Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-15

thirst for information with contempt, but
finally desire for gossip overcomes her
reticence and she condescends to tell me
all in one breath that ''this ere is to be
the weddin o. Miss Athelwood. Not but
that 'er name amt Athelwood, but KEEL
larey Err as DOVE the amls 'ouses down
the street-which times bein bad an lone
wilder as lad no husband an whose son is
doin is last stretch, bein as innocent as
babe unborn. An rheumatic bein that
bad, she could curse, only she wouldn't.
An Miss O'Sulliyan, as lives in No. 9,
said as 'ow Miss Athelwood was worth
well nigh 'alf million of money if she
was worth a penny-not but that she
shouldn't be, seein as low she had been
born on the gold diggin's an every one
knowed them was good times. An a
prettier an better lady never stepped, beg
gin 'er pardon for sayin So"
The old woman, once started was hard
to stop. But l was interested in Miss
Lthelwood, so l ventured an inquiry as to
her parentage
"Ah, well may yer say that; not but
what yer 1nightn't understand seein as
'ow yere stranger in these parts. The
poor, young dear never aid no father to
know but Mr.. Athelwood, the lawyer. l
card tell she We're just fetched up from
them goldflelds by Teller called kellarcy
"a miner chap, who give FER to Mr.. Athel-
wood along of a fortune which C said was
'ers. That's 20 year or more now-the
same year as my good man was took by
the pcrlicc for the Orange bushrangin case,
an i'm not never SO much as 'avin 'alf
penny of the money, butt
/ stopped the dear old lady's family his
tory by asking whom Miss Athelwood was
about to marry. AS L put the question an
old and villainously dirty swagman placed
his roll of blankets down at the church
door and pushed his way toward u.s.
In begin yer pardon, my old lady
went on Miss Athelwood's agoin to
marry, rs it's not in my mind to remember
"a dock or "a hearl, but can't say which on
'cm. Haid de camp to the governor they
do say he is. But look, look, ERE they
comes!"
Carriage after carriage rolled up to the
church door and set down its load of fash
ionables. Then amid continuous cheer
ing Mr. and Miss Athelwood arrived. She
looked surprisingly beautiful, and | no
ticed that the old swagman was SO over
come with astonishment that he kept his
eyes staring at the door long after she had
passed through it and all had rushed into
the church to see the ceremony.
My whole attention was devoted to
watching the bride. l could not drive her
romance out of my head. She went up the
aisle namelcss girl, the product of gold
field, and returned to the music of Men
delssohn's Wedding March" a countess
and member of one of the Oldest families
in Europe.
After all the carriages had rolled away
and | was turning to go the old swagman
| touched my arm, saying:
Mister I'm agoin to get yer to do me
favor"
Asking him what it was, he replied:
Lets go somewhere out of this, where
we re alone, an I'll tell YER
When we had adjourned to more fit
| ting place, my companion spoke.
II guess you'd call me u liar if told
you that l was the man as brought up
that girl as we've just see married. But
l amin Dog Kellarey, sure enough,
i'm as give Ter into Lawyer Athelwood's
'ands 20 years ago, with 'er share of the
mine tibet panned out so rich
why don't you go to her then? I hear
she's been hunting Ugh and low for you'll"
That's just it, / know she has. But
dyer think III agoin into the company o
the likes o Ter friends? Not mel I'd be
maxim a fool O. tho girl, an she'd be
ashamed o. 'erself. No! I've tramped
close on 400 miles to see her married, an
now Pm agoin back into the bush to-
night for good. l want you to write this
'erc in letter for met amt much.
| Say, From Dog kcllarcy to is luck penny
on 'cr Weddin day an nut in the corner
| / amt forgot yer mind"
l wrote as he directed, and incloscd--
what do you think? A baby's little wool
en- shoc The old man had kept this relic
! as his most sacred treasure for nearly 20
years.-Guy Boothby in Pail Mall Maya
| sine.