil says he is rich bug from New
York, who sketches and paints. He has
no relations, and just pleases himself as to
where he lives. What he can find to
amuse him in Stoketon, can't tell"
Three days later met Phil Canon at
his mothers, and the second time that
young gentleman called on me, he
brought Mr. Filznorris with him. to my
ill-concealed satisfaction and pleasure.
saw great deal of Mr.. Fnzmorris
after This, and three weeks after my ad-
venture | was sure that life would be a
desert bleak, should be deprived of see-
ing him II but for single day. Aud he
certainly seemed to be growing more at
tached to me as the days went by on gold
en- wings.
My aunt liked Mr. Fitzmorris very
much, and was quite willing that he should
visit me. She inquired as fully as she
could into his antecedents and history and
although she could find out little from
those who knew him, that little was to his
credit. He was stranger in Stoketon,
and though he was always ready to speak
OF his family connection-relations he
| said, he had nOne-no one else knew him
except by hearsay.
1t was in February that he made me an
offer OF his heart and hand. |. as might
be expected, accepted both without hesi-
tation. My auut's consent was gained,
and took immense pleasure in writing
home of my conquest and OF the grand
home to which Augustus was to conduct
me on our marriage. | took every oppor-
tunity in my letters to compare him with
George Dodd, always, of course to the
latter's disadvantage.
So the weeks slipped by, and happier
girl than it would have been hard to find
In March cousin Paul came home, and the
very first day of his arrival, my aunt told
him all about my conquest, enlarging ON
Mr.. Flzmorris fortune and accomplish
ments.
II am glad you have done so well, little
cousin, said gay, hearty Paul, "and am
quite anxious to see this paragon of manly
excellence"
You shall see him this evening"" re-
Piled
Augustus came at eight o'clock, and we
were conversng like two turtle doves in
the best parlor, when heard my aunt and
Paul coming. The door was thrown open
and they came in.
| My hero rose, and so did l.
"My cousin Paul, Mr.. Fitzmorris,"
said blushing deeply.
| heard no polite "glad TO become ac-
quainted, sir, IN sure," and looked up.
The silence was appalling. NV cousin
was looking straight at my hero, both men
| livid with some emotion.
'Son' at last gasped my cousin, 'this is
the fellow, mother. that has dared to sue
for my cousin Luella. This man this
black-leg, this gambler. hypocrite and
| thief Andy Smithson, alias Black Dar-
| field, alias Augustus Fitzmorris wants my
cousin Luella. Hound! gambler, out of
my sight-out OF this house !" Numbered
Paul.
No. no, cried, casting myself at my
Cousins feet, paul! Paul! you must be
mistaken. 1t cannot be true oh it can
not.
ASK him." said Paul pointing to my
lover
where was my heroP Was this the
man | had deiiiedp With livii face and
shambling gate he was moving toward
the door, and as | approached him, he
waved me back. NO" he said, '.the
game is up. Your fortune. see is out OF
my grasp. so leave you. Give me credit
for honesty of speech at the last"
My iortuner' repeated. II have no
fortune"
"Then l was deceived" said NV fallen
hero, "Gamon told me you were very
wealthy. and | knew your aunt was. l
might have known it was only one Of his