The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-11
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For the National Era
JASPER: A ROMANCE.
BY EDWARD SPENCER.
III.
HOp Jasper Cared The anchor.
III.
IIUW JuSpcT CUTOtu nc HTlcNOl
(CHAPrER THIRD CONCLUDED

HOp Jasper Cdrped The Anchor
(cHAPrKR THIRD CONCLUDED
1t was noon of the day succeeding his de-
parture when Jasper came in upon his old
tutor and for some hours upset the quiet
bachelor meditatons of that worthy and erudite
mummy. Sitting by the well-knowm study
window, our frirnd gazed out upon the familiar
scenes of his 1oyhood, with an unwonted pres
sure about his heart, and eyes dimmed with the
strange emotions of sadness he could not ex-
liain, which was "halfcompact" of foreboding.
The shadow of coming-trials was already APP
proaching-ay, he was already within the inAu-
ence of the indistinct penumbra, and not far off
was the very midnight nucleus, the Ahlus
timber of the thing. How strange a mesmeric
mystery is this foreboding that comes over us
when some eliminating evil is nearl 1t is no
fiction, that of the wifes terror at the moment of
the absent husbands peril-the mothers tears
when the death-shadow overhangs the wander
ing sOn-the lovers shudder when the mistress
of his heart is menaced Who shall define the
limits of that unknown thing we term sym
pdtty at once SO abnormal, so mysterious, so
contradictory, so inexplicable? Shall we deny
to man that which the very snails possess ?
Shall we call every one dreamer whose fances
step little beyond the Macadamized Highway
into which established fact has benin orderly
fashion, like wel-sized Cobble Stones-pum-
meled down by the iron-shod pavior of Reason !?
Oh skeptcal mortal sturdy materialist, explain
to me in philosophic dicton the rationale of
thy 6@te-noire, or thy Glove at first sight -
things entirely possible, because every day hap
pening-and l will clear up for thee and es-
tablish the boundaries of this so-called Sym
pathy Go to! Hath not our wondrous preach
or 90 for all timo" said to thee, thou Horatio:
There are more things in Heaven AND Earth
Than dreeDu of in your philosophy
Evening came while Jasper still gazed, and
sum. those dreary shadows to hang about his
m dampening his spirit with their foggy
subtlety. Evening, with the purple glories of
sunset Did he, as he gazod out upon the West,
draw aught of augury from the rushing cloud
that came up over the sun, quenching out the
dying day ere it had flushed through half its
Dolphin hues-the rapid, lowering storm-cloud,
its dark brow crowned with the golden rim of
the last sunlight, but its front frowning and its
heart all iridescent with lurid flashes of intense
lightning-the cloud that swept far round north
ward, yet long threatened to hurl its riot upon
them? An he did, twas an augury that ac-
corded with his sombre feelings, an augury that
considered not the departure of the clouds, and
its unfulflled threat. Then came quick night
with not many stars, for, though La Grande
Armee had gone by its free-bOoting campbell
lowers of clouds were still everywhere abroad.
Jasper fingered along the memory fraught
lane, and by the old trysting place, the arbor
aneath the beach-tree in the garden, and them
without knocking, entered into the presence Of
Gilbert Congreve and his daughter. Ruth sat
by window opposite the door, and started,
trembled, half rose, as he went in, but resumed
her seat, with face turned away. Mr.. Congreve,
calm, stately, looked up from the book which
he was reading by study lamp and regarded
Jasper with steady, prolonged gaze.
Good evening, sir" said Jasper.
who are your" asked Mr.. Congreve, in his
measured, calm, dispassionate tones, that fell
upon Jaspers ears like the pronounced sentence
of some far-of judge upon condemned crimi-
nal Who are you, to enter my house In this
uncourteous way, without bid or warning?
know you not at all, sir"
Ruth half rose again, and put up her hand in
piteous, entreating way, as if these cruel words
were addressed to herself, and tore her heart,
but she said nothing, for speech seemed to have
utterly failed her.
Jasper-ahl the lad was young for such
bitter ordeal let US pity him-Jasper, with this
gulf just opened in abysmal fashion at his
feet-with the wild torrent of all these new rev
Citations storming like springloosed cataract
through his brain-with the fierce sense of the
falsehood practiced towards him, of the foulness
of the injustice put upon him seething at his
heart and making his blood to course with the
tormenting fury of delrium-Jasper so young,
so unpracticed in the worlds false ways, did
not yet fail in the hard emergency. In his heart
of hearts thanking his mother with scornful bit
terness that he had derived from her enough
pride, enough will, enough selfsustaining
strength, to bear the weight of the injuries she
imposed upon him-Jasper, sadly smiling, in
tones gently modulated, replied:
You are right, sir. / am an unwelcome
intruder, binding myself wilfully in my unwil-
hngness to see effects from causes. Tonight,
sir" he added, little proudly, but with that
same sweetness of tone and gentle grace of
visage, Tonight, with your kind permission,
will continue to be Jasper Fleming, who owes
you much gratitude for many and infinite favors,
young man, who, recognising result while
fearing to ask the cause, since such inquiry
would impeach one whom it is his duty to
honor-changes an intended visit into dehni-
tive farewell. Tomorrow, sir, shall be only a
nameless waif with but memory and hope
mingling in the wool of my sorrow, to make life
tolerable."
Ruth had not turned round, yet Jasper saw
the intensity of her emotion. Mr. COngreve,
with that same steady look, as if he had not