The Trinity times., 1855-06-02

and might harm him in many ways. But he
was faithful, and suffered no one to come be-
tween US. | had never been angry with
Herbert. word, or look. joining on the
| humor of the moment, would rouse me into
a perfect fiend against any one else but
Herbert's voice and manner soothed me un-
der every kind of excitement. In my par
oXysm of rage-the very worst was gem
tie to him; and had never known yet the fit
Of fury which had not yielded to his remon-
STRANGE. | had grown almost to look on him
as my good angel against the devil whom the
rod could not scourge out of me.
We were walking on the cliffs one day,
Herbert and |, for we lived by the seaside.
And indeed | think that wild sea made me
fiercer than | should else have been. The
cliffs where we were that day were high and
rugged; in some places going down sheer
and smooth into the sea- in others Jagged and
rough; but always dangerous. Even the sam
phire gatherers dreaded them. They were
of crumbling sandstone, that broke away
under the hands and feet for we had otten
| climbed the practicable parts and knew that
| great masses would crumble and break un-
der our grasp, like mere gravel heaps. Her
| bert and | stood for a short time close to the
| edge of the highest cliff Haglin's Crag it
was called, looking down at the sea, which
was at high tide, and foaming wildly about
| the rocks. The wind was very strong,
though the sky was almost cloudless; it roar
ed round the cliffs, and lashed the waves into
a surging foam, that beat furiousy against the
base, and brought down showers of earth and
sand with each blow as it struck The sight
of all this life and fury of nature fevered my
blood and excited my Imagination to the
highest. A strange desire seized me.
wanted to Chamber down the face of the cliffs
to the very base-and dip myself in the
white waves ioamlng round them. 1t was Il
wild fancy, but could not conquer it, though
| tried to do so; and felt equal to its accom-
| plishment.
Herbert, I am going down the cliff
said, throwing my cap on the ground
Nonsense, Paul. said Herbert, laughing.
He did not believe me; and thought was
only in jest.
When, however, he saw that was serious
and that did positively intend to attempt this
danger, he opposed me in his old manner of
genteness and love the manner which had
hitherto subdued me like a magic spell. lie
told me that il was certain death was rush
ing into, and he asked me alfectionately to
desst.
! was annoyed at his opposition. For the
! first time his voice had no power over me ;
for the first time his entreaties fell dead on
my ears Scarcely hearing Herbert, scarce
| ly seeing him, leant over the cliffs, the
waves singing me as with human voice,
when | was suddenly pulled back, Herbert
saying to me, angrlly-
Paul, are you mad? Do you think will
stand by and see you xii yoursel! p
He tore me from the cliff 1t was a strain
| like physical anguish when | could no longer
see the waters. turned against him saw
| agely, and tried to shake off his hand But
he threw his arms round me, and held me
firmly, and the feeling of cOnstrant, Of i'm
prisonment, overcame my love. ! could not
bear personal restraint even from him. His
young slight arms seemed like leaden chains
about me; he changed to the hideousness of a
| TAILOR; his opposing love to the insolence ofa
tyrant. called hoarsely to him to let me free
but he still clung round me. Again called;
again he withstood me, and then | struggled
with him. My teeth were set fast-my hands
clenched and the strength of a strong man
was in me. | seized him by the waist as |
would lift n young child, and hurled him from
me. God help me II did not see in what
direction.
1t was as if q shadow had fallen between
me and the sun, so that | could see nothing
in its natural light There was no light and
there was no color. The sun was as bright
overhead as before the grass lay at my feet
as cleaning as before the waves flung up
their sparkling showers; the wind tossed the
branches full of leaves like boughs Of glitter
ING gems, as it tossed them ten minutes ago;
but ! saw them all indlstinctly now, through
the veil, the mist Of this darkness. The sha-
dow was upon me that has never left me
since. Day and night it has followed me
day and night its chill lay on my heart a
voice sounded increasingly within me, Muir
der and lost soul for ever and evero
! ! turned from the cliff resolutcly, and went
towards home. Not limb failed me, not a
moments weakness was on me. ] went
home with the intention Of denouncng my
self as the murderer Of my friend; and | was
calm because ] felt that his death would then
be avenged. hoped for the most patent de-
gradaiion possible to humanity. My only
desire was to avenge the murder Of my friend
on myself, his murderer; and walked along
quickly that might overtake the slow hours
and gain the moment Of expiation.
| went straight to the masters room. Tie
spoke to me harshly, and ordered me out Of
his sight, rs he did whenever | came before
him. | told him authoritatvely TO listen to
me, had something to say to him; and my
manner, | suppose, struck him, for he turned
round to me again, and told me to speak
What had to say2
began by stating briefly that Herbert had
fallen down IIagn's Crag and then | was
about to add that it was ! who had flung hin
down. though unintentionally when-whe-
ther it was mere taintness, to this day ! dc
not know fell senseless to the earth. And
for weeks | remained senseless with brain fe-
yer, from, it was believed, the terrible shock
my system had undergone at seeing my
dearest friend perish SO miserably before my
eyes. This belief helped much to soften
mems hearts--and to give me place in theil
sympathy never given me before.
When recovered, that dark shadow still
clung silently to me and whenever at
tempted to speak the truth-and the secre
f always hung cloggng on my tongue-th'
same scene was gone through as before
was struck down BY an invisible hand, and