Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-31
No. 25S.

HeOer stopped Tor moment, ana SmIl-
ingly looked out upon them.
"Dear friends" he said to himself,
chow much love you wish there was
| another for him who was as precious to Us
both as is Rose. And yet, II il would
make any difference between either of US
three, | could almost give her up. They
don't suspect what is bnrning in my heart
to be released"
He watched them lovingly for little
| time as they approached nearer to the
house and then hastily putting the finish
ing touches to his preparations, ran down
| to meet them.
He opened the door Just as they had
placed their feet upon the lower step Of
| the porch. His welcome. although he had
seen them both that same morning, was
such a one as man will give to the wo-
| man he loves, and to the man who is his
| dearest friend. n
Come out here under the trees" said
| Abel. Rose and | have something of
great Importance to tell you"
Eyes, immense Importance" echoed
Rose. coquettshly.
"And so have l." answered Heber.
In a moment more, Abel and Rose were
seated upon a bench that encircled the
largest trees in the yard, fine old oak,
Heber standing at the right side Of Rose.
Abel sitting at her lett.
Well said Heber "you first. Guest
always first you know; and besides mine
is the most weighty."
"You are the first to know II; you
should be the first to know it after my
| father and mother, said Abel, speaking in
the frank open way that had always
| marked their intercourse. ut was fixed
| only about fifteen minutes ago. Rose and
| are to be married"
Had his friend drawn a knife suddenly
from his pocket. and thrust it to the ham
die into Heber's heart, the action could
not have been more unexpected by him.
nor the effect more deadening upon him.
He stood for moment like great tree
suddenly tore up by the roots. vainly try
ing to steady himself. His own anticipa-
tons made the shock more terrible. His
face became the color of cold as he sank
helpless to the ground. m r
"Heber Heber!," cried Rose, spring
ing to him Abel echoing her cry and fol-
lowing her motions. They lifted him in
their arms, and she placed bis head
| against her bosom, as a sister might have
done.
"What is it? appealed Rose. "Oh, oh,
oh -
No glimmering of the true cause of all
this crossed for a moment the minds of
these two, who loved him lying there SO
still aud cold so dearly. BY their own
happiness they were blinded to the fact
that it could by any possibility, bring
wretchedness to any one-least OF all TO
their friend. a5Esus
A vigorous constitution is, in most
| cases, proof against a blow, of the most
fatal intention, and Heber had one to help
him through. He speedily revived, and
presently was sitting upon the bench, with
his friends on either side Of him, each
holding hand. His hat had fallen of.
and Rose gently brushed the hair back
from his temples.
At her touch he moved uneasily, and
took her hand down. vav
Strange" he said, shutting his eyes as
| if in pain, and then opening them and
looking first at Abel and then at Rose. his
gaze resting the longest upon her.
Strange! 1t seems as if was struck =
| fearful blow here, not upon, but in my
| breast. What could il mean ?" He hesi-
tated moment. my mothers father
was once, in my recollection, struck in
| the same way" He siid this rather ab-
sently, and then continued, looking upon
the ground: ''You said something. didn't
YOU, Abel, or did dream il ? You and
Rose are to be-" l.iaf
He hesitated again, and Rose interrupt
ed him, nodding:
| married ? Yes" Then as If to take
his thoughts away from himself-she was
too thoughtful and kind to have continued
a subject that she knew was distressing
him-she went on in sprightly manner;
Yes. 1t is to be next month. am TO
go to Europe with Abel. And such letters
as we will write home to you-such let
ters-'
Heber groaned aloud
| something is wrong with me-" he said
hoarsely. "Let us go into mother. feel
as if would like to lie down and never
get up again"
Supporting him. they led him into the
house, whence he had come only mo-
ment before, radiant with anticipated hap
piness. He was painfully weak. His
mothers hands seemed never so soft as
now when she laid them on his aching
head her voice never SO gentle and kind
as when she asked:
"What ails thee, son ?"
His only answer being, "God knows"
His friends remained with him until af-
ter dusk and then, promising to return
every day-nay, twice or thrice day un-
Ill he was entirely ecovered-wondering
and ympathzing they left him.
They needed not to come to comfort him
az often as they had promised, for the
next day he was. to all appearances. him
self again, except that his duties were all
wearily performed. and his face wore that
woe-stricken expression that comes upon
one as he passes through some dire CAL
lamity, saved but shaken. I'D,
His mother. before she had retired that
night. saw the light burning later than
usual in his room She listened for mo-
ment at the door, and then, softly open
ing il, entered. Heber sat by the table,
his head bowed thereon and his hands
locked over his forehead She did not in
terrupt some struggle which she knew was
going on there.
The wedding took place as expected,
with but one regret in the midst OF all the
Iioy Hebe- was not present. He pre-
pared himself and walked bravely to the
scene, but before five minutes had elapsed
from his departure from, tho ho,ua ko -