Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-13
NO. 2l7.
BY FLORENCE II. BIRNEY.
Continued from Yesterday

, salu Damon, cOarsely. "lhe sooner he
goes the better | shall be pleased"
| damon. have not thought before of
how old he is growing. He is nearly
seventy now; aud if he should die with
out sending Tor me.--O, cannot bear to
think of it %
| Don't waste sentiment over the old
fellow. | don't see how you can care an
iota for him after the way IN which he has
treated us. l never expected such treat
ment you may be sure, or I'd Jumped the
country before I'D asked you to marry
me-"
II am sorry things should have gone so
hard with you, Damon. | would have
altered them ii could"
but you can't you see, so don't whine.
We made a mess of the whole affair, and
| now the sooner the old gentleman leaves
US his money the better for US ALL He
isn't doing anyone any good in living"
Agatha tried to accustOm herself to the
thought OF her fathers death, yet when
the news came TO her at Portsmouth that
he was indeed gone, It came upon her as
a heavy blow.
Worse was to follow. He had not sent
for her when his hour of death drew near
he had expressly commanded that his
daughter should know nothing of his
death until the funeral had been over
week, and she could not have the poor
comfort OF attending it; and he had left
the Manor House with every shilling of
his money to Oliver Arden, on the express
condition that he should never aid his
cousin with penny so long rs no lived.
In case the condition was broken, the
property should go to establish an aims
house in the county for aged men.
| Agatha heard all this in a state Of dumb
despair; but Damon Ray the no-longer
handsome Captain, was by no means
dumb. lie raved and swore like q troop
er; he blamed Agatha for all his ill-luck ;
he called her by every foul and cruel
name; he cursed the day he had married
her. and then-drank deeper than ever,
and gambled harder.
Agatha made no reply to her husbands
abuse. She took it all in punishment for
her sin against her father. Her smile was
sad now, and her eyes were always full
OF tears. Her life had not been full of
roses. Her little feet had trodden only on
the thorns. She had no one to 90 to, no
one to whom she could say ''Let me weep
on thy bosom and find reliet." She was
too loyal to her husband to speak of his
conduct to her daughters. She was too
proud and reserved to lay bare her bruised
and bleeding heart to the eyes OF another
woman, whose life. perchance, had been
a happy one. whose husband adored her.
She bore her sorrow alone, and it ate into
her heart. ,.... ....t.
Oliver Arden would have been only too
glad To hel p his cousin out OF his abund-
ance; but If he did SO now, she would
lose all chance OF ever inheriling the
Manor House and other property. Her
daughters would never live in the old
place where their mothers only happy
days had been spent. He made q will,
leaving it all to Agatha at his death. That
was the best he could do. Poor Oliver I!
he had never forgotten his first love !; he
mad never married.
Matters went from bad 10 worse with
the Rays. Damon WAS indulging in every
excess. He never spoke kindly to either
vile or children now. And yet Agatha
never reproached him. She would put
both arms around Ruey sometimes and
lay her head on the girls sinless breast.
Are you tired, molher?"
Very tired, my darling" hs
She never SAID it was WEAKNESS Of
heart, sickness OF soul, not ache of the
poor. ealthly body. Better ii it had been!
When Genevieve was twenty years Of
Iage, and Ruey three years younger, OH
yer Arden died suddenly from an acci-
dent. 1t was great JOY and u great sur
lprise to Agatha W find that she had been
lett her latner's properly. 1t was also an
unexpected thing u Damon Ray, tor he
mad not given the cousin credit for one
manly trait, one noble impulse. He could
not understand in others traits he did not
l Ha
selfish and narrow minded as he WAS him.
self.
When Agatha removed to the Manor
and wandered once more in the old gar
dens she had not seen Tor more than
twenty years, feeling OF rapture came
into her heart, and she thanked God for
his great goodness. We're her darkest
days over now Surely, there could be
nothing now to cause her heart to
Iache
Damon Rays debts were paid off first.
He sold out of The army and settled down
at the Manor. 1t took small fortune to
settle all his debts, those OF honor be-
ing the largest; but Agatha paid out
Icheque alter cheque without q murmur.
She hoped much for Damon. She felt
that i'll tais lovely home, with the purest
and best Influences about him he must
become soitened, and reform. He lett
OIL drinking in u measure. his wild de-
bauches oi several days at u lime were
rellnquished. All was going on smooth
ly.
One night Agatha went down the stairs
without "a light TO The dining hall. Sne
wanted glass OF water, ami as it was
nearly eleven o'clock she thought the
servants would have gone to bed, 30
wen. tor it herself.
When she came opposite the door of
the dining-roOm she stood staring in
blankly. There sat her husband on q
sofa, and u woman was by his side. His
arm was about her, his head lay on her
shoulder, ami rs his wife stood there she
heard him murmuring words OF sDdear-
ment he was nearly f0ry-five years
DID, but ne sshl believed In the power