Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-11
Gales aud Sketthes.
WILDING'S SUMMONS
CONTINUED from Yesterday

! y ~ MnUN0
| CONTINUED from Yesterday
'.Janey-Janey Don't you know what
you are saying? If you 90 to be with
your mother YOU will leave me all alone.
All alone ~
Janey burst into sobs. But vet she did
not seem to realize the situation. | swal-
lowed my own emotion; soothed her
with loving words-which brough to my
soul none of the comfort they were meant
to bring to hers. Alas, alas
''And the result ?" l breathed, hardly
daring to put the question.
Need you ask" returned Wilding,
with bitter smile. THAT same morning,
| close upon the conversation in the study,
Janey was seized with a dangerous disor-
der which was going about Boston, and
died the next day-her birthday.
81 am going to mamma in the strange
land" she strove to say to me in dying.
81 know she will be there to meet me.
Don't cry, papa. Yes, yes. mamma, Pm
coming" she added a minute afterward.
striving to rise from the pillow and
stretching out her hands apparently to
somebody in the distance, and then fell
back lifeless upon the pillow"
Wilding bent his face on his hands,
tears trickling through his fingers. Thus
there was long silence.
And that's my past story, Errlngton, :"
be said, looking up.
"How long is it since ?"
1.-TWO years ago Janey left me. I've
not much to tell of them. The wealthy
bank broke and swallowed up all my
money and Mary's in its ruins But that
had inherited slender income from my
Uncle James, in England, should have
had nothing left-and don't know that
should have cared. While knocking
about, aimless. with Gregory, who would
cling to me, fell in with this surveyors
clearing company, and we Joined it.
That's all, Errington. 1t brings US down
to this day"
''To this day, yes, but have you not
something to tell Of that ?"
James Wilding nodded.
''This afternoon when | was at work at
the lower clearing. busy enough, and
thinking of nothing but my duties, heard
a soft voice close to me-
J Papa" it said, papa"
!. 1t was the voice OF my child, if | ever
} heard it. / heard it as clearly and dis
tinctly as you hear mine now. Turning
: quickly round, thinking must have been
: mistaken in the sound, saw no one was
| near me but Gregory, and | waited in a
sort of startled surprise.
: Papa. you are coming to us; we want
) YOU" said the voice again, and remem-
Der no more.
, Why should have tainted, know not ;
, certainly not from terror suppose it all
J part and portion of that which cannot
be understood in this world When
woke up, Gregory was supporting my
. head
; "Did you stumble and hurt yourself,
sir?" he asked and let him think it.
, That was nv summons, Errington, and
. to morrow will be New Years Day"
1t sounded mysterious and solemn.
} Let us hope that you may be in some
way mistaken, Wilding," I said, with
lame words.
2 "How can | be-remembering the
past?' he reJoined. II am not supersti-
t tious man-never was that; yet believe
5 | shall not see the setting of tomorrow s
) sun. Possibly | may see it in a more
f glorious form in the other land. But that
t my brief life of sadness and sorrow is at
its close, | am as sure of as can be-
J "A brief life indeed. if this be its end
ing. How old are you?"
l "Thrty-seven, 'he answered. 81 should
be thirty eight if lived till next Febru-
: ary."
was some years under thirty, but it
seemed too young to die.
7 Wilding rose.
r 81 think shall turn into my blankets "
, no said N, froI dove
"Why have you not lighted your pipe p''
He shook his head.
81 shall never light that again, Erring-
ton"
He disappeared within the hut. be.
gan walking about in mental discomfort.
Gregory came up to me and spoke
I, What is it that is worrying him. Mr..
d Errington? What was it that he heard to.
=, day by the lower clearing? Has he been
telling youp"
a "He has been telling me good deal Of
: his past life, Gregory. And-yes-he
| spoke of tomorrow"
Ibid he hear voice that's dead ?''
d 'He thought so. His chiid's voice
: she said he was coming to Them
' LAY. feared it, said the man, in 6
tone of despair. ITO see him faint like
h that, thing he never did before, and te
o hear him question me as to what | hac
= heard, told it to me. The child feretolc
her mothers death, Mr.. Errincton, ant
foretold her own
- You knew that much ~
: "Oh. yes. She was An angel, that little
one. if ever there was an angel upon earth
and I've often fancied that the angels mus
have whispered the secret to her. Ant
= !, now it is his turn /! God bless him! God
= reward him for the good man and master
o he has been!'
= when the rest of us turned in, the lu
: rid sky with the rapid rising of the WIND
seemed to give near warning of the com.
ing storm, but we heaped Ugh the logs or
: the fires outside, and drew the blanket.
close about us beneath the snug roof o.
d the sleeping-huts. defying the blast anc
n rain. And so we got to sleep, though the