Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-06
Gales ano SIirttbcs.
JOHN SINCLAIR.

wreathed window of his luxurious apart
ment, as if bordering the solution OF some
difficult problem. For the last hour and
half. he had sat in the same reflective at
ttude vainly essaying to discover SOME
honorable avenue of escape from Il mos
unpleasant situation. At last, he starteo
up, exclaiming:
There is no other alternative. My
heart has changed. | don't love her. an,
duty and honor require that | should com
municatc TO her the true state of my feel
ings."
After short silence. he continued by
Jove, ii is going to be most disagreeabl'
task to impart this information; nevcrthe
less, duty requires it. and must be equa
TO the emergency
Thus, having partially, at least, sol aceo
the misgivings of his conscience with the
assurance that duty dictated his present
course of procedure, he Quilted the room
in state of great mental agitation re-
solved to follow the only honorable course
10 tell Olie Bcr,lan that he no longer
loved her
"Oh. how can make such II revelation
to one so beautiful to one who has loved
me so trust'n " and devotcdly?" he muir
INJURED, while great drops of perspiration
stood on his corrugated brow-whilc his
heart beat wildly and unanimously.
Then suddenly his face assumed the
palor of death as he approached the beau
tiful suburban residence of Judge Brooch
ton. the guardian of Miss Ber'lan.
Through the vine-trelised window floated
sweet subdued strains of music, the pre-
lude of his iavoritc song, THE Beautiful
Bride of Armingdale.' few moments
later and voice of such inefiable sweet
ness. and moduated with such an exquisite
depth of tenderness and feeling. tell upon
his ear. awakening throng of memories
the Unsuitable emiSsaries of remOrsc-
that surged through his troubled brain like
Il wild, devastating torrent His hands
grasped almost conyulsivcly. the gate be-
fore him, while his eyes blazed with n
strange. painful light.
go God" he groancd. chow can | tell
herr II will break her heart.
Then after time he muttered dctcrmin-
edlv: 1T must be done, 1t must be
done -
Passing up the gravel walk with are So
lutte step. and with well assumed com
posure that cost the strongest effort of his
will, he rang the door bell and soon found
IlHiStll uSutiCu iiilf llt vi NV -lVtlil,
and in the presence of Miss Berdan who.
after cordial greeting, exclaimed:
"Oh, John, why are you so late? You
know you promised to be here at five and
it is now almost seven" The tone was
half questioning, hall rcproying.
Eyes, Ollie, am late but if YOU will
forgive this oflense | will never. never
again disappoint you by being late"
Don't call it an offense. please That
sounds too harsh. know Won are in
capable of doing wrong; and if you are
tardy, it is only because something trans
pired unavoidably TO keep YOU away.
There, now, you see | have an abiding
faith in your goodness and integrity
The time will come, | fear, when you
will experience an utter revolution of sen
timent with regard to my benefcent quail
ties, yet l shall ever Aatter myself with
the comfort-giv assurance that | have
acted honorablv; that have cndeavored
faithfully to follow the dictates of propri-
ETY. and justice but. oh, how often, Ollie.
that stern -iustce-impels the per-
Torrance of duties that are disagreeablp
and painful to the last extreme
True, John but because disagreeable.
we should none the less shrink from their
performance. To me. there is no attribute
that contributes more to true nobility of
character than an intrepidity of spirit and
an honesty of purpose that dares to do
right under the most irving and dis
couraging circumstances.
Apainful perpleXed expression rested
on the face of John Sinclair, and after II
short silence, he remarked:
collie, | have revelation to make to
you-a revelation that fear will prove a.
painful to You as it is dsagreeable to me. ."
The face of the fair girl turned Just the
least bit pale, and her eyes-bright blue
eyes that mirrored an affluence of affcc-
ton and depth of the purest womanly
devotion-suddenly acquired an express
sion giving just the least intimation of
coming evil. After few moments. he
continued:
II have given this subject my deepest
consideration and it was only after long
and deliberate reflection that decided to
tell You the truth, the whole truth: and |
only hope. Miss Berdan, when tell YOU
that no longer love YOU, that YOU will ac-
cord TO me, at least, the merit of doing
what | conceived to be my duty
While this revelation was being made.
transformation almost from life to death
had taken place. Every drop of blood had
receded from the fair face before him. I'M
til even the crimson lips were as white as
the signet of death-unti her ewes. blaz-
ing with "A strange abnormal light, seemed
to stare at the man before her as though
he were some hideous gorgon whose hor-
rid looks had suddenly concealed all her
warm life blood, changing her form into a
statue of stone.
"Ollie, Ollie, forgive me - he cried,
springing forward and grasping her cold
white hand in his. Il know that | have
committed great sin, once loved YOU
but my heart has changed | have sought
for some plausible ANALYSIS of the sudden
transition; but without avail.
Notwithstanding every effort of reason.
which extols your beauty. your goodness,
your supremacy of virtue, the stern. I'M.
deniable truth. is constantly asserting it.
self in the simple declaration. i don't Low,
her have cursed my impotence. my
traitorous heart! have PRAYED that ]
might die and be spared the torturine
sense Of shame that would follow tn,
revelation that | have made-a sense o
shame which pervades my whole ben.
with It's lumiliatino Influence * | stan,