Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-03

But just as the coffin touched the bot.
tom of the grave this man stepped for,
| ward.
u. sincerely ask your pardon he
said. for interfering in q matter WITH
which have no right to concern nv
self: but if it is at al practicable. I
would advise doing as this good lady
Requests
| There was that in his tone which ex-
cited dreadful curiosity. 1t was so
evident that he held something in re-
/ serve.
"Why?" cried hal; dozen men at
once.
Because" said the stranger. this
boy informs me that he saw Edward
Ames alive in this town yesterday"
The boy instantly spoke up and con-
| frmed this extraordinary statement.
1t is needless to describe the conster-
nation which these words caused. Men
lost control of themselves. The coffin
was rudely dragged out of the grave.
| Rev. Mr.. Warren and Frank Ames
I pleaded in vain for reasonable investi-
CATION. Everybody else counseled the
immediate opening of the coffin. And
the strangest part of the whole situa-
| ton was that Horace Riddles word was
not worth penny in the town. If he
| had told his story without the backing
of this mysterious stranger, nobody
| would have listened.
| Seeing that nothing could be done to
| quell this excitement, and that Mrs.
Ames' agitation was rapidly approach
| ing the point where human nature
would endure no more, the pastor gave
bis sanction to the opening of the cof-
| fin, he himself assisting.
| The outer wooden lid was easily re-
moved. There was loud cry from
those who were bending over the coffin.
| The metal sheath was revealed, and a
glance showed that it had been cut and
wrenched.
1--WE shall find no body here!" cried
| one of the men.
| At the same moment three others
lifted the metal lid which was scarce
~ fastened at all.
Eyes! There's body here. He's
here, poor fellow" exclaimed he who
| had spoken before.
The body was covered with an ordi-
| nary white sheet. 1t was gently with
drawn, revealing the face of one who,
through the frailty OF her mortal
nature, had transgressed, but had come
home at llst-the face of Charlotte
CHAPTER II.
DIR. MAXWELL GOES TO INVESTIGATE.
DIR. Robert Maxwell stood before the
big fireplace in Rev. Mr.. Warren's par
lor. He had just returned with Anna
from the funeral of Ned Ames. The
girl had gone to give instructions about
supper, with special reference to the
tastes of her future lord and master
who was to share that meal with her.
self and her father. When she re-
entered the parlor, Maxwell was
grieved to observe that there were tears
in her eyes. Indeed she had not ceased
to weep since she had set foot in the
Ames house.
"You should not let the memory of
your sisters error prey upon you in
this way" said Maxwell. "You must
calm yourself before your father comes,
for he will have all that he can bear
without the sight of your grief"
II will not let him sec it," replied the
girl; "but all the old sorrow has come
back to-day. If we could only find
herr"
THAT is impossible now"
"You believe that she is dcad?"
Eyes; and could almost say l hope
So"
THAT is heartless. And you used to
bc such good friends. Why, you were
much more fond of her than of mc.''
81 looked upon you as little girl in
those days. You are right in saying l
was fond of Charlotte. / always adj
mired her, and would believe no evil
of her until doubt was impossible. You
must not think me llcartlcss because of
what said. Life must be worthless
for her. Suppose we did find her; sup
pose, even, that she came back"
Il would welcome her, and be a sis
ter TO her just as in the old days!" cried
the girl, and the words came from her
heart.
"She will not COME" said Maxwell.
He shivered little, and glanced be-
hind him at the fire, which was blazing
brightly.
Anna did not reply. She sat long
time in silence; and the young man.
also. seemed to be abundantly occupied
with his own thoughts. 1t was not
good augury for their future happiness
that, with the wedding so near, they
should make no better success of bear
ing one another's burdens.
Suddenly murmur of voices arose in
the street.
Father is coming" said Anna, and
she walked to the window. ooh Rober.
what can this mean? The hearse is
here. 1t has stopped before the house"
/ III :, zssssAsss