Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-02-28
GaIes aIro Skttfbes.
VILLAGE STORY.
BIZ JULIA NJ. BENNETT.
Confined from Yesterday

Continued from Yesterday
Mrs. Norton had taken at Clementine's
request, one of the new young ladies nj
the beginning of the year, to board.
Clementine had met her at o friends
house 10 . neighboring village, Hates
home, and was enchanted by her beauty,
her winning ways and her stylish dress.
Kate Arnold was several years older
than Clementine, and a very handsome
girl. She was brunette Of the most
pronounced type: sparkling, vivacious,
but tickle as the wind. She rivaled a
bird of paradise in her plumage, and
everything CAV and gorgeous was becom-
ing to her. She could sing and dance as
easily and naturally "a she could breathe.
In fact she was extremely fascinating, and
ali who came ip contact with her were at
one exception. Sam Hancock, the awk
ward boy, now grown to manhood and
true a. ever to his boy hoods love. Under
his apparent simplicity he possessed a
keen perception, and from the first he
read her true Datnre. She tried in vain 10
charm him, and when she saw that she
was understood, OF course she disliked
him. She soon became aware of his love
for Clementine, and ridiculed him unceas !,
ingly to her. In this way she sought to
turn her against him.. She succeeded in
20 far that Clementine often avoided him
rom sheer dread of Hates sarcastic
spooches. When Sam saw this. he kept
sway from Clementine, not blaming her,
but laying it up against Kate.
Handsome Will Ashby. son Of Squire
Ashby, one OF the wealihiest and most
influential citizens OF the village, was now
studying law. He had always been
considered the lover Of Clemeniine from
their childhood. Will was wild and had
been in some ''pretty bad scrapes''-so
the wis9 ones said : but his father was rich
and influential, and he was an only child,
40 there was good-sized mantle of chart
~ 10 cover the misdeeds OF the young man.
The month that Kate Arnold came to
the village witnessed the betrothal Of the
lovers, with the full appreciation Of the
Squire (his wife had long been dead) and
Of Mrs. Norton. When Kate went to
board with them it was not only with a
foil IN Outstanding of the state OF affairs,
but she was also the recipient of many OF
those little secrets that one girl is apt to
Confide to another whom she loves and
trusts at those hours Of night when, white
robed, they brush out their locks and sit
cross-legged upon their beds, preparatory
TO retiring. For Clemintne did admire
and love, too. the bright girl who shared
her room and her confidence, and when
she heard whispered stories of kates's
Irritation with ''her WILL" she Indignantly
denied them.
But they were true. Kate had fancied
the handsome fellow" as she called him
at first sight. and the knowledge that he
was plighted to another. and that other
her friend, did not deter her from making.
- the girls said. "a dead set at him" "
She knew, too, just how to please him.
She would sing to him, fatter him, and
was ever ready to sympathize with him
when be and Clementine had very slight
misunderstanding, as was sometimes the
case. Clementine, true and loyal herself
was not quick to suspect, and Kate was
both shrewd and sly. and so it went on
until she had stolen his heart away.
BY nature changeable, Will was an easy
prey. though he did try for a time TO be
true to Clementine. whom he loved as
much as it was in his shallow ma
ture to love anything outside Of himself.
In time he yielded to the influence that
Kate had over him. The end of all this
was the discovery one morning. simulta-
neously at Squire Ashby's big brick and
Mrs. Norton's white cottage. of the flight
of the twain. Kate Arnold had robbed
her trusting friend Of her lover. and Will
Ashby had not only proved false to his
betrothed. but he had provided tor his
flight by robbing his father of u consider
able sum OF money. This was the news
that spread like wildfire through the usu-
ally staid and quiet village.
The Squire who loved Clementine rs n
daughter, was overwhelmed with sorrow
and anger. He had long conference
with Miss Norton and Clemintine. the re-
suit Of which was not known till after
years. But he was beard to say that he
had no longer child save Clementine.
who was to be his heiress
And Clementine She refused all sym-
pathy, and carried herself proudly. Even
her mother dared not speak to her OF the
past. but from The morning when she dis
covered the perfidy of both her lover and
friend she was changed girl. She grew
sarcastic; she rallied at love and
friendship; she made little bitter,
singing speeches. and. when, after some
years had passed, those who might have
spoken TO her of love were frightened
away before they had begun by her curt
speech and brusque manner.
There was one alone who understood
her. and this was Sam Hancock. He had
watched her with silent agony, and was
the first to note the sad change in her he
loved. He would have followed Will
Ashby to the end of the world and brought
him back to her by sheer force had she
hint said tho word Ha set his teeth hard
~ he thought OF the willy girl whom he
had always detested. But there was no
way in which he could help her. This
was the hardest to bear. He could but
watch over and pray for her and hope that
time would bring relief.
Years passed on, and Clementine was
pronounced an old maid, somewhat
soured, very cold and proud. But to Sam
she was still-as ever-beautiful and be-
0oved.
They were ne.ghbors. and there was.
a. il to repay in some small measure his
devotion. sort OF mutual dependence