The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-06-27
ntil he has climbed to fame and for

ulun mean tnaU all lHe uUtle savings
which had destined for him and Mary
and their children should go to make
waste paper. Poor Mary would have
sent every farthing she possessed, only
luckily she didn't possess any.
"The next letter | received contained
some very surprising intelligence. Au-
gustus was going to be married. He sad
very little about the lady's beauty or ac-
complshments, but only mentioned that
she was the daughter of the head partner
in well-known publishing firm. Poor
Mary! she had fallen victim. to the
genius of which she was so proud.
had set my mind on the boys marrying
her, and believe he was really fond of
her; but what aspiring author could re-
sist a publishers daughter! Here was
an opportunity of never again being de
clined with thanks Fancy the reams
of rubbish that father inlaw would
swallow What a go between, loving
wife and daughter, and perhaps eventu-
ally sturdy grandchild? | could hardly
blame Augustus. Mary did not say
much, but she left of eating as far as
was consistent with keeping alive, and
she put away the book of poems and
ceased to scan the newspapers. Indeed,
she lost her interest in everything. Her
only comfort seemed to be in singing
broken-heartcd little ballads, always
about desoate girl who forgives her
faithless lover, and never reproaches
him, but rests her weary head upon the
sympathetic bosom Of her mother.
"One day was startled by Mary rush
ing into the room, pale and trembling,
an open letter in her band.
"'Oh, auntie, she cried, 'let us go to
him, at once; something dreadful will
happen, feel sure. Oh, come, come"
81 took the letter from her while she
rushed off and brought down my bonnet
and boots and shawl and gloves, all of
which she thrust Unfortunately on my
head and feet, and hands, till said,
testify:
Keep your senses a minute, Mary.
till l see what it is that has happened.
Nothing has happened yet, please
heaven; but if you stand there like a
marble figure your boy will die
Il thought that it was no less than a
summons from the doctor to say that he
had not moment to live; but no, it was
from Augustus himself, and ran as fol-
lows:
"'DEAREsT MARY:
"'My engagement is broken off. She whom
| tried to love that tried to love- was q real
stroke of genius, the only one my boy was
ever guilty of has proved as false to me as |
was to another. | dare not ask you to pity
me; have not deserved it. Alone, friend
less, penniless there remains but one course
for me FAREWELL Comfort my mother, and
forget your wretched broken-hearted,
"AUGUsTUs.'
81 did not believe in it. No, did
not believe in the letter. In the first
place, l could not imagine any one con-
templating a really desperate step and
writing such carefully wordcd episte.
Secondly, it would have been to me- not
to Mary, he would have written, unless
he wanted something more from her
than merely q kindly remembrance after
death. 1t looked to me much more like
returning sanity than the madness of
self-destruction. However, Mary was in
such whirl of terror and agitation that
there was nothing for it but send for Il
cab and take the first train to London.
If hadn't been afraid she would think
me very hard hearted, l would have
pointed out that if he actually intended
10 make away with himself, we should
arrive rather late. But | did not feel
many misgivings on that point.
1--WE reached his chambers at last, and
Mary rushed upstairs too perturbed to
speak. followed. but paused a moment
before entering, and looking through the
half-open door, bcheld a tablcau which
made me think he had calculated to a
bo o., A
table Uttered with books and papers sat
Augustus, his hair very untidy, his eyes
upturned to the ceiling one arm was
thrown over the back of his chair, in the
other hand he grasped a pistol. At the
noise of our entrance | observed he made
an elaborate attempt to conceal the pistol
under a very small piece of blotting
paper.
MARY dropped on her knees at his
feet. felt inclined to ring for the cur.
tain to descend. 1t was with difficulty
| kept myself from applauding.
oh, Augustus. sobbed Mary, how
could you be so cruel! Come back to
us. Your mother has forgiven you;
have forgiven you. Oh, come back, and
let us all be happy once more
As for me, | could think of nothing but
the pistol; it fascinated me. felt so
utterly sure that it was harmless that
was not able to resist the temptation Of
trying it. Pointing it at Mary, eX-
claimed:
50 Sooner than you give Yourself to
one so worthless | would see you dead at
my feet
"Mary screamed. Augustus did not
even change color, but taking the weapon
from my hand, asked, calmly:
Are you mad, motherE
coon, my poor boy. ! am afraid it is
you who are mad, when you contemplate
committing suicide with an empty pis-
toll.
He changed color tLen; but before
he could answer Mary did the most SEN
sibe thing that any girl could have done
under the circumstances-she tainted
right away. The hurry and excite
mcnt and reaction had been too much
for her. So we had enough to do in
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