Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-08


| Of you must promise to keep my secret
| from ev1eyone." said May.
Then leaning her cheek against fani-
ines she whispered. in the silence OF me
midnight, her innocent plot Tor the TO
dempiion Of human soul,
Pauline Danforth's stay in Boston was
but a short one. and on her return 20 New
York it was noticed BY her escort that che
carried in her own hands and for the whole
distance small ebony box, mounted 10
silver and fastened with . silver lock ana
key. A jewel box, as be supposed.
On the evening Of her arrival a. the
home In Fifth avenue. after the family
greetings were over. Pauline sought
private Interview with her brother James.
and after long explanation left the EBONY
box in his care.
"Nay is q trump, Pauline, and you are
another" was the young mans somewhat
undippified exclamation, as he brushed
his cambria handkerchief across his eyes.
"And Livingstone is we'll worth saving
and the little box shall be in his possession
tomorrow evening before he sleeps"
Secretly, James, remember" sald
Pauline. He must not know from whom
the gift comes until he has shown himself
WORTHY of it,"
Trust me for that replied her broth
or. "If there were more women on earth
like you and May, women ready to use
their influence over men in this fashion,
we should be great deal better than we
are, my dear" :.
So James carried of his prize to his
own room.
The next evening party of gay friends
met, as they we're often in the habit OF
meeting, at the artists rooms. Wine
flowed freely, and the pictures on the wall
could scarcely be seen tor the cloud OF
smoke that rose from a dozen cigars.
When the revel was at its height james
Danforth rose from his chair and held out
his hand to the host.
"Good bye, Livingstone"
"What are yon going? So soon?"
said the artist, surprised.
Eyes. Going tor good and all, my
boy"
What do you mean?"
81 mean," said Danforth. seriously,
"that there is a time for all things, and the
time for reflection has now come to me.
We are all on the downward track, boys
you know it as we'll as |. An angel has
warned me. and am going to stop now
while l can. Follow my example if you
have any regard for yourself or for the
mothers, sisters and wives at home, who
love you. Goodbye, boys. Goodbye,
Gervase. I shall join you here no more"
He left the room. They all sat gazing
at each other in silence. His words had
struck home to every heart, as he had in
tended them to do. One after another of
the now quiet party stole away with some
excuse. In half an hour after James Dan
forth had closed the door behind him, the
artist sat alone by his fireside, leaning his
head upon his hand and gazing sadly into
the burning Goals.
1.-The wives-the mothers-the sisters
at home-who love you" he muttered to
himself. "Thev did we'll to obey the call.
would have obeyed it in my turn, but
who lives now to care for mep NV moth
err and little May are both in their graves
sister have none-wife, shall never
have. All what does it matterp A short
life and merry one for me, and no one
will shed tear over its ending. I'll have
another glass of wine. What's this?"
In reaching up to the mantel-shelf tor
the glass he had LETT there his hand struck
against little ebony chest, which stood
in the place of honor directly under lit
tie water-color sketch made from memory
of the long lost child MAY"
The silver key was in the silver lock.
The artist turned it, wondering how the
beautiful toy came there without his
knowledge. His surprise increased when
the lid flew back, displaying beautiful
drinking cup of gold, deliberately chased
and enriched with rubies beneath the
curving brim.
"What beautiful thing I" exclaimed
the artist, lifting the cup from its bed OF
rose colored velvet. "Who can have sent
such a gift? Did those fellows bring I
secretly with them tonight. l wonder?
Anyway, it is perfect gem, and I'll fill it
to the brim with champagne, and see if |
can drive these melancholy thoughts
away"
Approaching the table he lifted the
flask. Something flashed at that moment
at the bottom Of the cup. Turning it
toward the light he saw picture, framed
in gems, and bending nearer, the large
blue eyes of the lovely stranger at the
concert looked up at him from the depths
of the goblet with an earnest, appealing
gaze.
He nearly dropped the cup in his sur
prise. Snatching the ebony case from the
chimney piece, he searched it eagerly for
some clue to the mysterious gift.
Half-hidden in the velvet lining, he
found morsel of paper, and drawing it
forth, and holding it to the light, he read =
"Not dead. but hoping and praying for you
ever. MAY"
"Mav May alive Alive and remember
ing me !" he exclaimed. And then, as the
full significance of the gift flashed across
his mind, the crimson flushed to his tenn
pies, and sinking on his knees, he laid his
head down beside the magic goblet and
burst into passion of tears.
Those who called at the rooms of the
artist during the next week found them
closely shut. At last it was rumored about
that he had suddenly sailed for England,
and few days more proved the rumor to
be true.
A year passed by, and at the annual ex-
hibition of the Academy painters a pic
ture made its appearance which took the
world of fashion completely by storm.
Every paper noticed it; every person
spoke of it; and so numerous and so ap-
proving were the comments that pretty
Pauline Danforth, who. in general. cared
1