Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-12
A DARK NIGHT.


a dark night, but neither thought Oh
anything except Of meeting; certainly
not of parting any more while the
world stood.
There were sad tales to tell of pow
erty and shame, and there was need OF
all the protection and comfort that
Weymouth could give, most Of all be-
cause some letters which had been
written had all miscarTied or never
found him in his wandering way of life.
This was the bitterest of all, to think
ones self forgotten and perhaps dis
dained, but hope was stronger and now
at last prevailed. AS for the keepers
of the dismal inn, they had failed to
prosper even after their own fashion,
fore, after long and wretched illness,
while her husband was in Jail for theft,
and their companions, who had fed
with them, had long ago forsaken
them. In her last days the miserable
woman had been haunted by thoughts
of the help she had given to the awful
deeds, done at night In that dark low
room, from which Weymouth had 80
luckily escaped. But as for Rogers,
the accomplish, he had gone with
them to Bristol, much hurt by his fall,
and sick from the deadly drug which
once was cruelty said to have done no
harm to those who were also put 10
sleep by the deep water Of the Severn.
From Bristol, refusing to go to Amer
lea, he had been put on board brig
that was sailing for France, and no one
knew any more Of Rogers from that
day-the senior partner who missed
his clerk from the bank, or the thieves
into whose hands he tried to play.
He had served them, and they had
served him in years before, in
other parts of the country - and
but for this check upon their indus
tries, the bank itself had but short
race to run without robbery. The
week before, after long waiting, Rogers
had at last been trusted with u key to
the safe, and the theft of the money
which Weymouth was carrying to Bris-
tol was bit of by-play, while the
larger robbery was to be planned that
very night, and to be achieved the
next But poorer company has rarely
gone seafaring than these who meant
to start with pockets full, and Wey-
mouths Elizabeth had long earned the
money that supported herself and the
old dying woman, who suffered every
torture that illness can give in her
last weary months. In this far-away
village the two women had been be-
friended, and it was Weymouth's de-
light to pay the poor debts that his wife
had been forced to make in her extrem-
ity, and to satisfy her generous heart
with new power of being bountiful
to those who had saved her from dis
trcss. Then they went away together
man and wife, and lived and loved each
other for many years and saw old Eng
.and again before they died.
Once Weymouth, who seldom remind
ed his wife of what could only bring
shame and sorrow to her heart, as he
sat thinking at night before the fire,
said boldly:
"Where was the master Of the inn
that night, and what was his part of
the game? Why hadn't he wit enough
to keep watch and follow us?" Then
his wife answered, cheerfully, looking
at him with a smile:
because he was the old Welsh wom-
on In the curtain bed"
"And that new net?"
1T was who put it there, my aear."
"And saved my life?" said Weymouth
yet, did not know that it was for
you," she said. ~ only feared for some
poor soul In danger. I was going for
help next moment, when you came into
the kitchen and saw your face"
at was dark night, indeed" said
Weymouth, putting at his pipe, "but the
money got safe to Bristol, and here we
are now together"