Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-06
Continued from frst page.)

who was dying with consumption in Cal
ifornia. begging her to come to him. i
she had ever loved him. She went i'm
medIateiy. and found him 10 poverty. en-
tirtly dependent upon the exertions o.
bis only son. V ,ung fellow of seven
teen. His wife had been dead some
years. Aunt Hepsibah made his last
days comfortable and happy, and prom.
ised to adopt bis boy. aud treat him in
every way as her own sol. s14r rfr
Ga her return from California fresh
from the trying scenes she had Just been
through, with the love of her youth re-
newed. she made her will. leaving all 10
u AHred Kings son, except the sum laid
apart for me IL l married him. Never
had we seen this protege OF hers. She
was extremely reticient upon the subject.
q All we knew OF him was, that he distin-
guisbed himself in college as fine schol-
ar. and that she had taken him abroad to
finish his education. They were travel
ling 10 Europe when she died. No will
was found but the one she had made
eight years before. We had become re-
signed to the fact that she had ignored
US entirely, and now, behold what an
appalling appendix
Probably she had been in hopes that |
would be In love with some one else nv
the time ! should be eighteen. and 50
have struggle something akin to hers.
Through me she would wound my father.
wi not take cent of her hated
money. She cannot buy me for her hate
ful protegs." cried to myself, while ,he
hot tears ran down my cheekS. Bur then
i thought Of father, aud how much good
the money would do him. o! if coud
only give up mine. and be III WED to
keep his. "Aunt Hrpsibah! Aunt Hep
sibah how could you ?" cried bitterly,
as If she were there To hear my reproach-
es.
After awhile became more quiet. and
thought thtt perhaps bj dayllni the case
would not look quite $50 hopeless. A. "
way had tall September. and perhaps
before then something else might happen
which would secure me from NY tate
The summer lided swiftly by. how
ever; only too swiftly. My trouble was
ever before me. There we're Fl hing par
ties, picnics, rides, cr'quet parties. clam.
bakes. something going on constantly.
but 1t AL tailed u conjure away my scep-
tire. Mr.. Wentworth was a great acQni-
sitiOn to our small village society. He
was constantly engaged and 10 it was the
middle Of August before he began my
picture ! was daily getting more n-r-
vous as September al Preached. NV
father, however, took it rs a matter of
course that should marty Mr.. King.
Like himp" overheard him say to
mother, one day. "why Of course she'll
like him. He is an honest. upright, man
ly fellow, I'm told. What more could
aiy gnl askp II she is getting any non
sense into her head about that young ar
fist. she had bet or get it out as soon as
possible. don't want her TO disappoint
me in this. and she won't if she's the girl
j take her to be-"
This at last opened my eyes. Mr..
Wentworth! Alas. my heart told me il
was too late. The hours | spent sitting
for my picture were the on'y ones of pace
and happiness had. Nj. Wentworth
talked most of the time while painting.
while ] listened in silence. He spoke OF
the pictures OF the masters which he had
seen in Europe. And sometimes he would
repeat poetry or t.li me some ancient
legend. He was always kind and thought
full OF me. and quite often he watched me
with sad expression in his eyes. Once
he said. Miss Mabel something is troub-
ling you" But 1 turned away, and did
not answer.
One day--it was the last of the month.
when my picture was nearly Completed
he broke out, quite impalienty:
II don't see how II is. he cried. ~ can
not get 1t all
Get whatp" asked.
why. l. want the expression that |
caught the first day saw you; at the
picnic, you know. have never really
seen Il 10 your face since Where has 1t
gomez remember you said you were so
happy that you could not help thinking of
1t. Now, coul int you think OF the ,me
happiness for few moments, and let ma
see IT ! can get the same expression
again p
lifted my eyes. they were full of tears.
Where had my radiant happiness gone ?
He dr. pped the brush Instantly, and came
towards me.
mabel. what is ?" he said tende,lv.
What have | said to Cause these tears
must know what is troubling you. d. V "a
think | have not noticed the change in
you-how pale your sweet face has be
come, and how sad your eyesp 1t has
PANIED me more than can tell u, for
love You, Mabel. love YOU" he cried
passlonately, love you so much that |
would keep pain and sorrow away from
you always"
30! You must not say such things
to me-" | exclaimed, starting Up. and
thrustlng out my hands as if TO pu, him
from me
why not" be said anxiou.ly.
observation-disclosures | am engaged"
sobbed, 'Or. rather, going to b--if
make up my mind--to somebody else"
And do y'u 1--we that somebody else ?"
he asked turning pale.
No hate him. 1t is aunt Hepsibah's
heir, and she has lett papa and me some
money, il l marry him but # refuse
we cant have the money; aud tpa needs
it., and l am perfectly miserable about
it,"
/ stammered this out through tears that
l vainly tried TO keep back.
"Suppose you had the money In your
hands," he said, THAT has been lell I,
your father. what would YOU do-thruw
the fellow over? p
''lnde.d-indeed | would, Il said hasii-
ly. would refuse his offer p lint blank,
and not touch the money that nas been OIL
Tered as price for me-
land you wouldn give him a chance