Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-30
Continued from yesterday
BEAUTIFUL jim.
By JOHN STRANGE WINTER.

my dearest. am afraid have the
most sorry news for ycu." he said.
humbly.
Sorry news." sharply. Then. where
is my father
He has left me to tell you-gune to
his club.
To tell me-whatf
Fur a moment jim could hardly speak
TO tell yoa that our engagement is
impossible for the present. at least, he
answered. with an effort.
Father said thar But Why What
do you mean. Jinl-that he refuses
AT present.
AT present-ohi do tell me the worst
at once What do you mean by at pres
enty'
My dearest, your father is quite right.
though it Is hard upon US. said Jim,
gently He does not forget that have
been arrested on u suspicion of murder.
and that while the affair remains mys-
terry, | am not free from further suspi
+ cion"
But he does not believe it, surely.
she cried with blazing eyes and lips
tightly compressed.
NO. he does not believe it. thank God,
Jim replied quickly
But if he does not believe it, why let
1t affect usy' she exclaimed Il lave
never known my father influenced by the
opinion of others in all my life. never.
And to think that he should begin to be
so when the consequences are so serious
for me. is too hard-it's too hard,
But you don't understand. said Jim,
gently. 1t is not the opinion OF others
he is thinking of ct all-ouly. that as
am not cleared yet. the suspicion might
at any time rise up aeainst me and over
whelm both of US.
But you ere innocent
Innocent Iaen have been hanged be-
fore today my darling. and your father
feels it, said he more full of pity for
her than OF sorrow for his own broken
hopes
But. jim. she cried eagerly. did you
not tell her that you could prove your
self innocent at any timer
Beautiful Jim shook his head NO. |
did not tell him that"
But whyr'
because he would insist that should
speak.
oh! no. shall tell him. Yes. it is
no use trying to persuade me against 1t.
| have made up my mind to do il. 1t IS
all very well to be generous ard inerciful
to others; but | ought to be your first
thought. and it will be but a poor sort Of
generosity to secure some one their peace
of mind at the cost of breaking my heart
But he will certainly deliver that per
son up to justice, Jim persisted.
And if he does. does not that person
deserve it, she said passonatelv. Why
should the innocent have to suffer for the
guilty? Or if some such must SO suffer
why should it you and II Why not the
No. Jim, have made up my mind
will not let you lie under this suspicion
day longer In fact | tell you frankly
and honestly, that | cannot understand
your Icing so weak about the whole
afflir.
For q moment beautiful Jim did not
say one word The little clock on the
chimney shelf beside them licked loudly
and cheerily on, and Nancy was resting
tapping her foot upon the fender. Jim
felt that he must speak at least that he
must convey to her the necessity for not
speaking to her father further than he
Lad already done. yet he hardly knew
how to begin
why don't You say something" she
asked a. last, puzzled by the expression
of his face, and guessing that there was
yet sonnet hing else for her to hear.
II don't know how TO say it he said,
unwillingly
But there is something to tell me.
she cried Oh Jim. don't spin it out
tell me quickly Don't stop to pick and
choose your words Do tell me -"
Nancy" he said. thus urged, You
know you are making 1t horribly hard for
me Oh, my dear. my dear, why can't
you. or won't you understand that it is
impossible for me to say word about my
power to clear myself to your father, and
imperative that you should not do SO.
either
She had not fully grasped his meaning.
and yet she realized that there was truth
in his words Her face grew pale, and
her lips stiff and strained. Us she stood
looking straight into his honest eyes. SO
full of love and sadness.
What is it," she whispered
jim put his arm around her and held
her closely to him
Must lspeak moro plainly" he asked.
Yes? Oh! my darling am so sorry. so
grieved to say it-but he is the one per
son in the world to whom could not tell
it. except in the face Of the most dire
danger"
"lt--was-not-our-b she wills
pered, painfully; and for answer Beautiful
Jim did not speak, made no gest ure. no
slgn-only he looked at her with an in
finite and tender pity shining through
the love which filed his ewes