Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-19
Gaks rlAuSkstfhss
Continued from Yesterday. }

tCOnanued nom yestefoay)
The mother. hurt and disappointed as
her geptes Arguments failed to convince
the Gid Wkooe voice was 50 firm while her
soft, child-like face paled and quivered.
watched her son a. he stood over Nettie.
pleading with sad earnestness, or paced
the room with hot and angry words. that
pierced the little, breaking heart which
this love Of his had stirred into new
life, and brought hot. sharp tears into the
EYES that looked out among the deepening
shadows with their old gaze. searching.
ssaching for something beyond their ken.
They pictured her two homes IN all
their bitter contrast. They reminded her
a the change in herself which these rev
months had effected. They recalled her
- she had come to them with her two
shabby dresses and her worn face. They
faucied her going back to her stagnant,
comfortless life after these months OF per-
feet sympathy and companionship, going
back 10 the hard, scraping economy which
her father enforced upon her after the
easeful, careless abundance of this new
home. But the answer was all one. Then
these two friends pleaded their own love
for her, their lonelines If she left them,
their disappointment in her.
Tho little fingers knit tightly in
each Other. and the young lips were puck
erod With pain. Then they tried to show
her that It was wrong, selfish, and ungrate-
ful to leave her mothers friends, and go
back Of her own accord to q sin-shadow-
cd life.
Tbe little, tired head dropped against
the. window, and the eyes grew bewilder-
edin their search among the shadows.
"You will have thought better of these
silly lhncies in the morning. Nettie dear"
Mrs. LytletOn said at last. kissing her as
she rose. IF not. shall have recourse
to little wholesome authority. and refuse
you permission or power to leave me
but you will obey me know though,
without my having to take refuge in those
means. Now let us 60 to bed" she add
ed kissing the young face again in sudden
pity, land am quite sure you will have
forgotten these arguments tomorrow"
But there were few words Nettie
could not forget-a few words sung that
morning In the white church on the hill |;
and 20 Il was that next day, when Graham
came in from his ride round the farm, and
sought his little love. he could not find
her.
Nettie and her little. shabby dresses
were gone. They only found in the sunny
chamber the pretty clothes in which they
had delighted TO see her, and little peni-
tent letter that breathed quaint, resolute
bravery through all its pathos, and had
only one line blotted with tears.
~ will arise and go to my father"
Graham-alone in the bright empty
room-covered his eyes with shaking
hand, and tried to imagine for what those
tears had been shed. And his sad. dry
ewes could read, in the few. tear stained
words. little of the agony the lonely
child had suffered on that Sunday night
where shall you be tonight, O'NeillP"
The person addressed, tall, elderly
gentlemen. with a haggard face and list
less step, stopped, and turned indolently.
Nowhere, Grey. Nowhere in particu-
lar. ! suppose or rather in any spot to
which the spirit takes me-"
'''Why didn't you honestly put it plural
at onceP I'm glad to hear it though.
We have q little party at Harris's. I'll call
for you on my way. We shall be able to
make a capital night Of It,"
Mr.. O'Neill's face had flushed oddly.
The time was not very far behind him
Wncu tuIS MAN ubrcu not nave taken IL lot
granted that he would go to this place.
which he had Stunned and avoided through
years of careless dissipation, which he had
even Stunned and avoided through these
later and more reckless years.
II am not sure that can come," he be-
gan, but stopped. seeing his companions
broad gaze Of curiosity fixed upon this
flame that would rise holly in his face
against his will. He shook the hesitation
away with pride which was meaner and
falser far than the shame that had caused
It.
Il do not know that have another APP
pointment."
"I'm sure you haven't" said the other
roughly. You owned that to begin with,
and rather suppose you don't intend to
sit at home In single blessedness, and shed
tear for the departed daughter. On |!
what . melancholy Shylock, and vet no
ducats gone. only . daughter You look
very like . mourning parent. But
let me recommend you to mourn
no longer. Cast away your weeds. She
has forgotten all about her old life by this
time. You should have forgotten all
about her too"
~ have forgotten" said Mr.. O'Neill. in
sudden heart. Though it is no business
Of yours have no doubt shall be at
liberty. You will call in then. Grey. will
your Good evening"
Why should not he go there? Why
should not he 60 any where, nows Who
was there to contaminate except HIMSELF
and was there any thing to keep him at
homer
But had any thing ever been there that
could keep him at home? whispered Con-
science. Conscience had not been a sooth-
ing companion to him lately, while the
one evil spirit of old stood with seven
other spirits more wicked than himself
q within the very threshold of the house
that was being swept and garnished BY
weak. irresolute hands; and. as he knew,
stepped boldly forward when that consent
was given. He put his key into the door.
almost uncensciously picturing the little
figure that used to open it to him so read
lily .his atep slackened involuntarily in the
: narrow passage. He entered the sitting
room go changed, he knew. since the
''old-maidish." little fingers had been
busy there) with his head bent a little, as
1t generally was now; and something in
the very atmosphere of the room = even
before his eyes were ra,sed-breathed of