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

Gossip had wearied itself with that
mystery. The girl was not dead She
had written to her father, and had
| begged him to forget her. He had
exhausted his resources in the end
to find her, and had failed. Upon whom
should the blame fall? At first there
was mention of young DR.. Robert Max
well. He had seemed to be smi.te,
with the girl, and had left town rather
i suddenly about the time of her disar.
pearance. But he had returned and
had cleared himself Of suspie;on HE
temporary absence had been easily ex-
planned. Though Charlotte had left
behind her what might be called n con-
! fession, it was SO vague as to leave even
the sin itself in doubt. There were
| some of the townspeople who stoutlv
maintained that the girl had run away
to go upon the stage. But when al!
| the evidence had been discussed n thou-
sand times, Williston rendered a YER
dict that Ned Ames knew something
about it. Charlotte had smiled upon
him in spite of his disgrace; and her
| disappearance succeeded his fight by
| less than two months
In view of these facts. an address bv
Rev. Eliot Warren beside the coffin Of
| Ned Ames should be worth hearing.
Would his plea for the forgiveness of
the sinner ring hollow and false?
Would he dare to openly condemn,
when he knew that everyone within
sound of his voice would be thinking Of
his daughter?
| The Ames house was crowded. though
| it was so large as to hold nearly half
the population Of the town. The choirs
| of the orthodox and Unitarian churches.
united for this most exceptional occa-
sion, were stationed in the hall. Mr..
Warren had not come. A whisper ran
about that he had been unable, at the
last moment, to make up his mind to it.
This most interesting rumor was set at
rest presently by the news that he was
coming through the yard. With him
were his younger daughter, Anna, and
DR.. Maxwell. The recent announce
ment of the engagement of these two
had been received in such way as to
prove that the old suspicious really had
been laid at rest.
Samuel Ames stopped DR.. Maxwell in
the hall, while the pastor, with his
daughter, entered the parlor.
'Mother hopes you've thought better
about that" said the old man, speaking
of his wife by the usual endearing
term. II hope you'll let her see him,
if you think he-he wouldn't be too
much changed"
His tone was indescribably pathetic,
conveying another sorrow than his
own. His eyes had that peculiar
appearance of excessive dryness
noticeable in New England people
when they mourn, as if the race had
seen so much trouble that generations
long since gone, where t,.ere is no such
Ching, had used up all its stock of
tears.
Il can't permit it," said the young
doctor, firmly. "You must think of the
great danger it would involve Al
though the coffin is metal-lined, ad-
vised you against public funeral.
I'm sorry to grieve Mrs. Ames, but YOU
know told her all about this yester-
day morning when your sons body was
brought here"
Couldn't it be done at the cemetery
where there'll be only us?" pleaded the
old man. I'VE don't care about the
risk at our age"
Don't permit Mrs. Amos to go to the
cemetery" rejoincd Dr. Maxwell, earn
estiy. It's as much as her life is
worth on such a day as this. There's
a terrible wind, and the light snow is
blowing in clouds. She must not"
"But she WILL" responded Ames. 81
can't prevent her. She will stand by
her sons grave to-day. 1t is useless to
protest. Hush! The service is about
to begin"
The voice Of the pastor was heard,
and all other sounds ceased.
''We commend to Thee, o Lord, the
body of Thy servant, that, being dead
unto the world, he may live unto Thee;
and whatsoever sin he may have COM
mitted through the frailty of his NOR
tai nature, do Thou in Thy merciful
loving kindness blot out forever"
His voice trcmblcd with the fcrvency
for the forgiveness of sin; and it was
followed by an address which proved
to every one who heard it that the
spirit of perfect forgiveness had de-
scended from on high to dwell in the
heart Of the speaker.
If there had been no more to mark
the day, surely the words of that good
man would have made it memorable in
Williston. There was music-which
had been the only influence that had
ever seemed to turn Ned Anes' soul
toward higher purposes - and the
best promises Of Scripture; last
prayer, and then the coffin was
borne out to the hearse. Mrs. Ames
followed it, leaning upon her hns-
bands arm and her sons. Frank
Ames-a tall, dark and rather hand
some man, with deeply furrowed
brow-seemed to be much moved. In
deed, he showed more grief than either
of his parents.
Few followed the hearse to the ceme-
terry. 1t was bitter day. DR.. Max
I'LL .,,,a,1,- a1v;Sad TINT onlv tlosn ,,,nn