Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-12
She that loves and runs away
win live to love another day,

W Ill I'VE 10 lONe AHOtHer DAY,
was Miss Winthrops motto, that marriage
like death was a thing to be deferred as
long rs possible and accepted finally as a
heroic remedy for something worse
was her philosophy. Being % to-
day she felt that the time had come
for heroic measures. She did not look a
day over 20. Her hair was the same soft
tint of brown that it had always been.
Her cheek had firmness of contour and
n delicate blush upon it that might have
belonged to a girl OF II; the beauty which
had made her conspicuous as debutante
gave no signs Of approaching deterioration
but what did all this amount to when
everybody knew that she was 2S, and at
tested with exaspcrating indeicacy that
she was remarkably well preserved"
She could not put it off much longer
and yet she felt certain shrinking from
her deStiuy-as the hand of suicide
might recoil from its Instruments she
began to review mentally the opportuni-
ties remaining to her.
Money is no object she exclaimed at
last, II want freedom, and the only con-
diton compatible with perfect freedom is
widowhood Unfortunately we can't be
born widows, and the odds against being
left widow without incumbrance are in
iinitv to one. If there was only some way
OF making woman a widow by an act of
Congress or decree of court, It's shock
ing to think of the risks woman must
run to attain that seventh heaven of indie
pendenCe. | believe | will advertise for
consumptive. and agree to nurse him
tenderlv thr0' the remnant of his existence
ii he will obligate to die within Il given
time"
Mrs. Ainslee, her sister. and Ter senior
by two years, turned toward her the face
of shocked and outraged wifehood
But Mrs. Ainslee, to the ndiscretion of
marrying young. had added the folly of
spelling her husband, and Miss Winthrop
expected this silent protest from her
If you want something of that sort, "
said the doctor, LAYING aside his paper.
lit Is not worth while to advertise have
patient on hand that will exactly fill the
bill"
Tell me about him." she said with
sudden enthusiasm.
"He is not a Consumptive.' continued
the doctor. "He is even more hopeless
case than that. He may die at any mo-
ment; he can I possibly live longer than
a few months. and is rs sorely in need of
competent nursing as any poor devil |
ever saw. He has no friends here. tho
he was born and raised in this place |
tried to get him into the hospital, but it is
crowded, and there has been so much
sickness this season that could not get a
nurse for him. tho | have been looking
tor one ever since he came. He was a
classmate of mine at college. but he went
away. and have not seen him since he
graduated until was called to attend him
several days ago. He was a splendid fell
low then, but he is total wreck now.
The worst of it is that the fellow doesn't
want TO get well. | don't know what has
happened to HIM since he left here. but
whatever it is it has crushed him utterly
He seems to have money enough for
everything; the only trouble is he can't
get a nurse tor love or money"
The doctor had forgotten what started
his recital; he was thinking only of his
friend, wondering what could have sub
dued iovial and naturally buoyant fell
low so completely, when he was suddenly
called to order by Miss Winthrop.
(To be continued