Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-10
Gales and Sketfhts.
WILDING'S SUMMONS
CONTINUED from Yesterday

CONTINUED from Yesterday
"Tell away, Wilding; should like to
hear it; but don't talk about dying"
"No." he said; the fact will be sui
ficient without talking of it,"
sWhat do you mean by that ~
..Simply that l have this day, as l be-
lieve. received my death summons.
"Look here, old man," l said. as a
creepy feeling stole over me. 1--WE have
plenty of troubles and difficulties to. fight
against out here don't let us add super
stitious fears and fancies to Them"
"Listen,' he said. beginning his MARIA
tive without further comment. Il was
lust four and twenty years of age when l
came out from the old country to Ameri-
ca, to-yes, l suppose may say ito
seek my fortune. l had property which
brought me in four hundred a year; but
to Young fellow who had expected that
his patrimony, when he came into it,
would have been five or six times as
much. and who has, moreover. been
brought up in accordance with the expec-
tation, it seems a very small income.
How uniustifably extravagant my father
Qdu Utcu, VIC huCN VI Aheii nv
died; and we three sons, was only the
third OF them, resolved to pay up the la
bilities, and save our good name. came
to America with my share; all that re-
manned to me. indulging in golden hopes.
Gregory, the son of our game keeper,
asked to come with me as my servant; he
wanted to see new places told him he
might come, but not as my servant, was
not rich enough to keep Que. We came
together; paid his expenses, and he per-
sisted in acting as my servant. All the
way, on board ship, we kept calling this
country, he and |, the Land of Golden
Hopes, ," added Wilding, in different
tone. breaking off to laugh little.
"And did it 80 prove ?'' l asked.
"Yes-in sense. My golden hopes
were realized in the shape of love. Love,
Robert Errington.'
Never was there a sweeter woman in
this world than Mary Offrey. She was a
gentle. OF money she possessed about as
much as !, and our love was mutual. We
married and were happy. That is great
thing to be able to say in this world"
"True for you, Wilding."
Mary's money was invested in one of
the most prosperous banks of the United
States. 1t brought high rate of interest.
and | withdrew mine from the Funds at
home, to place it in the same Ell Dorado
We had lovely house just outside of Bos-
ton, and lived in good style. Gregory was
still my servant, for he had never left me.
"Any children"
Zone; a girl; little fairy beauty. We
named her Jane, after my wife's mother,
and my mother at home, for they both
CHANGED to bear the same name. Janey
was, Pm afraid, our idol. She was as
sweet in temper as she was lovely in form !;
her hair was golden, and her blue eyes
had heavens light in them. All fond
| fathers raving, you will call this, En-
rington, so we'll let it pass. Seven years
went on; seven years of peace and Won
derful happiness; and if one little cloud
of thought would now and again come to
mar it, drove it away again. 1t was on
the score of my wife's health. She looked
at times suspiciously delicate, and one
croaking old doctor-I called him that
had whispered caution that her heart
was not strong. Janey grew to be a
bright, intelligent girl, her manner sweet
ly simple, her disposition lovely-I can't
help repeating this, Errington; servants
and all, were devoted to her; and Gregg
nv would, believe, have given his life for
her. Neverless, simple though in ordina-
ry she was. the child had strange ways
about her, which failed to understand
She would talk to herself in singular
manner, and tell us of queer things
that she had dreamed. They were such
dreams as, l verify believe, never dis
turbed the rest of any child before Her
mother laughed at them, yet was doubt
full
"What can possibly be the meaning of
it, James?' she once said to me-
"Oh l answered gaily, laughing, too,
the child must have come direct from the
fairies"
Zone day, it was the last day of the old
year-Are you following me, my friend?
''Indeed am"
1t twas the last day of the old year, Just as
this day is the last of the year now pass
ing from u.s." continued Wilding. "Janey
had been born on New Years Day and
some children were to come the next even
ing to keep her birthday; she would be
seven years old. After tea she began
talking the morrow's party, skipping gai-
ly about, with happy chatter. Presently
she seemed to tire, sat down on foot
stool and became silent. Suddenly she
turned round and looked at me. Her
mother had left her seat to search in a
cabinet at the end of the room, and was
standing with her back to u.s."
Papa, why did you say we should be
twelve tomorrow evening?'
why, so we shall be, Janey."
mo, said she, shaking her little head,
''it's only eleven; I've been counting
There are to be nine little guests, you
know, my dear yourself will make ten,
and your mamma and twelve
But mamma will not be here.n
You quaint little reasoner! Where else
will mamma be?'
Il spoke IN a testing tone; Janey was
looking at me doubtingly, AS if she did not
understand my last question; her blue
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