Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-25

A HEARr SKETCH.

She came 10 our I4fs8Wdy, q0Scss mum
thanked Village. IN early summer, AND
stopping first at the hotel. she registered
her name as Kate Burbank OF New York
She might have been two-and-twenty-no
elder than that-and was very pretty. NJ
pretty is not the word. She was beau
tifuI, with that style of beauty which be
longs to true, livinghood. Examine hel
closely, and you could discover nothing
grand or regal about her. She was easy
affable. and very pleasant. with dimpies
IN her cheeks and chin, about which brigh
smiles lurked most alluringly; and. fur
thermore, she was not regal at all IN stat
uie, being rather below the medium
height OF woman. And yet when she
walked awav alone, in the fresh. braclne
air. you would declare there was some
thing regal about her after all
But she did not remain long at the no
tel She brought letters Of recommends
ton to The rector of our parish, and was
soon admitted member Of his family
TO him she told the story of her life. She
was an orphan, without brother or sister
She possessed property enough to supper,
her, in humble way, until she could
turn her hand to some profitable and
pleasant employment. She had friends
ready and willing to help her. but she
preferred TO be independent.
At the end of fortnight, Mr.. Edgarton.
the rector. had made up his mind what
profession Miss Burbank should follow.
She should be teacher of music. Her
skill at the piano was marvel. and her
voice was sweetest melody. During
those two weeks she had become a
source of sunshine in the household.
and all had come to love her. She
romped and played with the children,
over hull and dale with bounding glee; she
8 ing and played not only for the family,
but favored visitors when they asked 1t !;
and when opportunity offered, she would
sit in the rector's study, and converse with
an understanding and erudition that sur
prised him.
Towards the end of July the rector's
nephew, Arthur Grafton. came on visit.
He had graduated at college. had studied
law and had been admitted to the bar,
and now before commencing practice. he
had come to the mountain village for rec
reaiion. He was four and twenty years Of
age. tall, strong and robust, the very pic
ture of manly health and beauty. And
his beauty was Of the vigorous kind, with
heart and soul in it. His brown curls
shook over his high, fair forehead when he
laughed, and his laugh was contagious.
At all events. Kate Burbank found 1t so,
and a new enjoyment was added to her
life.
And how about Arthur Grafton's life !?
Did he find new enjoyment in this unex-
pected inmate OF the rectory? Somehow
Kate stopped romping with the children.
and walked with Arthur instead. He had
been leading oarsman at college. and
now he cleaned up and cushioned an old
boat belonging to neighbor, and rowed
Kate over the silvery bosom of our Lake
of the Clouds. And then the evenings
What melody foated out upon the listen.
ing ears that gathered around. Arthur
was superb singer with cultivated bar
itOne voice, and Kate made such music as
had never been heard in our village before
Of course all this could tend but one
way, and the rector saw at very early
period, whittier that way would lead.
He had strong love for his dead sisters
child. and was anxious thar his opening
manhood should not be clouded. To
this end he wrote to a friend in New York
in whom he had entire confidence, and
from whom one of the young lady's let.
ters of introduction had come, stating
frankly the circumstances, and asking for
information touching Miss Burbank's ante
cedents. He received an answer by due
course of mail. that the lady in question
was one whom any man, with cour-
age for the real work of life, might be
pround to gain tor wife.
With this Mr.. Edgarton was content. and
henceforth he allowed matters to take
heir own course
Certainly Arthur Grafton had never be.
fore met woman to him like this woman.
Strong and intellectual as he was, there
was no department in his life into which
she could not enter with her heart and
soul. She joined him in his sports, gay
and irolicsome; she joined him IN in his
sylvan rambles, dwelling fondly on the
poetic side of nature she Joined and led
him in music; she discussed with him
understandingly subjects and authors
which he had deemed understood only by
college graduates, and when it came to
The graver things Of life-religion, and all
luc uutloS VI iaiIl, nopc anu charity
springing therefrom-she became almost
rs one inspired. Hers was religion OF
the heart pure and indebted.
No wonder Arthur loved her. No won-
der he came almost to worship her. Was
It reserved tor him to gain this treasure of
a life timer He would solve the problem
As soon as he could see his way clear. He
wanted to be sure that she cared for him
first.
Cared for him! IF he could have known
how truly and fondly the beautiful girl
cared for him, earth would have been to
him heaven. And why should she not
love him ? Stalwart and strong, true and
brave. healthtul and handsome, and ten
der and kind, he was her beau ideal of
rue manhood-her knight. her prince.
How bright and joyous we're the days.
how sweet and enjoyable the evenings !
Arthur resolved that he would know his
fate. He looked the matter squarely in
the face. and made his calculations. In
September he was to enter his office in