Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-19
NO. 1876.
Gales ano Skettbes.
on rHH RAILWAY BRIDGE.
A STORY OF A STARTLING ADVENTURE.

seal with real aStoniShment:
Mr. EDWARD WoRrHINGToN-
Sir: Pardon these intrusive lines, and
rest assured that they are from one who
will ever bc proud to call himself your
sincere friend. Lucy Ames is not faithful
to You. do not write this to you for any
base purpose for. since / know so well
your generous and noble nature, cannot
hesitate when see that nature become the
innocent dupe Of vile dissimulation. Nor
have been too hasty in communicating
to you this knowledge; l only fear 1t is
too late but rest assured that all have
said is true. and can be attested by one
who has an undoubted personal knowledge
of all the facts. Arthur Wesley, the sing
ing g-master. is your too-fortunate rival.
Yours, A FRIEND.
This was not the first intimation had
had of Lucy's Inconsistency. l had seen
things with my own eyes that made me
doubt her sincerity. For long time the
unwelcome suspicion had been preying
upon me. and this fatal letter had come TO
bring conviction-stern, irrevocablc, hope
less conviction.
did not doubt the truth of it; and yet
how il writhed nv soul with torture to
think of it. to admit its truth. 1t did not,
1t could not crush me; | braved il to the
last; | should have been less than man 10
do otherwise. | reperuscd the letter,
calmly-no, not calmly-not inditiercntly.
but sternly. us though il were decreed of
fate that should not only drain the bit
ter cup, but should swallow the very
dregs.
And yet love the wayward girl, and
gladly. oh, how gladly, would have for
given her imprudence! To her. went
to seek an interview. Lucy was proud
too proud to be Just to herself; yet she
was generous and noble, in spite of all
her fickleness.
Obstinately convinced that she had pre-
| fcrred another to me, did not ask or ex-
pect any explanations from her; showed
her, without any hesitation, the letter |
had Just received. and requested her to
return me such letters as had previously
written to her. and any other little keep
sake which might in future prove annoy
ing to.her. She bestowed on me \ look
which shall never forget.
"Do you believe this. EdwardP' sho
asked.
| Il do" replied, without hesitation.
| "What unimpeachable evidenceP' she
retorted. with the first impulse of pride.
| II do not rely on the information con
tanned in this letter. | said. II have
seen enough myself without asking any
persons advice or opinion"
She Immediately left the room. and re-
turned in few moments with package
of letters and small box of jewels, my
former presents, saying. gayly, as she
placed them in my hands:
.'By these tokens, then, since it is your
will, ! absolve you"
In spite of the smile that played upon
her mouth. thought could detect traces
of recent tears, hastily brushed away from
her cheeks.
In moment the thought flashed upon
my mind that she might, after all, be true.
Impulsively was about to speak to her,
to ask her if it was not so; but what
should say? ] had gone too far, and it
was too late to retreat. But. as the
thought had come upon me like q flash, it
vanished as it had come, leaving no alter
native but to pursue the course | had
adopted.
Farewell, them" said, with appar-
ent indifference. "May your future life
be ever lighted with the sunshine of hap
pinessn'
| Thank you," she replied. IL trust no
act of my own will ever bring misery
upon me-
"Consciencc, Miss Ames, conscience ~
I said
"Will never rcproach me- she re-
piled.
.IIeaven grant it ~ said |. .'The step
you have taken may, in your opinion, be
Lust. but let me assure you others do not
think 50. We do not always see ourselves
as others see us
Il have done nothing, Mr.. Worthing-
ton. TO merit this" said Lucy; '.you are
not only deceived, but impertinent, sir;
and you cautiously avoid any questions
that might lead to an explanation--''
81 ask no explanation" hurriedly rec
Iplicd, and Immediately took my depart
ure in no very amiable mood, nor did
wish to humble myself sufficiently to ask
her any questions that might. as she had
suggested, lead to satisfactory explana-
ltion.
What victory pride had won! How
Iperfect and complete had been its ulti-
mate success on both sides!
hurried from the door rs ! turned my
steps homcward again. Instinctively 1
took the usual course in returning home
(for Lucy lived nearly two miles out of
town. and walked along, so busy with
Uly thoughts as 10 De utterly UNCONSCIOUS
Of anything and everything else. There
was a high railway bridge that lay be-
tween me and the town, just wide enough
for the lines, the middle of which was
Iplanked over for the convenience Of pedes-
trians. as there was no other bridge over
the river for some miles. Outside the
lines it was impossible to walk.
One of the planks, which was very thick
and heavy, had been partly raised for
some purpose, and left in that position.
In endeavoring to pass it. struck my, foot
against it, stumbled, and, in recovering
myself, forced one leg through the aper-
ture, and. striking my other foot with all
the force required to regain my equilib-
rum, replaced the plank in such man.
ner as not only left my foot protruding
through the narrow crack. but threw me
on the line, and promised to present diff
ficulty in removing the plank.
smiled to think how curiously had
been entrapped, and stopped down to re-
move the plank and free myself from so
lContinued on fourth page.