Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-07
Gatts airo Sketrkes.
HASfY JUDGMENT.
Continued from Yesterday

Il am glad that you have come" said
Mrs. MAYNARD, reaching out her hand to
me. '.Bertie seems ailipg to-day.
never saw her looking 90 miserable. Per-
haps you may cheer her up little"
THE wages Of sin is death ~ said Broth
er Gregg. sternly.
..What do you mean?" asked the lady.
in halffnghtened tone, while spasm
Of intense pain passed over the girls face.
turning it almost deathly in appearance.
.'For an explanation, | refer you to
Brother Mar" he answered. without re-
Taxing one feature of his stern visage
Tell all I must, there was no help for
it now: and though ! wished myself
hundred miles away. told what | had
seen. while the mother listened with gas
ping signs. and the daughter sat with her
face buried in her hands. trembling vio-
lently. When ] had finished, Mrs. May
nard asked sternly:
'Bertie what have you to say to this"
The girl rose Instantly to her feet. She
was calmer now, though her face was
death-like in its pallOr.
81 have no reply to make, my mother,
he responded. '.What have done | am
not ashamed of. and may do again.
may have secret. but if have, all the
blood hounds in the world shall not hunt
it from me- ~
Brother Gregg grew little angry at
this. and said tartly:
miss. il you keep on in this way. you
will have to get out from the shelterlng
arms OF the church ~
How her eyes blazed. / saw at once
that we were taking the wrong way to
bring the erring child to His fold; and
said, kindly:
SISTER BERTHE. if you have done wrong
confess your fault. and strive to do better.
IL is an awful thing to dare an Almighty
God. as you are doing"
But my words were of no use. In nv
anxiety to mend matters. I only made
them worse, for drawing up to her full
height, she said, proudly;
deacon Mar, have no confession to
make to anyone beside nv Maker, and
he, knowing my intents. does not wish
any. This is all have 10 say. Please
consider me no longer a member of YOUR
church"
would have expostulated. but she gave
me no chance for when she had ceased,
with the dignity becoming queen. she
passed out of the room; and though |
c1tltu several tltIltS itNti
again had chance to converse with her
From that time she was always mot at
home" when any of the members called.
and after while she was turned ont of
the church. Subsequently much sorrow
came to this poor girl. First, the young
people, even her best friends, refused to
associate with her, and aiterward sickness
and death came to her home, robbing her
- A n 4. To-.
pitied Bertha more than can tell, as
| saw her bending over the newly-made
grave, weeping bitterly for the mother
who had loved her so well. and stepping
to her side. placed my hand upon her
fair young head. and said. as kindly as |
knew how:
1.-The Lord lovelh whom he chasten-
eth"
Then, Deacon Mar, trust that He
loves me-" she returned sadly.
A few moments afterwards she took a
strangers arm and walked slowly home
ward. AID that was the last time she
was ever 1een in Elton. The next day
the Maynard house was closed. and on it
was placard bearing the words, "For
Sale" with directions to inquire at dis
tant city.
How my heart ached then, Where in
all the world was the poor child? feared
that she had no friends. and might 90
rapidly to destruction. would hunt her
up, and prove better friend than | had
ever been before.
was preparing to set out in search OF
her. when one day long. tear stained
letter came to me from the absent one.
will give it here:
AT last, Deacon Mar. may make my
confession to you; but in order to do so
must go back and commence at my child
hood, thus giving YOU a sketch of my
short. but eventiul life. In a pretty vii
l,ge, many miles from here. we lived
father, mother and l. We were poor. but
for all that we were very happy; for love
buttered our brown bread. and sweete1ed
our corn coffee. Still my father was not
quite contented. He wanted to make his
darlings more comfortable; vet. bv doing
his utmost. his scanty earnings were bare
~ sufficient to give us shelter for our
heads. and to provide the poorest food tor
US.
"Such were our circumstances when
there arose the cry. Gold in California.
and party of Adventures. among whom
was my father, started for the far-otf Ell
dorado. We had still harder times after
he was gone, but my mother bore up
bravely, toiling all through the long days.
and often the greater part OF the nights
tor sustenance for hersel and child
until the news came that he died with
fever in the land of promise. Then she
sank beneath the blow. and fell sick. 1t
was many months after the day on which
the dreadful letter came ere she was able
to sit up again. During these long months
know that we should have suffered from
want of food, fire and clothing. had it moi
been for the Kindness of gentleman. a
stranger who wss recruiting his health at
our little village. Indeed. so kind was
he that when after time he asked Tor
my mothers hand in marriage. she could
not find it in her heart TO refuse it to him.
They were married in the little church in
Alton. and. soon after their marriage they
purchased the house known As the May
nard place. and removed to that town.
where. in accordance with my step-iaih-
er's wishes passed for his child.
''But nv own father was not dead.
though he had stood upon tie boundaries
of the other world; and after months OF
hard labor he returned to find the ones
TOR whom he had toiled claimed by an
other.
...At fret said this rsar f.ther IN ma