Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-11-21
Galts an0 Sketfbes.
ALLlys TEMPTATION.
(Continuusd from yesterday.

uaE uU WISH u Wcu oUc TIC lOhCu " SdNh
misfortune. What womb any woman gain
b. giving her freedom and indepen-
dence to marry him? He could not sup
port wife in comfort. He would never
ask this girl to live on miner. wages.
How lovely she was 10 the Sunday calm
of the next day, walking slowly along the
pretty path OF the old garden, among the
tall red hollvhocks. in dress OF simple
white, with ribbons to match her eyes!
He walked bv her side. The attention
with which he regarded her did not dis
compose her. II was part of Innocence's
charm thar she seemed quite unconscious
of her beauty. and unaware of its effect
upon others.
"Have you heard the news" she asked,
that the heiress of the Earle place Is
going to take immediate possession ?"
Il had not heard And he added, ''it
does not matter to me-"
But something mattered. He sat down
YEARLY when she paused at rustic seat
under an old tamarack tree.
The housekeeper told Mrs. Lord, our
landlady. that they were expecting Miss
Earle this week. But perhaps you do not
like to talk Of this ?''
II do not ~ he answered briefly.
He missed her glance OF sympathy, but
he felt that she pitied him; yet, she could
not know how the world seemed chaos
about him.
Would he had never been born IT the
best things Of life-affection, home, wife
must be denied him. He loved this
girl; he would love no other, and he
could never call her his. Yet the grave,
reficent face of Allan Fairle betrayed
little.
Day by day he fought his fight This
Miss Earle. this unknown cousin OF his
how fortunate was she
He recollected that he would be expect
ed to call on her. All, that was asking
too much, Though he need have no an
ger against her. He had heard that she
had been poor He believed that she was
an orphan Yet she WAS fortunate.
Round and round went the weary circle
of thought There was nowhere any re-
lief but in the depths OF toll in the mines.
Physically wearied, he would spend his
nights in sleep instead Of thought.
At length came the day appointed for
blasting the huge mass of rocks which
obstructed the opening of another shaft.
The task was his and the trust All import
ant one.
The train was laid and the locality
cleared. No need to harm those who
were familiar with the danger of such an
explosion, but lookout must be kept for
persons unconscious of the peril.
Yet all seemed as it should be. The
red spark was creeping up the hill on its
way to the powder filled drills. The ex
plosion would come and no one was liable
to get hurt by the flying fragments OF rock.
Gathered in knots at intervals OF safe
dist ances, the men waited for the terrific
blast
Suddenly hand grasped Allan's arm.
Look there, boy.' whispered old Mr..
Fairlie. hoarsely.
Allan followed his fathers pointing
finger to the top of the hill.
A woman's figure stood there.
Allan did not know whom it was. He
only saw that she had come over the hill
from the other side. and pausing. had
turned to look back over the landscape
He saw, too, that the other men had come
up around him.
Its General Earle's heress. The
Earle carriage is at the foot of the HILL"
he heard one say.
Shout. boys! Call to her Warn her
off, he was saying, as he tore off his
coat
ALLAN. my boy, YOU cannot do it The
fuse is almost at the top, and you have
long rum" said his father, catching his
arm.
Lord yes, sir, You'd get there only
in time to share her fate" said young
man, pushing his hand against Allan's
breast to enforce attention. She can hear
the calm and yellin'. There's time
enough for her to get out of the way.
You'll get yourself hurt bad, sirr'
1t was only an instant of time that AL
Ian fingered. looking at the motionless
figure upon the hill.
The girl wore a gray dress, and white
flower in brown braids looped up under
jaunty hat of black velvet. His grand
fathers heiress Only one little instant
he fingered. but in that briet time Satan
made a bid for his soul.
.'She does not heed-she does not un-
derstand"' ~ he cried. his voice breaking
strangely.
Then he was off.
He was a swift runner. He had a pow
erful voice, too. and he used legs and
lungs with the power of desperation
The distan: shouting had failed to attract
the girls attention; but as Allan came
across the field, she turned her head and
looked at him.
In that instant his voice failed him;
but his wild leaps brought him to her
side
Innocence we are too late ?''
His cry, as he snatched her up, was am
biguous; but she grew white. She clung
about his neck. Speechlesslv he bounded
down the rocks she had lately climbed so
leisurely. Roots and branches snapped
under his tread. Once he slipped. and il
seemed as if they would be whiried to the
bottom; but clasping his precious burden
tighter. Allan Fairlie bounded to the hills
foot and spring into cave. lost his loot
ing at last, and fell. as the whole world
seemed drowned in the voice of the ex-
piosion.
He struggled up.
MY little darling are you hurt ~
mo. nor' But you look so dreadfully
On. what is the matter -
He told her.
She could scarcely be whittier when she
understood what her peril had been; but
her broken words confessed her love with
her gratitude.
sweetheart pure soul he sobbed.