The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-03

lDy poor bnluB uofol ndu u HUSBAND"
replied the doctor, "and the only wealth
which she ever possessed was what she
earned with her needle. Her malady is the
result of brain fever"
Our heroine was next approached by an
man in swallow-tailed coat and knee
breeches, who introduced himself as Profess
sor Franklin, and occupied half an hour in
explaining to her the workings and merits
of an ingenious machine which he had in
vented for the purpose of locating oil wells
and coal mines. However, when he had ap-
piled for patent, the officials at Washing
ton had stolen it and, after bribing the
courts to adjudge him insane, had accumu-
lsted vast fortunes from his invention. She
would be astonished if he should disclose
the names of some of the leading men of the
nation who had profited by his ruin.
BY degrees Mays tiEidity wore off and
she began to enjoy the scene and ere the
evening was half over she was quite at her
ease. The dancing had been going on for
some time now, she having refused several
invitations to participate. At length, grow
ing tired of watching the grotesque bowling
and scraping and balancing of the dancers
and missing. her cousin from the room, May
wandered into an adjoining apartment,
where half a dozen of the company were
playing "button."
Feeling tired with her journey, she seat
ed herself on couch at the side of the room
opposite the noisy players!
CHANGING up she noticed young man
standing at some distance, his arm resting
on the mantel, and his eyes fixed on her.
From her cousins description she had no
difficulty in identifying this person as Seen
eial jackson. The singh, noble forehead"
the "rich brown hair" and the striking per-
lection of the features" were unmistaka-
BILE.
On meeting her eyes the young man left
his place at the mantel and came toward
Observing this, Miss Alcott glanced nervous
lyltoward the door in the hope of seeing her
cousin, but he was not in sight Flight was
out OF the question, so, remembering the doc
tors instructions, she arose as the man ap-
pre- ached, and extending her hand, said:
II believe have the pleasure of address,
General jackson. Am / right?'
THAT is my NAME" was the reply, accom-
panied with something of military flourish,
"but you have the advantage of me, for
really Icannot recall your name"
REALLY, General,.you ought to recognize
me-" said May, with well-feigned surprise
81 am the Goddess of Liberty"
"Of course! OF coursel' aaid the general.
'How stupid of me not to remember. But
why are you here in this simple, unassum.
ing garb instead of being decked in the
beauteous colors which belong to our proud
nations fairest goddess?"
"Oh, how beautifully poeticr' cried May,
raptuIously, "where did you learn it?"
"Both thought and language were quite
original" was the reply. "but this is not
worth mentioning. Answer my question,
please"
well, if you will have an answer" said
the sham goddess, 81 heard that you would
be here and was afraid that if came in my
real character it might make talk, and so l
came, as you see."
'Very thoughtful! Very thoughtful, in
deedl |, too, 60 about in the dress of
civilian to escape the banqueting and toast
ing which an admiring public insanely
thrusts upon the nations celebrities. But
enough of that have been trying to recall
nhOAC ~ W 40 ihCb tOu ldobs Uub MY iuttuUIy
is getting very treacherous."
II was with you at New Orleans" replied
the goddess, "surely yeu haven't forgotten
that
''No. indeed haven't. | well remember
now that it was your sweet presence and re-
assuring smile that won me the battle that
day, and ever since that memorable occasion
/ have been longing to ask you this question:
If the British cannon ball which grazed my
scalp had gone a little lower and taken
away my head, would my beautiful goddess
have shed single tear for my memory?'"
AS he spoke he had drawn closer to May
and attempted to take her hand, but she
drew back a little frightened, although the
eyes which she raised to his face were full of
deepest pityand sympathy as she replied:
"How can you ask me such question ?"
she said, in an injured tone. "You do me
the greatest injustice. Perhaps l should not
say so much, but as our conversation is
strictly confidential l will tell you this:
Had the sad fate which you picture been
yours, the day which heard the funeral
knell Of General Jackson would have seen
the nations halls draped in mourning for the
death of the Goddess of Liberty"
That's drawing it pretty strong, but
suppose it's the only way" she thought,
while her companion said:
Then l am satisfied Now shall we
dancer"
mo, 1 don't wish to dance, but | must
not longer monopolize the most distinguished
visitor of the evening. Please.don't let me
detain you."
But though she urged him repeatedly to
60 and leave her, "the most distinguished
visitor" seemed quite content 10 remain at
her side, and for half an hour longer she was
kept busy consenting to and agreeing with
the accounts of his most wonderful exploits,
and inyenting stories of her own to CORES
pond. She was beginning to despair of
being released when the ill-treated wife
came up and claimed him as her partner for
some game, and May was left to herself.
Mentally complimenting herself on having
carried out her cousins instructions so well
and having managed the general so cleverly,
she sought out the doctor and requested him
to take her home at once, which he did, re-
turning afterward to see the evenings enter
tainment brought to close.
On reaching the cottage Miss Alcoot went
directly to the room Of Mrs. Belle, who was
now recovered, and piled her with questions
concerning General Jackson"
"His insanity is the result of over-taxing
the BRAIN" said Mrs. Vane after listening to
a detailed account Of Mays encounter.
Yes, the doctor had hopes that he might be
cured. He had never shown signs of vio-
lence save on two occasions when he had
escaped from the grounds and going to the
river had tried to drown himself.
ITO be plain, never liked the man my
SELF" she added with yawn which her
caller took as hint to seek her own apart
ment, which she did at once.
The cottage which DIR. vane occupied,
stood in corner of the grounds belonging to
the institution.
On the morning following the ball, as May
was taking constitutional before breakfast,
she saw General Jackson approach one of
the heavy gates which were always kept
locked. After looking cautiously around as
if to be sure that he was not observed, he
took key from his pocket and unlocked the
gate.
1t took but short time for Miss Alcott to
comprehend the situation. The man was es.
Gaping and the path outside led directly to