Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-23

with thanks. Fancy the reams of rub
bsh that father.in-law would swallow.
What a Go-between, n loving wife and
daughter, and perhaps eventually stur-
DIV grandchild. | could hardly blame
Augustus. Mary did not say much, but
she left off eating as far ns was consist
ent with keeping alive and she put away
the books of poems and ceased to scan
the newspapers. Indeed, she lost her in
lerest in everything. Her only comfort
seemed to be in singing broken hearted
little ballads, always about desolatc
girl who forgivcs her faithless lover, aud
never reproaches him, but rests herweary
head upon the sympathetic bosom OF ms
mother.
zone day was startled by Mary rush
inr into the room, pale and trembling, an
open letter in her hand.
" oh, auntie,' she cried, let us so to
him Mt once something dreadful VIII
happen. feel sure. Oh, come, come +
III 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 indiscriminately on my
head, and feet, and hands, till | said tes-
lily
=" Keep your senses n minute, Mary,
till 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.
81 thought no less than it was a sum
mons from the doctor to say he had not a
moment to live but no it was from Au-
gustus himself, and ran as follows
DEAREST MARY:
NV engagement il broken OF. She whom
tried 20 love Chat tried to love was real stroke
of genps the only one my poor boy ever gull v
Of has proved false 10 me as | was 10 anOtner.
| da net ask you to pity me have not deserved
it. Alone, friendless. pennies, there remains ont
| one course for me. Farewell ! Comfort my moth
err, and forget your wretchcd, brsken-hearted
AUGUSTUS "
81 did not believe in 1t. No, 1 did not
believe in that letter In the first place,
1 could not imagine any one contemplate
| ing a really desperate step and writing
| such a carefully worded epistle. Second
| ", it would have been tome, not to Mary,
| he would have written, unless he wanted
something more from her than merely n
| kindly remembrance after death. 1t look
| ed to me much more like returning sanity
| than the madness of self-destruction.
However, Mary was i'll such whirl of
| terror and agitation, that there was moth
| ing for it but send for cab and take the
| first train to London. If | hadn't been
| afraid she would think me very hard
hearted, would have pointed out that if
| he actually intended TO make away with
himself we should arrive rather late.
But | didn't feel many misgivings on that
| point.
ave reached his chambers at last, aud
Mary rushed upstairs too perturbed to
| speak. / followed, but paused a moment
before entering, and locking through the
| half-open door, beheld tableau which
| made me think he had calculated to a
nicely the moment of our arrival. Al 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 lie grasped n pistol. At the
| noise of our entrance / observed he made
an elaborate attempt to conceal the pis.
toll under a very small piece Of blotting-
paper.
MARY dropped on her knees at his
feet I felt inclined to ring for TIE cur.
tain to descend. 1t was with difficulty
kept myself from applauding.
." ooh, Augustus ! sobbed Mary, how
| could You be so cruel? Come back to us.
Your mother has forgiven you; I have
forgiven you. Oh come back, and let
US all be happy once more.
"He put his arms about her and wcpt
As for me, | could think Of nothing but
| pistol it fascinated me. | felt 80 utter
~ sure that it was harmless that l was
not able to resist the temptation Of trying
it. Pointing it at Mary, exclaimed
Sooner than you should give your
self to one SO worthless | would see yot
| dead at NY feet.
"Iiary screamed. Augustus did no
even change color, but taking the weapon
| from l4-Y hand, asked calmly:
d" Are You mad, mothcr?'
"'Oh, my poor boy l am alrIi it j.
| vuu who ara going mad, when you con
template committing suicide with an emp
! y pistol.
ole changed color then; but before b,
could answer, Mary Gid just tho mos
sensible thing that any girl could bay,
done IN Ter the circumstauccs--shs faint
ed right away. The hurry and excite
ment and reaction had been too much 70
her. So we had enough to do in tryiu;