Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-30
(continusd from er,, psgel

were on the Atlantic, a weeks sail and
more from home. II was ten DAYS after
the eve OF st. John that YOU reached our
house, and you had only arrived the day
before"
my dear child. who told you had Just
arrived from India Pr
mo one. perhaps; but We supposed so.
of course"
Nevertheless. on that night of the 23d |
Of June | was near enough to get nv first
kiss from your lips. 1t was a mercy Lot
tie did not catch me. though. ! had lust
time to gain the shelter of the thorn-trees
before she came round the point"
Now. Edward, cried |. in amazement.
"explain your part in this mystery"
There is little mystery abont my part.
II is true that when Frank Baldwin left
Calcutta | was intending to come home in
the sailing vessel MOgai. which belongs to
our firm. But as | found il would be
necessary for me to 90 toIFrance any way.
took the steamer route by the Is,hmus of
Suez. and was in Marseilles before the
MogI had passed the Cape of Good Hope.
i staid in France several weeks. crossed
over to England, and took the steamer
from Liverpool o Quebec, arriving on the
23d OF June. 1t happens that one of our
clerks in Calcutta, a faithful, excellent
fellow, has mother and sisters living on
farm not far from $. and was the
bearer of letters and gifts from him to
them. might have sent the things by
express, of course. but | thought the
women might like TO see andstalk with
some one who had come from Fred so.
having plenty of time at my disposal, |
concluded TO visit them myself You see.
no one in New York knew of nv arrival.
or expected me for fortnight ] made
detour and reached S on the afternoon
OF the 23d. l spent several hours with
Fred's family, telling them everything
could think of about him, and praisng
him to their hearts content-the good
fellow deserves it all. it was quite late
when started to walk back to the town
The evening was so fine that felt in no
hurry to reach my hotel, and strolled
along quite regardless of the way. Per-
ceiving fOOt-path which seemed to lead
through some pleasant field to a brook,
LETT the main road to explore it. Where
went l am sure | cannot tell; perhaps
you, who know the localities, can form a
guess. know that l passed through a
deep, lonely glen, from which the brook
Issued, and, following the windings of
the stream, had just succeeded in max
ing my way through dense thicket of
old thorn-trees, when | was startled bv
the sight OF female figure lying on the
grass. l drew near and found Young
girl, not dead, but sleeping sweetly
what brought her there at such a time
was mystery. The delicate texture of
dress and the CLEAN of heavy gold
bracelet on one OF her round arms showed
that she was not probably under the
necessity OF choosing such bed cham
Der. III had remembered what night OF
the year it was-the chosen hour of the
people In green-I should probably not
have attributed to her mortal character
at all. but should have supposed that she
had merely arrived too soon at the rem
devious. and was waiting for her sisters
to begin the greenwood revel Whether
under such supposition | should have
ventured to take the liberty did l dare
not say ) but. as it was. | think my guilt
had some extenuating circumstances.
The dewy red lips through which the
sweet breath came so softly why, it was
not in human nature to resist the tempta.
ton! Blushing to the soul for the deprav-
ity OF my race, admit my crime"
Your contrition Is somewhat tardy.
sir replied the blushing Alice. trying
hard to frown. pray, how long were
you there P''
1T could not have been more than five
minutes at most. | was revolving the
chances OF getting another kiss without
waking you, when heard footsteps, and
mad Just time to gain the cover of the
trees before Charlotte appeared. | hur-
ried away across the fields, and reached
my hotel about midnight. Next day |
started for ST. Louis. whence | had Just
returned when reached your house"
And did you then recognize Alice Pr
mo. l remember that at first sight
her face seemed slightly familiar, but the
impression passed away. Until to-day |
never tor an instant associated her with
s the heroine of my almost forgotten adven-
tnre. In that uncertain mingling of twi- |
Hght and starlight. features We're not ac-
curately distinguishable. The only won
der is how she managed, Undecided, to |
get 80 good view of mine"
'Now, Edward cried Alice. in a tone
OF real distress, ''you surely do not be- |
lieve-"
He stopped the reproach with kiss. |
NO. darling; OF course do not believe |
anything OF the kind. But Charlotte"
ne added. what strange thing it is,
TINS blending OF the events actually pass
ing around US with the fantastic images |
OF our dreams What faculty of the |
mind is it which remains awake to take |
cognzance OF things outside the closed |
eyelids!"
The prophetic faculty, it would seem
In this instance" | answered, with as
much gravity as ! could assume. "But |
perhaps that is peculiar to the dreams of |
midsummer-eve
Edward laughed. at is an odd thing, |
anyway" said he.
l think i odd myself, but it is true
Harper's Wsehiy.