Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-28
Gales aud Sketthes.
THE PICTURE OF THAT TEAR.
CONTINUED from Yesterday. }

/ koOutiHuru fCohNtbo}sy
ITO me, Wanda ?'- he said this almost
fiercely. at is sheer nonsense"
There was ar expression of satisfaction
in Jeans face; she saw this remark OF
Mrs. Mackenzie's had thoroughly alarmed
him.
1.-The cab is here, SIR said the servant.
..All right. Now, Wanda, 60 and finish
your dressing. / shall put Mrs. Logan
into the cab and take her address"
He hurried them out of his wife's room,
feeling-what he had never felt before
on very bad terms with himself; irritated
by the whole position. jeans fragile,
broken hearted look panied him. her pres
ence in his wife's house had terrified him.
:, He got the address from Jean. lex
pect me tomorrow" he said family: 81
must see you. but. bear in mind, you never
come here again"
1T would most certainly be inconven-
lent, Mr. Mackenzie" she answered scorn-
fully.
The four wheeler growled off toward the
Edgware road, and a smart brougham,
with liveried servants, took its place to
drive Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Mackenzie to
their evening party.
As Malcolm Mackenzie wendell his way
on the following day to Jean Logan's lodg-
ing, he felt i'll at ease. He had been sim
ner. Elastic as his conscience was. still he
felt he had blighted the life and ruined the
happiness of the simple Scotch lassie who
had loved and trusted him. She had acted
| in spirited manner and had refused Pc
cuniary assistance; he could not but re-
/ = 8 ~;,.,A
| The appearance of mis- old love in his young
wife's room had utterly perplexed him.
| What would she do next? Would she be-
tray his wreched secret to his innocent
Wanda No high motives ever actuated
his life, so how was he to believe that a
woman he mad wronged should be capable
of acting nobly? The whole thing vexed
him, as would pebble in his shoe; it
annoyed him to think he had acted uni ust-
| ly toward the poor thing. He remembered
her great beautv-how he had persuaded
her to be his model. He was cookbook
ing fellow then. and the girl liked him.
That this proud Jean should be his wife s
! dressmaker was an astounding conjunc-
ton of circumstances-his Nemesis. And
the lovely child-how he wished she was
his to acknowledge openly! He had a
sentimental nature, and the forlorn
appearance of Jean touched the
outer surface; her white face haunted
him, like Banquo's ghost, coming
in the height of his popularity and happi-
ness; yes, she would ever be the skee-
ton at his life's feast, ever whispering
that, after all, he was but a poor creature,
with no moral fibre, no real heart. He
reached her house; it was a common
looking abode. let out in flats to the work
ing classes. AS he assembled the stairs he
ielt nervous and uncomfortable; he
blamed Providence for having made him
so susceptible to the charms of woman
kind his weak nature was easily set
atlame; but once the fire was out the nature
was hard All this he was conscious OF
he excused i: to himself by saying it was
more or less the artists temperament.
AS he knocked at Jean Logan's door
his heart-or, rather, the place where one
is supposed to be-gave a thump. The
door was opened by Jean, looking miser-
ably i'll. She had passed sleepess night
and was haggared and white.
"Well, JEAN" extending his broad
dogskin-gloved hand, won't you shake
hands with me2"
But Jean did not take the proffered
hand.
xviii you please to walk IMP" she said
in curt, tremulous voice, pointing to the
parlor door,
He followed her into the shabby room.
The only furniture consisted of big
table, a sewing machine. and few cane
bottomed chairs; but the one oil picture
over the mantelpiece helped to give a
look of refinement to the place.
| Malcolm Mackenzie started back on see
! ing his picture. His rudy face grew a
shade paler.
"Ah,' he exclaimed. "never have |
done better work than that how it recalls
the past! 1t was so like you. Oh. what a
bewltching lassie you were then! You are
still very handsome, only too thin and
pale"
Cease speaking in that tone to me.
Malcolm Mackenzie We are not here
to-day to talk loosely. You have ruined
nv happiness. | am now striving to for
get wretched past. and to face and do
my duty"
IL have come, Jean, to endeavor to tell
you the remorse feel tor the wrong
have done you. long to atone for it in
some way. Ask me what you will and it
shall be done"
Sound your own heart and you will
see that it is not pity for my position that
has brought you here to-day, but tear lest
! should betray to your wife who the faith
er of the child is she admired so much
last night. Don't deny this. When |
went to your house, | was fierce with a
sense of my wrongs, and thlrsted for re-
venge; but the tenderness, and sweetness
and the sympathy of your wife disarmed
me. and saved you. Thank her. not me.
shall never reveal to her who Mary S
father is"
"Oh, bless you for this promise JEAN
he said earnestly. IF she knew this sin
of mine it would, | fear. kill her love for
me. She has pure. sensitive nature"
Il know it, Malcolm Mackenzie. and
respect her. You little considered my
nature when you brought trouble on me
"A trouble that killed my old father He
was proud, upright. sensitive man, and
never recovered the shock caused by his
daughters disgrace" Her voice trem-
| bled.
Malcolm Mackenzie paced up and down