Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-20
me- am verv near the river"

rare roast beef" said Serena, land a
good tonic
The invalid smiled. You are try
| ing to encourage me, Serena, but
| do not need to be cheered. My heart
| is light when l think of the joys that
await me. Ny only pang IS ut leave
| ing Horatio, but he will soon fol-
| low me-"
"Oh. | don't know said Miss Sc
rena cheerfully. "Horatio's not a
| boy, but he ought to have a good many
years on comfort ahead of him yet
She was silent for a moment, intently
| regarding Mrs. Judd whose delicate
| face was again overcast. Mary she
said abruptly, 1--WE got something tc
tell you, but / want you to give me
| your word that you won't breath a syl-
liable OF it TO a human being"
Not to Horatio?'
| NO Horatio least of ALL" Mrs
Judd hesitated, but her physical frail-
| ty had not altogether eclipsed her fem
| mime curiosity. We'll" she said al
| length, Il promise
| Serena Valentine settled herself in
| tine easy chair, grasping the arms firm
| ly. IF you're going to die. Mary, and
| leave Horation behind, it's only ma
| tural for you to wonder whose going
| to look out for him.
| Ills sister Hetty will come and keeL
| house for him. Mrs. Judd said quick
ly.
| 'Hettys no sort of companion for
| Horatio. She's such a faithful mourn
er for her husband that she puts crepe
| on oh = IL
will need somebody to cneer him up
| And I'm thinking" aGded Miss Serena
very deliberately, "of doing it myself. >
| Your sasped the wife.
| Il might as well go back to the be-
| ginning. Mary, so that you will under
| stand. I've thought a great deal OF
your husband ever since / was a girl.
| I've had some pretty good offers, but !
| never SOW another man who could come
| up TO Eorato. and I've kept on saying
no And maybe Horatc has men
toned Being a little partial to me ,whel
he was Younger"
| Indeed he hasn't exclaimed Mrs
| Juod. There was faint color in he
| pale cheeks, and she breathcd fast
Indeed he's given me to understan'
that ned never cared for any woma
before he met me-
| We'll, L suppose it would be cas-.
| enough for him to fix that NJ with hi
| conscience. You see things had neVe-
gone very far with us. Mother though
| l was too young to have steady com
pany, and she kind of discourag cd Ho
ratio. so we never got beyond a few,
kisses at the gate
| owing to mother having discour
| aged him. he left me, and took to Goin;
with you. And there's no denying tina
he's been ell wrapped up in you. Blu
at the same time. it's hardly likely tina
| he's forgotten the times we went HON,
| from singing school together"
| IF ! should be taken away eX-
claimed Mrs. Judd with some spirit, -
| doubt if Horatio would even think o.
such thing as marrying again.
| II don't suppose he would if robod,
putt into his head. But I'm not 60
ing to wait for him. The fact is" con-
| fessed Miss Serena shamelessly, I'm
going to set my cap for him.
| Mrs. Judd apparently found herself
| incapable of speech.
| "I'n, talking 20 you, Mary" Miss Sc
rena continued, "as / wouldn't to most
wives. But l know how unselfsh you
| are, and sensible into the bargain Now
here you're going right up to Heaven,
to enjoy manipulating and singing
hymns, and all the other things you're
set on, and here poor Horatio is left
with only the company of a sister that
Stops over into tears every time you
Jog her, like an oVer-full tumbler.
know you couldn't be real contented UP
in glory. unless your mind was at ease
about Horatio, and l want to promise
you that I'll see to it he doesn't pine
long"
1t WAS q welcome relief to Horatio
Judd when on his return home that
afternoon he heard nothing about the
celestial scenes which of late had occu
pied so large a share of his wife's
thoughts. If Mary was more duerulous
than usual, at times almost irritable,
this too was a relief, as her unearthly
serenity was largely responsible for his
feeling that she was not long for this
world.
Serena Valentine was here this af-
ternoon,' she announced abruptly IN
the course of the evening.
Yes, l saw nor yesterday. I'm glad
she's got home. It's given me lone
some sort OF feeling to go by her cot
tage and see it shut up
Serena is a very well-meaning wo-
man." said Mrs. Judd, with an air of
angelic patience, but l sometimes
think there is coarse streak in her."
Horatio was delighted to find his
wi IN
lane topic as Serena Valentine "She
was clipper when she was a girl.
Full of fun, Kept a fellow laughing till
he couldn't get his breath She was as
pretty as picture at SIXTEEN he add
ed remin:scently. "And she's a nice
looking woman yet"
Mary Judd WINGED. She was well sat
isied with her own deiicately spiritual
J CAVITY, ut in whose eyes the vigorous
figure aid the bright color of Serena