Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-20

garden seat and seated there their voices
became an indistinct murmur to John
Harvey. and he heard no more.
81 know him now" he muttered be-
tween his cleDched teeth. Lieutenant
old lover-curse him!"
With the imprecation still on his lips,
he turned his back on the scene OF his
happiest hours.
Ten O'Clock was striking when John
Harvey returned to The Griffin" and
half an hour later he had left Sutton for
ever.
Two days after his departure Bel Urm-
son held in her hands letter from him,
bidding her farewell. and telling
her that, though he could not but CRATE
fully appreciate her endeavor to love
him. yet. knowing as he did know, that
she had never forgotten her first love, he
had decided to adopt the only course lett
open to him and go away.
With a pale face and trembling fingers
Bel read the letter; she then folded Ii up
and locked it away in her desk.
At ten minutes to nine o'clock, on the
Both of June, FIVE years after Mrs. Les
ter's death. the bell over the porch OF the
village school at Chlpperdale rang out its
summons. Ding dong. ding dong pealed
along High street. From end to end over
the play ground rolled the rusty tones,
and the children stopped their play as
they recognized the familiar Iron
tongue" and with accord fastened to the
door BOYS and girls rushed together.
pushing, laughing shouting. striking out
al each other as one or the other gained a
momentary advantage in the race to be
first at school.
Good morning. children"
The voice was full and pleasant. and
the smile broadened into grin on the
little faces as the speaker left her desk
and came toward them. She had a VOID
and a smile for each. for it was the open
day of school after the midsummer
HOLIDAYS, and rules were relaxed and a
little license permitted by even so strict
a disciplinarian as Bel Urmsop. Yes. she
was Bel Urmson stll-not quite the same
Bel as five years before, tor sorrow and
care had washed the roses from her
but no one gazing at her pale,
beautiful face, ever doubted the fact that
her spinsterhood was maintained from
choice.
She was standing up, the children gath
cred around her preparatory to their dlS-
missal at noon. when the door opened and
the vicar of Chippendale entered, follow
ed by gentleman.
Good morning, Miss Urmson.' he
said. shaking hands with her and nodding
to the children. Il am glad you have
not dismissed your scholars, as | wish, d
my friend to see them. cannot stay my
self to give him any information about
them; but if you will kindly furnish him
with any information he may desire, 1
shall feel obliged. MIR. Harvey, Miss
Urmson.''
Startling and unexpected as the meet
ing was, Bel did not lose her self-p
session The coolest, stiffest, inclination
of her head acknowledged the intro
duction, then she tnrned aside and re-
manned silent. with ringing in her ears
that almost deafened her and mist be-
fore her eyes which blinded her to every
thing save the face of John Harvey.
But presently she saw by the children's
movements that the vicar was leaving !;
she heard his retreating footsteps, and.
after Il pause. she raised her head aud
said: Children you may GO
Quietly and decorously they trooped
out of the room, but not until their foot
steps had died away did she turn to John
Harvey.
why did you come herep" she asked.
81 certainly did not come with any idea
that should see vou," he replied. II
need hardly assure you that had known
of YOUR presence here. | should have
avoided coming to Chippendale alto
gether."
Then you would still shun me?"
81 would. 1t is the wisest, the only
course | can pursue"
She was silent, debating within herself
whether to bid him 90 aud pursue the
same course again, or to detain him and
ask for an explanation OF the letter still
locked away in her desk. 1t was more
dignified, more consonant with her self
esteem to send him away. but her weak,
loving, womanly nature rebelled against
the putting aside of probable happiness.
you sent me a letter some wears ago"
she began, hesitating and blushing like a
guilty child. 81 never understood it :;
will you explain it to me now?'
He looked at her and smiled. What
coquettes women are And Bel. beautiful
Bel, was as tickle as the rest. She had
wavered between the old and new love
years ago, when he bad gone away and
left her to be true; and now he found
her still unmarried, working, struggling
FOR her daily bread, and desiring to win
him back. desire as despicable as it was
futile.
"Bygones are best LETT to slumber," he
said. Il will wish you good morning"
Don't 60" she said gently. Tell me
what you meant?'
when Lieutenant Haywood came back
to claim his own what could do but alb
dcate."
Lieutenant Haywood" she repeated.
knitting her brows in perplexity. Il
have not seen him
Perhaps not lately" he said. and
laughed. Then, becoming suddenly
grave. he continued, Il wish YOU would
try to understand me, without forcing me
to be more explicit"
Speak plainly. have nothing to fear
in any revelation YOU can make"
Proudly. fearlesslv her eyes met his.
and for the first time there dawned upon
him the possibility that he had been mis-
taken in the identity of Lieutenant Hev-
wood but no. that was not possible,
Nevertheless, his manner softened as he
said:
Then listen. On the Thursday that |
promised to return to Sutton. | did re-
turn. At The Griffin heard of Mrs.
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