Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-22
Dailp zsfnnebvr journal.
The ROMANCE OF A LETTER.
CONTINUED from Yesterday. }

| OplOTc Tue etcduEt cdiic. 1 S1Js Wy
you give i'm some brandy or gin. Talk
about the grandeur of blahsted country
where there's no doctors. and you cahn'i
get decent drink of ale. No, Meacham,
ii you're not able to go day after to-mor'
row, I'll ave to go without you. That's
all there is about that"
"But, MIR. Hawthorne, ''expostulated the
Young man, "You can't 90 alone"
.i!' exclaimed the irate old man. You
think you're the only chap that can endure
living with crusty old curmudgeon that's
travelling for is 'elth. But 'ere's what II
alleviate the anguish of livin' with me,
SIR" and he slapped his poeket-book re-
soundingly.
In this dilemma, old Peter came to the
front.
"There's the old mans nevy," said he
10 Young Meacham. "tIe hain't been
here long, but maybe he'd go with the old
fellow. lie might find him sort o amusin'
He'd be as good as a circus to me-"
Henry Milford would not have been
recognized by his New York friends. He
was sunburnt and rough-looking. He
wore a SLOUGH hat and his trousers were
tucked into his boots. But there was that
in his bearing that told Meacham that he
was not as rude as his exterior.
The young fellow preached the subject
OF Henrys taking his place. "Mr. Haw-
thorne is not dsagreeable to live with
He plays we'll He busters sometimes
but he soon b ows himself out. Come,
say you will take my place"
The proposition was unexpected. but its
very novelty had charm for Henry
al d, after some discussion of the matter
with his uncle. he offered himself
to Mr.. Hawthorne and was ac-
cepted as his travelling companion
Several days after their departure let
ter reached the Milford ranch addressed
to Henry His uncle turned it over with
perPlexed face
Pm sure don't what to do with it,"
he said. I'M ask Meacham."
The young man knew the route that Mr..
Hawthorne had proposed TO take.
"IIe intended sailing at once tor Yoke,
hama. ! believe I'd forward the letter
there. Just write on it, care of the Eng
fish or the American consul
Poor Clara's much travelled letter
reached Yokohama in due season and was
sent to the English consul.
After remaining some days in his hands
uncalled tor, it was passed on to the
American consul. where it remained
month. and was then returned to Allison
at New York. Great was his surprise to
receive his letter again. bearing the post
mark yokohama" He could also see
that it had been to California. There was
nothing to do but wait until Henry him
self reported.
Several weeks later letter came to
Allison, post marked Vienna, Austria ="
AS it seemed to be continuation of a
former story, Allison concluded that the
previous letters from Henry must have
miscarried. 1t closed with these words -
MIR. Hawthorn didn't like Japan; so
we did not stop on those f1owery shores
Our stay here promises to be prolonged ;
so write me, care United States consul
When shall return to my native land is a
problem do not try to solve. So long as
and my agreeable employer are as "appy
as we are at present. as he would say we
shall probably remain in partnership. He
has a formidable tour marked out St
Petersburg, Copenhagen, Rome, Moscow
Paris, the Alhambra and the holy land, in
about this order, believe. So, you see
we have years of travel before us Will
write YOU WUet itlSuES anu lIlCllUdllOU
coincide
Allison answered this letter at once :;
and. without opening the former one
which he had laid away in his desk, en-
closed it and its enclosure in a larger en-
velope, that also bore his name on the
end.
III.
he o.;
year and no word came from the wan
derer. 1t never occurred to Allison hat
his letter had not been received. But such
was the tact.
After his usual erratic manner Haw-
thorn suddenly determined to leave Wen
ma for St. Petersburg
While journeving through the Suez
Canal. they had made the acquaintance of
an English spinster, a Miss Winthrop, ac-
companied by very pretty American girl
as travelling companion. Milford felt a
| languid interest in the girl, but he had q
suspicion that his employer was more than
interested in Miss Winthrop. The ladies
suddenly appearing in Vienna. the ac-
quaintance was renewed, and Milford was
not at all surprised when Mr.. Hawthorne
announced that he did not. in the least.
care to go to Russia, but believed that it
would be for his health to seek more
genial cline. This opinion seemed to be
the result of learning that the ladies were
going to Rome for the Easter festivities.
1--WE might go to Rome for Heaster.
too" said MIR Hawthorne. at would be
deal more Christan-ike than spending
that oily time among those beastly Rus
slams"
Milford did not like to seem to be fol-
lowing the ladies, but the more he OPP
posed the Italian trip, the more deter
mined Mr. Hawthorne became.
Like as not IN never have chance to
see Hitalian Heaster again, and I'm 60
ing. You can do as you please
Of course the Young man pleased to ac-
company his employer. The days in
Rome passed very pleasantly in sight
seeing. The two gentlemen acted as
escorts to the ladies'. Mr. Hawthorne and
Miss Grey would wander away by them
selves. returning to the hotel hours after
Milford and Miss Winthrop. with some
strange story of getting lost. to which the
elder lady would listen with an incredu
lous smile. while Milford was forced to
admit that the smitten Englishman was
superior to the natural preindice against
Americans.
One day Henry took little jaunt with