Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-24
mine. as it rested on my arm in our long
walks home from church on Sunday even

The summer passed: October came.
Angelina returned to the city and wrote
to me. It was while VIC were eating
peaches and cream in the back porch that
evening that said to Mary: II will tell
Won a secret if You will keep it for a while.
Mary
'.Oh, Of Counsel will, Mr. Maetaggart. =
II am going 10 be married this autumn.
Mary" said. Those pretty letters you
always thought came from my sister are
from the lady who is to marry me. She
il very beautiful. very rich. very stylish.
but very kind. You must come and see
Us. Mary, when we are married. | shall
tell Angelina how good YOU have been to
me-wii., a sweet little sister found out
here in the Vale of Crnix. Why Mary"
For, as spoke, felt the little hand
held grow cold and heavy in mine. | saw
her sink backward. The big china bowl
Of peaches and cream slipped with crash
to the ground and shattered to pieces.
/ caught the poor child in my arms. In
a moment she came to herself, and said she
had oyertred herself. she thought. They
had been baking all day. and it was warm.
And now she babe me goodnight. But
did not see her next day, nor the next
She kept her room. and was not well
enough to bid me good-bv.
Poor little Mary felt very miserable.
However, Angelina met me at Glasgow.
She was more beautiful than ever-mOre
elegant, in contrast to my simple country
friend-and very soon laughed at my
self for the thought that had been in my
heart Of course | said it was the baking
that had overcome Mary-it was not my
news. had only been to her as a friend
AS a brother ! had not made love 10
her; above all, had not fiirted with her.
But thought Of Mary a great deal. and
I missed her every hour exactly-as |
might sister.
| wrote to Mrs. Stevenson. and her an
swer was very brief.
II haven't mach time TO write" she
said in her postscript. MARY is sick.
and besides being driven. am anxious. -"
This letter was in my pocket on that
day when Angelina and | went TO The ba-
gar for the benefit of the church Of ST.
Matthew.
After We had roamed about the bazaar
and bought all sorts of knick-knacks, |
escorted Angelina to a seat and there sat
down to wait while one of the ladies who,
ION this occasion only" was doing good,
gene, Gus hard work, brought us tray of
refreshments.
As we sat there slipping our coffee, two
women sat down at the next table with
their backs to us.
II am very tired, are you not, Mrs.
Russell ?' And the other answered:
Yes. | am tired. | don't think that it
is worth the while to come all the way
from Vale of Cruix to Glasgow sight-see-
ing"
This was the voice of Stevenson 8
nearest neighbor. and liked her and re-
spected her. yet did not feel quite sure
how Angelina would like an Introduction,
and so refrained from looking round and
making myself known.
Il think we'd better have tea said
the voice. '.It's more refreshing than
coffee. "Oh, how is Mary to-day Think
of my never asking before !"
MARY is poorly said Mrs. Russell.
flirting Young minister came down to Vale
of Cruix. don't know what Mrs. Ste
venson was about to let him do as he did
We all thought he was counting Mary.
She did, poor child. She just
loved him dearly. And the day be-
fore he went away he told her he
was engaged to some girl in Glasgow. I'm
afraid it's broken her heart. She told me
all about it. 'Oh. Aunty Russell she
said, Il know l ought to be ashamed, but
can't help it. He seemed to like me so.
hope shall die of this fever for life is
nothing to me- Ashamed! Why, it's he
who ought to be ashamed. OF all the
things. a minister to be cold, cruel flirt,
and that is what Hugh Mactaggert isl
listened, but could not move or speak
felt as though my heart was also break
ing, and oh. the time | suffered, The
women drank their tea and left, and then
Angelina turned to me with a cold, sarcas-
tic smile"
IL see by your face that the little story
is perfectly true, Mr.. Mactaggert," she
said.
Angelina" | faltered. Il have done
nothing that should give offense to you''
Nothing but love another woman" she
answered. Love her. and let her see it,
meaning to marry me. Don't think I'm
hurt indeed. | am relieved, I should have
kept my word to you. but for this 4; but not
so gladly as once should. You are a very
good looking man, but on the whole you
don't suit me. | met Mr.. S. at Millport.
and he does. Frankly. have been think
ing what a pity it was that must decline
his offer. As for this-Mary. is it not -
wouldn't she make very good minister
wife ?'
1t came to nv mind that she would
that she was the only wife for me; that
Angelina. splendid as she was. would
never have made me happy.
But only said: Miss Melville. if you
de.ire to have your freedom have no
choice"
Il desire i greatly" she answered.
ut is yours" | said, with bow.
After that | think that we were both
happier than we had been for days. and
shook hands when we parted.
That night | went up to the Vale of
Cruix. and told Mary that my marriage
was broken off, and that she was the only
woman l had ever loved. She tried to
summon up her pride and refuse me. but
failed in the attempt and let me take her to
my heart. To-day am pastor of the church
at the Vale of Cruix. Mary is my wife
and we are as plain and quiet pair as you
could fancy. even help my wife pick
currants. aud have taken a turn at the
garden when help was scarce. But I do
not envy Mrs. s. his wife, nor pine for the
luxurious possibilities that lost with
Angelina. Mary and my little home con-