Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-18

had gone through, Of how happy might
really be with Andrew Ashley, OF his mer-
nv. happy temper. his big violet eyes, and
closely cropped blonde head, his fine posi-
ton and his devoted love.
Then came the recollection OF my
dark eyed Marks vows of eternal iideli-
" and unsltered love. | saw how my
marriage with another might send him to
ruin, might bring pain to his passionate
warm heart Lady Luella's long martyr
dom for love fitted through my mind.
No, was a heroine; no mercenary iath-
er should bend me to his naughty will
should sacrifice me on the altar, should
lead me a pale, statuesque bride from the
church | would suffer and be strong.
With all the courage | could muster. !
looked up at my father who had been pa
tienty waiting the result OF my reyery,
and said in a voice which would quaver
in spite OF my efforts to make it as i'm
agined Lady Luella's would be IN SINH
lar emergency.
"Falher YOU shall never sacrifice me.
| will not marry where ito not love. My
heart is irrevocablv welded to the mem
ory of my lost Marx. can suffer, but
cannot marry Capt. Ashley"
Then be a little simpleton If you
wish, exclaimed my father, impatiently.
~ hope Colonel Ashley will never give
you another opportunity to reject him,
that's all :" and as | rose to leave the
room, he added, "you may pack your
trunk TODAY. Ada. for shall send you on
the eight ocloCk train tomorrow morn
ing 10 your aunt Betsey. I'll warrant she'll
take your romantic nonsense out of your
head You won't find many novels in her
library. BE sure you're ready.
My aunt Betscy Lanscott My heart
fell Tar below zero at the very instant her
hated name was mentioned. Aunt Betsy
was my bcte aoir, and lived on lonely,
dreary little farm, four miles from any
and eighty miles from Drebley.
She was an old maid, very severe, very
religious. very stern, very orderly, very
The only man she ever al
lowed in her house was her old gardiner,
who with his wife constituted her house
hol4 Imagine nv feelings at spending a
winter with aunt Betsey. No novels were
ever permitted to enter her house. She
took the country paper and religious
was all. What should
Ito | knew my father would carry out
his plan, aud at eight o'clock the follow
ing morning, should be on my way to
my hated aunt unless miracle intcrpOsed
between this time and tomorrow. For
an instant was tempted to go back to
my father and retract my refusal to mar
ry the Colonel, and then | decided that it
would be too humiliating. | could not
humble myself to such a proceeding. All
at once, like an inspiration, came the
thought OF Marks offer. He had made
me promise to come TO him if my life at
home became unbearable. might well
90 now. though of the little farm, the
roses was to plant in the garden, The
vines was 10 train over the piazza, the
house | was to keep so neat My resolve
was taken. would fly to the lover
whose vows of everlasting devotion were
still fresh in my memory. | looked at
the time table, the train | must take
would leave Drebley at one o o'clock. 1t
was now nearly twelve. | dressed my
self in Il seal-brown travelling suit, packed
a satchel with my jewelry and few other
things, and wrote the following note to
my father, which pinned on the cushion
on my bureau.
,rn1 e.