Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-11-20

have represented IT.
SO you k2f peen thereg~ be replied.
with just tie fainiest possible smile OF
Qualification 1T Il q pextGfgI spot
why don't yoI sell III"
what, sell Il sog L Is not viaished
Then why don't you finish III" she
added. trembling with Gnxisty to Ea2-s
him promise to do so.
Il haf Eot time. he said. his gloon re-
turning.
Oh. but you have tine" she urged
eagerly you shall have time"
lie eyed her neditatiyely, earnestly and
solefnnly, as IL queryirg whether he
should tell her his miserable story. While
he kesi;ated this excellent Janet Holcum
was PRAYING in her heart that heaven
would guide him toward goddess and
safety.
see here" be said At last. Il Will dell
you something. You haf saved my life.
viii dell you why wanted 10 die | had
no money could not get food. could
DOT bay for ny room. had had drubbles
pevorc--over in Chermaay- IND now !
had not a cent ia my booklet So at last |
tires out. and I gives il up. lights my
sharcoal. aEd | lies dowa TO sleep II out.
That Is my shtory.
In spite Of hIs strong German accent
he wes sublime and terrible and pitiablo.
The tears rushed into JaHet's eyes. and
stepping suddenly forward she caught
both bis hands. as II she would prevent
him b. force from again attempting his
life.
Il tank you. was the simple response
Of man whose seusibility and qulckness
enabled him TO understand sympathy
which had not been uttered.
You must not 90 this again" abe
urged as soon as she coald speak. Il will
see that sou have friends You shall
have time TO finish your picture. will
help you sell 1t. Have you eaten today
II haf no abbedide.
She understood that be had not eaten.
AID the tears shone in her eyes again
Come down to my rooIa. she said
You mustl You can take some tea, at
any rate. Come down and sit with ne. at
least. while eat.
/ am Obliged. be answered as he fol
lowed her 'D1t you must excuse nay
nbbearancc," LIE added, CHANGING at his
RACED clothing. stained with grease and
daub.,d with paint 81 an not lt for the
gombany Of lady,
II AN only poor school mistress, she
smiled. And Ia you | can respect the
artist
I.e bowed with n courteous grace which
gave hin the air OF q gentleman. in spite
OF his wrrtchcd rairaer;.
Arrived in her little parlor bedroom
with this STRANGE companion. Janet llol-
Gums heart Gutterel Il was the first
time that q rlar had been with her there
alone II visitors should arrive. what
would they think OF course it would be
impossible to explain that here was gen.
tlenan whom Lac had caught trying to
commit suicide. and whoa she had under
taken to cure Cf his self destroying pro
pensitics BY means Of tea Gnd sympathy.
Moreover. what would this man himself
think Of herr She was squeamish about
situations land hero we come to fact
which | have not hitherto dared to men
tionp-wcll, she was squeamish because
she was an old maid.
1t is curious. but none the less true.
that q woman Of - is usually more
fastidlous about appearances, and even
about realities, than girl of Is In.
tightening mcditations, perhaps some
dangers avoided. perhaps some scandals
iunocently incurred n habit Of life which
has become q governing motive. are tho
explanations Of this singular phcnone-
non Well. Janet IIolcum. being 3S
years of arc. blushcd and was troubled
at the thou hit of being alone with this
handsome man of %, although might
be looked upon as little more than ghost
returned from beyond the grave. Pres
emily her natural good sense, strength
ened by a perfect uprishtness Of heart,
came to her support.
"Pshawl" size thought. Il am old
enough to DO his aunt; besides, am saw
ing him from death. Let who will blame
me. am doing my duty"
10 l.,l fpgh that 1ov she had
proposed TO 20 without dinner. and con
sequeutly she had slight provision for q
meal She might have run out TO make
purchases, bat she was afraid to leave
her Tartar TO li'nsclf for the present. and,
moreover haste seemed to he uore i'm
portant than plenty She lighted her g,s
stove, got her tea to drawing and set ont
store of graham ,rackers, butter and
cheese. Then followed a moderate repast
and conversation which lasted well into
the evening
Drawn out by sympathy the guest told
his whole story. Ills name. lie stated.
was ernst I.odolf Hartmann. and he was
tho youngest son Of All official in the civil
service of Prussia Carried away by the
liberal ideas so common among European
students. he had attached himself after
leaving the University of Berlin. to a
secret club of republicans. whose object
was to substitute democracy for tho
tlohenzollcrns. The club had been fer
rcred out by the police; Ernst and two or
three other members had been condemned
IA q brief imprisonment; moreover. he
had been disinherited and disowucd by
b.. father, furious loylllSt Worst of
all, a beautiful girl to WHOM he was DO
trothed had. during his confinement, been
ID I 4.
some old baron This last sorrow. which
he related with childlike candor and sim
plicity made Janet Ilocum blush to her
ears. even while her heart throbbed with
pity.
When he rose to return to his room, he
appeared to be at least temporarily recon
ciled to the struggle of life.
Il will dry it leetle longer. If you will
gif me a hand. he said. II will 60 to
painting again
OH how can yor talk Of 1t so coollyl''
she exclaimed with heartfelt solemnity
and even with horror. Don't YOU know
that what you have done today is very
wicked? Forgive me-" she added in
stantly. remembering how miserable he
had been. and looking with pity at his
wasted face. by the way. she talked
very little OF her Johnsonese to this
man, lor IN tue utSt place, she sup
posed that re. being a foreigner. might
not understand 1t; and secondly, she had
to be so earnest with him that only the
simplest words seemed suitable
What could do;" he asked "A
gentleman may not pc a pegsar, Pc
sides, ] was not a banter at home. Mein
fadcrs were to make of ne a panker
Dainting was merely my fancy. had no
hope of success in it. What could dor"
"Will you promise to come to tAse
breakfast with raey'
Il bromise-upor my honor"
"l,emember. now-upon your honor
Good night"
lie took her hand. and before she could
guess what he meant TO DO lie kissed it.
Notwithstanding the perfect simplicity
of his man Ier. notwit hstanding that the
action was obviously a mere expression of
civility and gratitude. Janet Uolcum.
who had never before had her hand
kissed. - led again until it seemed to
her that her hair was turning scarlet.
Without noticing her confusion. this
ragged gentleman said sweetly Good
night" and bowed himself out of the
room.
From this good night forward Janet
was burdeued and blessed with another
labor .: love. She had suicide to re-
form, soul without hope to fill with
hope; man without work to provide
with work; lover of lager TO satisfy
with black tea; brand to snatch fruIl
all sorts Of burnings. 1t was not only q
heavy load to carry, but q delicate one to