The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-12-02
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WOODSFIELD MONROE COUNTY. OHIO DECEMBER 1863

mo, he has not got home, testify re-
turned Mr.. Lawrenson. "And there are
patients waiting for him; halfa hundred
for all l know"
A pause ensued. Nancy was leaning
on the gate. ''Sure he cant have gone
and fell into the mill-stream!' she ex-
claimed. ,.5 l~r-.
'sThe mill streaml' repeated Mr.. Du-
ley. "Did he go that wayR" 4-f,t
ayes, he did, said Nancy. "He cross
ed the road, sir, and got over the stile.
1 thought to myself it was nasty way to
take at night, with the waters so high rs
they have been, and that unsafe bridge;
but suppose he was in hurry to get
down the thing for my missis. @
Had any foreshadowing of evil crossed
hitherto the clergyman's mind, as it had
that of Annis? But the dread rose up
tumultuously now He said word to
Mr.. Lawrenson.
at can't be-" replied that gentleman.
"It's impossible. Such thing was never
heard Of"
Mr.. Hill was not very long before he
came out, and they crossed the road and
the stile; the way taken, according to
Nancy, by Mr.. OLIVER. Not that they
had any intention of attempting the unsafe
way. A detour to the left, before they
came to the bridge, would take them to
lane which led close to Mr.. Lawrenson's S
house. AS if By common consent, howev-
or, they bore on towards the bridge. Clear
and cold looked the water in the moon
light, as it coursed on towards the mill
dam. Everything around was perfectly
still; and there was certainly no trace of
Mr.. OLIVER having fallen into it. But
what trace would there be, allowing that
such calamity had happened? The
ground rose on the other side above this
wretched bridge, aud the banks were
muddy.
'Psha!' cried Mr.. Lawrenson. who was
the first to speak as they were taking their
survey. AN active, sure-stepping man,
as OLIVER is, would not be likely to lose
his footing by night any more than by
day. For the matter Of that, the nights
nearly as light as day, he added, glancing
up at the bright moon.
Mr.. Dudley extended his hand, and
pointed to the bank on the other side.
"Does it not look as though somebody
had slipped there?' he said. TO my eyes
but they are not so young as they were
it seems that two feet, or two knees, had
been sliding downwards.'
1T looks exactly like it., said Mr.. Hill.
bending his face forward. nne one eyi
IDENTIFY has slipped. l should say, 49,.
tempting to step up the bank after cross
ing the bridge, must have slipped back
wards.
"But they'd not slip into the water;
they'd slip on to the BRIDGE observed
Mr.. Lawrenson. 'There'd be no danger
in that
True. And it is not obliged to have
been Mr. OLIVER. The only danger in
crossing this bridge lies in its unprotected
Sides added the doctor. And know
none with steadier eye aud foot than
Mr.. OLIVER. Who's thisP'
Footsteps were approaching, and they
tut ned to the sound It proved to be the
miller servant boy, Ben, who was return
ing to tn, mill from some erranS on which
he had been sent. He looked eonsidera-
bly, surprised to see those gentlemen there,
watching, as it seemed, the water.
is anything the matter? he asked,
touching his cap to Mr.. Dudley.
"Not exactly, Ben, replied Mr.. Dudley.
AT least, we hope not. You have heard
no commotion here tonight, 1 suppose,
as if-as if-anybody had fallen into the
water?'
But, in truth, the rector almost blushed
when he had put the question. Itseemed
so improbable fear when spoken openly:
almost an absured fear; not unlike far
fetched incident in some wild romance.
Ben, the. boy, met it automatically
enough.
"Who has fell in7' asked he.
The fact is. Ben, we were looking for
Mr.. OLIVER, interposei Mr.. Lawrensen,
somewhat bluntly. He came over this
bridge, as is supposed, from the Brook
Farm tonight, and nobody has seen him
since. But he is not likely to have fallen
in
Ben advanced to the very edge of the
bank, and stood looking inte the water;
for what purpose, he alone knew.
sNot, he, cried he presently; Or. Olli-
yer could cross over there with his eyes
shut, he could. He goes over it Otter
enough. Why, I saw him cross over it
this afternoon with my own eyes, did.
I couldn't do it safer nor he.
There was nothing to be gained by lin
gering, and they turned on their road,
saying good night to Ben. Leaving the
church and churchyard on the right, thev
gained the high road of Hilton-Coombe.
There they shook hands and separated
Mr.. Lawrenson and the doctor turned to
the left, Mr.. Dudley to the right. 2 es
A short way, and he passed the church
and churchyard, the gravestones looking
white and cold in the moonlight. Would
that proposed ceremony take place in it
on the morrow?-or had anything hap
pened to him. who was to hold-itmay be
said-the most prominent part in it? If
so-poor Annis! poor Annisl
She--Annis-eame forward to meet
him in the hall as he entered, eager in
quiry in her eye-not OH her lip; her agi-
tation was too great. The question on
Mr.. Dudley's tongue had been. HAS he
come in yet? But somehow he could not
put it. -a a4 2s q
.sThey think he must have been called
suddenly to see some other patient on his
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