Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-30
NO. 17S.
Gales ano Skettbes.
"PER G."
BY Mrs. ANNIE A. PRESTON.
Continued from Yesterday.

Mr. SturtcNant throw dSluc MS paper
and SAID. breezlly:
at is all settled, my dear Bronson.
This is Saturday. We shall start for CHI
cago Monday, on the A. Nj. Express. l
shall telegraph for Oliver 10 meet us ut
Niagara, where we will stop over train
and take look at the Falls. He is one of
those alive. up and coming chaps that
wouldn't ask for more than halt an hours
notice to start on voyage around the
world"
Mr.. Bronson gave his accountant ques-
tioning look. She nodded.
VERY well." he said coldly, Yet with
an efiert to speak in his usual way.
"You will need all the time there is. of
course"
lie sat down in the shadow of the rich
green curtains and wrote an order on the
cashier.
She put on her gray hat and gloves
again. took the slip of paper in her trem-
bling fingers and went down the dusty
stairs without trusting herself 10 speak.
| don't know rs il occurred to either of
them at the time. or for hours afterwards,
that their parting, after their years of in
innate business relationship was very
strange one, or that it would have been
very strange for two men under the same
| circumstances.
women have not the hearts of men,
although il is the fashion of the time to
put them and keep them in places rcquir-
ing mans strength, Judgment and im-
perturbabiity must put that in my
next letter to Eliza" said Mr.. Sturtevant
to himself as he ran after the little ac-
countant. overlook her on the second land
ing, made some necessary business ar
rangements. stood by when the cashier
handed her her money and left her on the
crowded sidewalk.
She did not 90 home at once, or rather
to the boarding house which she called
home. Instead, she walked across to
Broadway and took a Central Park omni-
| bus
Il can be alone in the park for little
whilo,' she said TO herself.
don't know that she thought at all rs
the omnibus Numbered and ratified and
banged up Broadway; she was only real
izing the fact that she was going away
from him.
She strollcd about the gravel walks of
the park, sat in the rustic arbors. fingered
beside the fountains, ponds and ild0er
oeds. but she saw nothing of the beauties
that were dclighting thousands of souls
furnishing for a breath ofcountry summer;
she was only almost overpowered by
dragging pain at being torn away from
the associations of years.
| Alone in her own room, packing her
scanty possessions she burst out bitterly
| to herself:
"Oh the wretchedness and wrong of
shutting young girl up in an office day
after day for years with n Young man no
| bar in bn of
money. and expecting her to look upon
him as indiflerently as upon the improved
type writer at his elbow
Oh the cruelty and pity of it. | have
had my dreams. / will not call them
foolish dreams; it was only the rose-bush
reaching towards the trells Every girl
has dreams, and it is right she should
have Ii makes no difference whether she
be filling the position of man or that of
a woman.-her heart is not changed by
the work that her mind and body are en-
gagged in.
"Mv beautiful visions have faded into
air as have faded from Il plump. pretty
girl, to a thin, wan, colorless old maid,
and all the time he has been growing
manly and strong and handsome year by
year.
Yet he has been kind to me. in way,
and although constantly in society. with
elegant ladies'. he has remained single and
my woman heart has dared to hope that
it might he for my sake. For the sake of
me, his book-keeper How his proud
mother and sisters would spurn the idea
II had better have been kitchen girl
in some good family, or cook, or q
farmers wife with rosy children in my
arms and about my knees. than to be
what am, a recluse, with no friends or
associates. A disappointed woman, with
her heart eaten ont TOR the love Of man
who looks upon her only as calculating
machine -
That night she arose from her bed, and
throwing a shawl over her looked out up
on the tireless moon and stars and upon
the sleepless streets OF the great city
whose life is so abundant that 1t must 90
on by night as by dav; but this thought
did not occur to her now; she was say
ing:
Had been his wife he would not have
allowed me to serve him as have served
him. To think of the nights that have
sat over those books! | saved him from
bankruptcy, and in bis gratitude he pro-
moted me to be his confidential clerk He
was very grateful and am / to blame for
having thought that my life might grow
fresh and beautiful with love like the
Hives we read of in books? What hours
have spent, which should have been
passed in sleep. in reading and study that
l might keep abreast with him in mental
culture. He must remember me as one
who has been a help to him. 1t is i'm
possible that he should forget me. There
is modicum Of comfort in that thought
and in the fact that a young man is 10
take my place. could not bear the
thought OF him smiling over the top OF
his desk into the eyes Of some other wo-
man. If he marries hope shall never
know it..
1T is the nature of single women to
love the unmarried men who treat them
pleasantly and kindly, and with whom
they are constantly associated. I wish il
| TO- a,rI