Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-12
GaIes arl0 Sketfkes.
(continuued from yesterday. )

called frr a jug Of water and some vases
and began arranging the bunch OF ferns
and wild flowers she had gathered in the
woods. First the loveliest and most fra
grant were chosen out and made into a
a bouquet for Headley. and she had moi
done much more than this when the sound
of the visitors bell Tell upon her listening
ears. A moment later the servant an.
Dounced:
captain" (Beatrice's breath came and
went quickly. and she caught hold of a
chair to prevent herself from darling for.
ward) ..Erskine.''
You. Richardr' s:ammered Beatrice.
all the tension Of her frame slackening
Il thought thought am very glad
to see you'll hope ynu are quite well. =
Capt Erskine had never been talka-
tive or ready mitted man, and now he
found himself in predicament worse than
he had encountered in the Afghan cam
paign. Beatrice's ill concealed disap
pointment and feeble attempt at cordial
reception might have struck HIM a. com
icaI had he not come with previous
knowledge OF something which rendered
it intensely pathetic.
II am quite well. thank you,' he said.
awkwardly us Mrs. Latham at home
should like to see herr
..Shc Is in the wood--so is everybody
except me. Please sit down and tell me
all the news. Is Capt. Headley we'll p
Yes" said Erskine; and then there
was a pause, during which Beatrice be-
came nervously aware that something was
wrong.
You are telling me the truth ?'' she
said, uneasily, and Erskine again said.
Yes. yes"
Then what is 1t P" asked Beatrice.
IL would rather tell Mrs. Latham"
said Erskine.
..Is it anything abont Robert?" de-
handed Beatrice. quickly.
Yes, but cannot speak to you about
it, Ii is bad news-painful news"
.'In what way? Why are you silent
Richardp Do you mean that it is discred-
liable to Roberto"
Earskine bowed his head, and the poor
girl, in mingled Indignation and distress,
entreated him to keep nothing from her.
al there is harm to be told of Rob,
/ would rather you should tell me-" she
said, touchingly, unsuspicious of what
the harm might be- IL can forgive him
anything. but could not bear for others
to know"
..You do not understand Beatrice"
said the poor captain.
.'iIow can | while you won't speak
out? ?" exclaimed the girl restlesslv.
when did you last hear from Headly ?"
asked Erskine, to gain time.
From Gibraltar"
"And there was nothing in the letter to
make you suspect anything wronge"
NO"
1.-The scoundrel ~ calculated Erskine,
under his breath; but Beatrice heard it.
and quick as thought started to her feet
and turned upon him.
''IIow dare you? All, for PHYS sake
don't look at me like that You are tor
turing me-put me out of my misery
tell me the worst al once J"
The wild alarm in her face was too
much for Erskine. and he blurted out the
truth:
'IIeadly was married this morning,
almost as Immediately we landed"
The room swan around Beatrice, and
with long. choking sob of anguish she
swayed and staggard back against the
mantlepece. A crash followed, for the
hand she had stretched out vaguely for
support struck the specimen glass into
which he had put her little bouquet for
Robert. and it fell shivering to atoms on
the floor. Beatrice. perteivng in the
accident significant sequel to E,skines
words felt as though her heart must break
with the glass, yet the shock of cold wa
ter dashed over her probably saved her
from fainting, for she instinctively laid
her cool. wet hand across her dizzy brow
and eyes. Erskine too. in despair seized
the Jug of water on the table and made
her drink some out of flower vase.
II am all right now" she said family.
go on, must know more"
At this moment the sound of voices at
the bottom of the garden indicated the
return OF the nutting party, and Beatrice
Quivercd from head TO foot.
"Oh, cannot face them ALL" she ex-
claimed wildly. ''Just one word, Rich
ard-how do you know this ?"'
IL was told of it; then met him and
he confessed it."
The girl looked into his face for one
glimmer of doubt, but there was nothing
to be read in it save the deepest compass
sion. and bowling her head hopelessly she
fled to her room.
Erskine's meeting with Connie was
robbed of all sweetness by the miserable
news he had to communicate, and he sui
fered the more acutely because. in a
measure. he felt himself answerable for
his friend. Not only had he introduced
him to the Lathams. but his promise to
Beatrice had quickened his sense of re-
sponsibility, SO that now. when Headley
had taken the final step of treatchery, he
hardly dared look Mrs. Latham or Connie
in the face.
Headey's was a pititul case of weak
impressibility. While the war lasted he
had not been tempted to forget Beatrice,
but when on the voyage home he was
thrown into constant companionship with
girl who had simply made up her mind
from the first to bring him to her feet
his fidelity wavered and at last broke
down altogether. Erskine was powerless,
for no sooner did he show himself distinct
~ antagonistic TO her schemes than Miss
LANG so contrived that he could not sus-
pect the extent to which she carried on
her designs behind his back. Throughout
Headley was conscious and ashamed Of
his baseness. and whenever opportunity
occurred of sending letters overland he
wrote to Beatrice in terms of unchanged
devotion. 1t was so difficult to comics.
his perfidy in black and white.