Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-26

THE PICTURE OF THAT YEAR.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

CONTINUED from Yesterday
Jean paced feverishly ND and down the
room. His mountain flower as he used
to call me, :" she exclaimed. Yes, why
did he pluck me to throw me away and
let me fade and die iD loneliness?" She
looked round the little room. And yet she
felt she preferred her own wretchedness
to his utter want of heart and conscience,
for be had treated her in selfish, evil
wav, had robbed her of what was most
precious to a woman, her honor. No, he
could not marry, he was not suited for do
mestic life, lawless bohemian like him.
He hated being tied down and bound by
any responsibility. A woman's beauty
was all he cared for: such accessories as
heart, soul, conscience he barely admitted.
Yet he spoke with feeling; his pictures and
poems expressed so much sentiment that
Jean, who was simple aud sincere, could
not understand how too such separate
natures could be in one individual - the
beast and the angel, the artist and the I'M
scrupulous, self-indulgent man.
He wrote to say he would always look
after their wee Mary, but Jean was proud
and never accepted a penny from him !;
| SIG WI hCd MANU. ohd "oo iSo9 c'beSi :
| for she had one great comfort-she had
her wee lassie. Mary, to care for.
Jean relocked the old letters, for she
heard her chld's silvery voice calling out
"Motherr'
In walked lovely little girl about nine
years of age under her picturesque brown
felt hat was a mass OF golden hair; she
had rosy, smiling face, and her blue eyes
had the same wistful expression as her
mothers. She threw her arms around
Jeans neck: lyon kept me waiting al
the door, and it is such wet evening; and
oh, Mummie. there is no kettle on the fire !;
YOU have forgotten it is tea time"
'Ob, forgive me, Mary! | have head
ache; but in few minutes the water will
boil" and she darted off and put the ket-
tie on the fire.
you have perhaps worked too hard at
that beautiful satin dress. Mummie"
jean stopped abruptly, looked sadly and
| earnestly at the bright-haired, rosy little
girl the child Of the man who was now
the husband of the owner of that beautiful
dress. For years Jean had been trying
steadily to forget the tragic past, and to
bind herself to stern duty. In a measure
she had succeeded the fire that had con-
sumed and blighted her young life had
smoldered away almost to extinction but
now the prospect OF meeting him again
transfixed her, though it revived no love,
and excited her to terrible pitch.
Yes, my darling, you are right, that
dress has given me headache"
The plates clattered again, the boiling
water was poured almost rashly into the
teapot.
Mary ate heartily the bread and butter ::
she was very hungry.
You are eating nothing, Mummie, ="
remarked the child after long pause.
Don't notice me, dearie, am drinking
tea; that will do me good. am going
out presently to try the dress on the lady
Would YOU like to come with me P"
"Oh, so much ~ and the child capped
her hands with delight. Jean again looked
earnestly at Mary. Going to that house
meant that in a couple of hours she would
probable find herself face to face with the
father of her child. Could she 90 through
the ordealP She felt that all those years
of loneliness, poverty, and humiliation
would be avenged in that moment. when
rising like spectre of the past, she would
stand in his presence-now that he was
famous, wealthy, and honored-stand be-
fore him with their child She painted for
that moment-what would follow it never
crossed her mind to ask. What she would
say she did not yet know; she only knew
that she had been trampled on and
abandoned, and she would have the tri-
umph of confronting him, she and her
beautiful child in the presence of his
young wife. She felt she must and would
do it.
You are strange tonight, mother,
dear; YOU eat nothing, and you look so
angry"
Don't ask any questions, Mary; we
shall go in cab to South Kensington with
the dress" g.EE
"Oh. how nice do love going in a
cab, and perhaps | shall see the lady
wearing the beautiful dress you have
made"
1t was few minutes past eight when
Jean and wee Mary stood on the doorsteps
of Mrs. Mackenzie's house in the Crom
well road.
What a big house !" remarked Mary
al OF mo mill tho ha1l which shall null