The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-05-25
NO. 40.


and eternal, from him whose attractions
had caused this dreliction, for 50 she con-
sidered it, from her duty. Such an expia-
ton was bitter indeed.
This fact, which, though not admitted
in direct terms, was but too evidently be-
trayed both by Rachel's words and man
ner, caused Randolph Grey to listen to
her narrative With painful emotion indeed,
bnt without despair.
Earnest and eloquent were his plea1ings
with her to induce her to alter her view
of her own case-to reconsider her deter
minatlon. The argument on his side was
by no means ur;enable, for promise Civ
Ell under false impression, and that false
impression to all appearance designedly
conveyed, would hardly have been consid>
cred binding if plighted to living man,
and upon what principle was Maxweli's
death to make it so! Should ii not rath
er have set her free
Such were Randolph's reasonings, and
Rache's own heart was his most powerful
auxiliary, though she earnestly stgoye to
resist him, and to cling to that which she
conceived to be her duty at once to the
dead and to herself Will it be thought
wonderful! that after long persuasion he
induced her to submit the c $50 to Mr.. and
Mrs. Wood, whose opinion, especially that
OF the former As clergyman, could not
but have great weight with her.
Randolph Grey did not mich fear their
decision; and he was right, for they espous-
ed his cause, Mrs. Wood at once, her hu.
band after due deliberation. lie did not
think it right that Rache's whole Ho
should be sacrificed to deIusiou, and he
believed that her union with Capt Grey
would secure her happiness. lbeir argu
ments were therefore added to his persua-
slons; and, after much hesitation, Rachel
yielded. Yet it seemed "a if her decision.
though IN accordance with her own incli-
nations, was powerless to make her happy,
so strong were still her scruples, SO con
stantly recurring were her doubts whether
she was not doing wrong
A fortnight thus passed away, and it
became necessary that Capt Grey should
go to London to make the arrangements
Indispensable for his marriage, which, in
accordance with Rachel's wish, was to be
celebrated in her present abode, with the
utmost privacy. lie was very unwilling
to leave his pale and mournflt bride, espe,
claiIy IN SO uneasy and excited frame OF
mind but there was 10 help for it, and
all he could do was to hurry the proceed
ings as much as possible.
lie was absent only a week, but on his
return he was inexpressibly shocked to
perceive the change which, even in SO short
a time, had taken place in Rachel. She
was worn to shadow, and he's eyes had
acquired an anxious, terrified expression,
very painful to behold. At her first meet
ing with him she appeared greatly agita
ta.ed, and even after it he could not con
ceal from himself that she stunned his 50
ciety. When he perceived that in the lapse
of few days this had not worn off, and
that her nervous depression Of spirits in
creased, while Mr. and Mrs. Wood were
totally unable to account for the change,
he resolved to question Lcr, and one day,
having succeeded in tinding her alone, he
inquired Of her the cause ot tie alteration
| he perceived.
Her agitation was 50 excessive that i
was some time before she could speak, bat
at length she Informed hun, with many
tears, that they must no longer look for
ward TO any happiness together; for that
their marriage could never take place. 1t
was vain to struggle, or to bope-it was
impossible, and size must submit to hel
fate.
The reason was a fearful one, and she
shuddered, and her very lips grew white,
as, in answer to Grey, she told lin, if she
had failed to keep her promise, her dead
husband had kept his, and was come back
as he had threatened, even from the ends
of the universe, TO reproach her with her
broken vow. She had not seen him; she
had not heard his voice but whenever
she was alone, by night or day, she was
| conscious of au invisible presence near her
She had striYen to believe it deusion
but in vain, she could not be deceived
/ Toward night she was most miserable when
alone, for in the dark the sense Of this un-
earthI Y companionship became almost un-
endurable; and yet she feared to have a
4 i'1 iO', 'dth WHICH hdJ SLt Hou4t, eilS
saw an underlined shadow cast upon the
wall, which was even more terrible than
the viewless presence that haunted her in
the darkness. She felt that such torment,
if prolonged, must drive her mad, and that
she had no alternative but to renounce all
hope of earthly happiness by parting from
Randolph Grey.
He, on his side, believed her to lie the
victim of some delusion, caused by distress
of mind and weakness of nerve, and strove
to reason her out of her belief. lie de-
termined that she should be alone as little
as possible, and even persuaded her to let
Mrs. Woods maid sleep in her room at
night. For the present he contented him
self with entreating her to suspend her de-
cision, for he trusted to his influence over
her, and being persuaded that, whatever
her nerves might be, her mind was not af-
fected, he had little doubt that he should
succeed IN bringing her to consent to his
wishes. But he found the task more diff
cult than he had anticipated. at first, in
deed, Rachel appeared more cheerful, and
suffered herself to be persuaded not actual
" to break off their engagement; but her
resolution varied with her spirits, and, if
ever she were left alone, the same convic-