Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-25
CHAPTER Nv.
NEW YEARS MORNING.

hO Puh va ms AssN ssN'
away.
CHAPTER w.
NEW YEARS MORNING.
There was good mile and more to the
scene of excitement; but our friend was
AN athlete and made the distance in what
IS commonly described as no time.
The confagration proved to be the Of
flee of old Jameson, the magistrate. and,
Just as William arrived, that eminent rep
resentative of justice was heroically
rescued from the little back room where
he was accustomed to sleep.
He was an enormously fat man, sus-
pected of nightly wooing the goddess OF
Sleep with spirituous inducements, and
with such success on the present occasion
that not even the uproar outside could
awake him, and he was only reused by the
actual touch of the flames.
However. he was got out quite alive,
though considerably scorched and much
more frightened, and, borne on litter,
although there was no real need of it. he
was conveyed to the opposite hotel, while
some one started for a physician two miles
away.
While awaiting the doctors arrival it
was thought necessary that the injured
man should have a watcher. AS the fire
was still in progress. no one showed eager
ness to take this post, preferring the fun
elsewhere, and when William Gilbert
stepped forward and volunteered he was
elected to the honor without Il dissenting
voice The room was then vacated in
stantly.
William stood beside the bed and felt
the injured mans pulse, and then hur-
riedly examined his hurts. They proved
to be scarcely worth Interchangeable fat
old fellow had lost his eyebrows and what
remained of his hair, and his clothes were
badly singed; but of real harm there was
none.
He imagined, however. that he was at
the point of death, and was horribly
frightened.
II am gone, SIR he groancd It's no
use to send for doctor; I'd better have a
clergyman. I've tried to lead IA tolerably
upright life, but-human nature is con-
stituted so imperfectly, and poor man.
especially if he be magistrate. has so
many temptations. I've tried, say, to do
my best, but but there are things, Mr..
Gilbert, that can't be escaped. | have
something on my mind. and feel that
should die more hopefully if | could I'M
bosom myself. You are not clergyman,
it is true. but in an emergency anybody
NAV receive a confession, | suppose.
don't know what harm nay have done
it is altogether secret-but it probably
had best be known About seven weeks
ago my term of Office expired, and it was
more than fortnight before the commits
sion was renewed; but | continued to act
as Justice of the Peace all the same, and
of course performed the functions Illegally,
so that many of them were null and void.
NV object was to make the usual fees YOU
understand; but, sir, it was dishonest
piece of business for which in this melan-
choly hour am truly sorry"
William, red and white by turns, listen
ed with beating heart.
IF did not mistake, you performed a
marriage during that interval?" he said.
breathlessly
II did you mean your Cousins marri-
age, of course. That was absolutely a
crime. sir. and you must tell her t she
is;no more married to that Mr. Daventrv
than you are. hesitated to engage in
anything so infamous, but Darentry offer
ed me such large sum that-that | could
not resist
MIR. Jameson, if You survive this night.
are YOU willing TO come forward and con
TESS TO my uncle and cousin both the truth
about this pretended marriage with Dav-
entry, just as You have told it to me ?''
Certainly. provided there would be
nothing like a prosecution. But l shall
not survive. sir
The physician. who arrived twenty
minutes later. told him differently.
When William returned to his upcle's
he carried penciled note in his pocket.
The visitors had gone out with the old
year. and William arrived just a little Ia
ter than the new, and the family were
standing on the piazza in the cold moon
light, waiting to hear about the fire.
So the news being told, William said :
''Daventry, let us have cigar on the
lawn, here. 1t is grand moon, and
have something to tell YOU"
Daventry, whose curiosity was excited.
complied. and. as they walked up and
down. William related everything. and
showed him the note from old Jamiessn,
and then the will.
He was, of course, astonished. and at
first incredulous, but ultimately proposed
to make terms. William was too gener-
Gus man to be hard upon him, and de-
manded but one thing unconditionally-
the Surrender of all pretensions to Alice.
This being agreed to, Mr.. Daventry found
his conqueror magnanimous to an extent
that astonished even him.
Next morning-or rather. few hours
later this morning. that of the New Year
mir. Dayentry withdrew. on the plea of a
Geographic message; and it was not
4 week later that old Uncle Frank and
pretty Alice learned the truth.
And it all came about from Alice's New