Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-03
Continued from yesterday
BEAUTIFUL jim.
By JOHN STRANGE WINTER.


SIllt tEUWU YVES EHbLtEc1 A. Inc sL1-
ton the following morning 10 see the gal
LIANT Blankshirc regiment go of to the
wars There was Mrs Barnes with al
her children. and little Mrs Seton. as
brisk and as bright as q bee. laughing as
loudly as il parting with her major was
one Of the best jokes in the world, though
to more than one who knew her best the
laughter had an uneomnonly suspicious
ring abou, 1t and had a quiver through
its ripping thrill which told OF tears not
very far away. And there were the Char
terhouses and the STATIONS and the Mar
Gus Orfortls, all couse TO do the last hon
ors to their friends. husbands and wives
alike profoundly thankful that the for
tune OF war had not called upon them 10
leave home and all they loved behind and
70 cut to fight for queen and country IN
the tropics And there was the handsome
dean. ehseFy and full Of good wishes, and
lovely Aileen, holding fast by Nancy
Earle's hand as il she was afraid she
should break down IL she did not hold it
tight enough.
Nancy understood so well wha; the
pressure meant. and once or twice turned
her sweet doyes eyes upon her friend.
Just TO show her that there were no tears
there, aud that she ueed have no fears tor
her composure And last OF all there was
Mr. Earle tall and straight and command
ing Ia presence, with his handsome old
face set like mask and his white hair IS
well brushed and spruce As ever All
but 1t was a terrible wrench for hlm
parting with his only son Oh such an er
rand and almost at the same moment
thought flashed into the minds Of Nancy
and Beautiful jim alike thought
which said Alas he is SO old. fral,
nnd his belief in his only son is SO great
| GIN 50 glad we kept silence, for though
it Is u pang for acknowledge would have
held tho bitterness of death for him
Almost uncousciously Nancy slipped
her hand within his arm and chung to it.
but the DID man mistook her meaning
Don give way, my dear" he whispered,
let them see the Earles can give mp their
best Tor queen ana country-even the
heir
He had forgotten her interest in Dean
tiful jim. he only remembered that his
boy his heir. the last Of his name, was
off for the wars. and might never come
back
Nancy dropped the arm She forgot
nothing
No, that the old man noticed anything.
He was intcntly watching for the last
glimpse OF the handsome young face Of
his only son and as the train moved
slowly OFT of the station amid cheers &ad
the frantic waving of handAerc!liefs to
thu gay and Jolly strains of The Girl
Left Eehind Me. he gave great gasping
sigh which melted Nancys mOmentary
anger and made her clasp his arm tighter
tL.,4 ever
And then little Mrs. Seton. who had
jokcd and laughed and checrci and waved
with the best as long Is her faithful
ma ors head was thrust out OF the car
rage window. suddenly created a diver
tisement by breaking down altogether
into such u passionate torrent of tears.
that even the dullest OF those who had
wondered at what they called her spirits"
but few moments before wondered no
longer. but said among themselves. as
they wiped their own eyes, what brave
little woman She was and what treas.
urc the big major possessed IL her
"Oh. | am going out at once. the little
woman vas saying brol.enly at that mo
meut to the sympathetic woman on whose
breast she had poured out all her long
peat up fceiings lie said ! wasn't to,
but | hall Why. lie might be wounded
out there. or i'll. and who would nurse
lim, | wonder; He never can bear any
one but ne about him. If he's only got .
hca, ache But all the same. v.nen you We
no. r done anything for yourself in al
yo;r life, ana never even gone n long
jU-. ucy alone. it 5 no joke to face going
OF 10 India. or still worse to Ddrnah,
"! aout a soul to help YOU to do thing. "
..Incy Earle who was standing by,
too. her hand My dear she wins
pcrlI. believe rle, it's far harder when
you are 50 placed that you cangot 60 out
whatever happens. when you know that.
eyel if you hear the worst and you feel
you are wanted ever So badly. You are
bound ut home by ties and restrictions
which you cauuot break OH it is moth
Ing to LIT ones husband 70. compared
Wi the "ae who Is everything and yet
no; .lius to you
Mrs. Seton Tried her eyes and looked
up Yes, lie told me n good deaf about
it. dear she said. kindly. and with
scarcely moro than faint sob catching
her breath, and DO sure If he is in need
of ny help lie will have it. Id do any
thjl5 for him for bis own sake. but I'll do
it ,,r YOURS rs well now, promise you. ="
How good you arc, Nancy whispered.
fer ci;tly. small wonder lie ia SO fOud Of
you Mr., Sctoa some day, perhaps, |
shll he able to do sonnet hing Tor you, and
If ever can-o.i. how shall jump ut tho
chance OF being able to do it
y this time tne people were gradually
clt.ng out OF the station. pnI as the
h. some dean had given his sturdy arm
to = Earle, Nancy and Aileen followed
In .cir wake with Mrs, Seton
lie dean was trying hard to persuade
tLe old man to abandon his Flea OF return
f.. h1ruc that dav, and to change his
q, r;crs troc, tie Golden Swan to the
r % luxurious ease aud uuictude of tho
|. merry. for rs he said. 1t will be q
cli.pge for Won. and If Won 70 home at
orre Won Will NOPE and Get thinking Il
dan.-cr to the bov. when 10 vet no danger
ey,qIs. and besides. ,pu DO not know
PI.u,baripton at all. taorrh there i, a
rn,.l deal that is well worth seeing here,
an deere must be a great many people in
the neigh rho"d whom you @no" more
or less wen
but Mr. Ear'e was oodufSte
One more night however he did con