Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-03
[coxrrxuxD.l
ASIN NOT TO BE FORGIVEN


81 LIZZIE ". CHA0RNXY.
A deadly certainty grew upon Halsey's
mind He had never heard Orient's family
name mentioned, but be was sure now that
this was DIR. Corcoran's daughter, and that b
had supplanted his friend He was not pro-
pared for this, and be tried to put the convic-
ton from him-to believe that it was not so.
Orient he said, as the clock struck, can
you believe that we have actually been ac-
quainted ouly twenty-five hours and about
the same number Of minutesr
"Oh. it cannot be possible she exclaimed;
''what an imprudently short acquaintance TO
become engaged upon But I know your
whole life from the time you were black
smiths boy to the present, and all your wan
teriags in Palestine Halsey WINGED but
did not interrupt her. 'And father knows
You 50 thoroughly and respects you 50 highly.
and both he and mother have talked to me 80
much about you When | came back to my
room it WIS full Of reminders Of your pres
ence. That explanation Of the objectionable
SIN which you left on my desk was mastery
piece Of reasoning. And all the notes which
sou made in nv books were interesting to
I.ie though | confess that was indignant
enough at first to think that you had read
my silly jottingS | was not prim as
seemed TO he when / declined corresponding
with you, for was secretly pleased that you
had learned to care for me in such an odd
way OH indeed assure you that would
never have fallen in love with You in this
disgracefully precipitate way without that
long mental preparation"
Clearly it was no time now for Halsey to
explain that he had no connection with the
past she treasured He accepted the situa-
ton reckltssly with all the advantages
which it conferred upon him. 80 the ac-
tual does not come up to your idealf he
asked
you are very different she replied, mu-
singly, 'not bit as had imagined you.
You very worldly looking. | never
would have thought you minister il | hid
met you anywhere else; but then you are
handsomer than expected, and so wonder
fully talented / am proud to think you
should care for little me- And /, no doubt,
am very different from what you imagined
Are you greatly disappointedf'
OF course Halsey protested that he was
not, and he parted from her at the parson-
age gate with many assurances of his devo-
ton; and, however false their relations to
each other, these at least were genuine
Ill
Halsey sat thinking deeply far into tho
night. lie reviewed every possible plan for
avoiding confession and for keeping up his
assumed character, but he saw thai this was
impossible Orient had told him that she
VT 81 return home upon the morrow, and he
had greed to accompany her On the jour
Eey the explanation must he made Every
moment of delay made it more difficult, and
ta taJ hot ba h.b boa
more honest with her However, to have
firmly made up his mind TO throw Oft the
mask was something of relief and he awoke
the next morning with hopeful feeling and
his usual confidence that some WAY things
would come out right.
As he was not TO Icy aside his role
during the morning, he determined to
deepen the good impression which he had
made upon Orient, and to select the sermon
which he was to preach before the fellowship
meeting solely with reference to her tastes.
He besitatc'i some time between "Buddha
and his Philosophy of Despair, IL discourse
of DR.. Newman's and THE Parable of the
Tamud,n by the Rev. Charles Eaton hut
finally settled upon the first as NOR. ro,npli-
incntary to her intellect. He was LIT dis
turbtsl to notice, on taking his place in the
pulpit, that Orient was not in the choir the
eldest Miss Pcarce occupying her place at
the organ. All through the sermon he kept
his eyes fixed upon the door, hoping to see
her enter, but only to be disappointed lie
knew, too, from the strong stare with which
his hearers confronted him, that his audience
did not care penny for Buddha or the re-
ligion of India. Only Miss Pearce seemed in
in the least Interested, for she had lust read
Mr.. Isaacs," and had, beside her reputation
as philosopher at stake The business meet
ing was called Immediately after the sermon,
and Haisey, leaving it to its deliberations as
to his eligibility hurried over to the parson-
age He was informed by the servant that
Miss Corcoran had left town on the noon
train. He was struck with sudden apprehen-
sion
II understood that she was going on the az
tcrnoon train
The servant believed that she did intend to
do SO, but had changed her mind Hasey
next a7ked aftcr the doctor. He had driven
his niece over to the station and had not vet
returned; he would come SOON would not the
gentleman waltz Halsey concluded that he
would do SO and was shown into the doctors
study \ volume of sermons by Henry Ward
Beecher lay UPON the desk, open to the very
one which be had abridged for his PRAYER
meeting talk. The doctor had evidently
looked II up froli haunting suspicion that
its resemblance to Beecher's stvle was not en-
tirelY accidental. oIlents sudden leave tax
ing was explained; she had found this, and il
was enough Slr did not wish to see him
again. lieIose quickly and left the house. not
caring to face the doctor now He walked
across the fields TO the deacons house Il
was deserted, fur the discussion over his case
was very warm and the meeting not yet
over Tie sat down and wrote an impas-
stoned lotte" to Orient. making clean breast
of everything and beg ing her mercy As
he sealed it lie noticed that the congregation
were dispensing, aud the deacon SOC II after
entered the room.
"lm powerful sorry he said. but there
was "A good deal of feelin'. and the motion to
give You a call was lost You see your ser
mon Yesterday eveuin' wasn't considered
quite orthodox"
HalSey wrote the doctor an explanation
for the sake of his friends good name but he
did not feel obliged to confess to the deacon,
who conveyed him to the station, and was
protuSe in his regret over the vote of the
church. At the station he mailed his letter
70 Orient, and returned to his friend Steele,
whom he found in a much more hopeful
state. The fever had beR broken, but he
was very weak. "You must help us keep
his mind in cheerful calm condition."
the local doctor said to Halsey,
befor he went up to his room. When An
drew $ g. lie inquired about friends ex-
perie1''e at RAmoth Gilead, Halsey told him
thai he had explained the state of affairs to
the pastor and had simply read three ser
mons; that of course under the circumstances
there could I've no call to the pastorate, nor
did he SsNa how his interests could be affected
very much even though DR.. Corcoran must
understand that his health was not in so favor
able state as he could wish
Il made the best of everything" Hal
sey assured his FRIEND lit is only little
longer waiting and they will be willing
enough to do that"
Thank you,H Andrew Steele murmured,
and closing his eyes he slept peaceful as a
child. When he awoke his mother handed