The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-12-09
THE NIGHT-WALK.
OVER THE MILL STREAM.
by THE AUTHOR OF esEAST
iH3i4e q - LYNNE" ~

Al ~ NJ 'EAOI
.fa7i4e g 92 LYNNE" '7s -
The foolish child is fearful that some
thing may have Happened said the rec
tor, Lady Katharine argues that he can
only be with his sick PATIENTS .s,if ?
There is. no real fear, Miss Dudley,
observed Mr.. Hill to her in a kind tone.
1T is strange where he can be, do not
deny it; but, depend upon it, it will turn
out all right .q15 a u
With a hasty farewell he walked on.
Mr.. Dudley remained at the gate few
minutes, and then turned slowly up the
garden path, his arm round his daus shter
Not word was spoken between them.
ARnis felt sick with suspense and MIR.
Dudley probably deemed that any attempt
TO cheer her would but be a moekery.
Scarcely had Annis gained the draw
ing room, and Mr.. Dudley was yet in the
middle of the hall, when there arose a
sound as Of hasty footsteps outside; and
gentle knocking-a knocking as if the
knock did not want to make itself heard
too mnch-came to the door, The rector
turned aud opened it. There stood Mr..
Hill, and with him the miller's boy, Ben.
The rector's eyes fell on the latter, and a
rush ofdread came. bounding to his heart
They were holding out cane. A small
cane with silver top, which belonged
to Mr.. Oliver; he had carried it with
him when he went forth that night. Both
began to speak at once, in subdued tone;
but the words reached Annis's ears in the
Ill i,f., and saa,na1 20 hI.=tnr Al
There could no longer be any doubt of
Mr.. Olliyer's fate-that he was drowned
in the stream. The Miller's son had
picked up the cane floating on it some
hours before. 1t had gone floating down
towards the mill just about the time that
he must have attempted TO- cross. the
bridge. ;. ...... ..:.s,.
what do they saye?-nAat?' uttered
Lady Katharine, who caught but imper-
fectiy the sounds of the commotion.-
what is that, about Mr.. Olliver?''
Annis turned to her; her livid face a
sight in its rigid. stiffness. Now that the
blow had fallen, she was unnatural calm,
but it seemed the calm of a broken heart.
He is dead, mamma, she quietly said.
You have got your wish
Aud the Lady Katharine Dudley, as
she gathered in a full sense of the words,
shrieked out aloud and fell backward
For the first time in her life she had faint
ed away.
III.-oLD JOHNS FRIGHT.
''Oh, my dear child, 1 did not mean it
Il did not mean it ! Forgive me, Annis
forgive me?"
W hat night it had beenl How she
had goa through it, Annis knew not
Not soul in the house had been to bed.
Lady Katharine had been kept in her
chamber by sedatives; and now she had
come forth from it to throw herself a,
the feet Of her daughter. 5sfr
Annis leaned forward and kissed her;
she strove to. raise her.. The same un-
natural calm was still in her white face
in her bearing, the same meek stiffness
in her quiet voice. Lady Katharine
would not be raised .n...t ..l
Annis, loved him; did indeed 1t was
only my. folly, my temper, speaking
against him. At the time l spoke,
knew it was false, for. did like HIM"
"Yes, yes, dear mamma. Pray ge
up"
II did not mean what / said,n sh,
shuddered. III did say wished hin
dead, it-it--could rot have brought the
death upon him. | did not really wisl
it. said it N my fractions spirit. An
mis-, love, L would give all am worth t,
bring him back to lite. Why, why di,
he attempt to cross that dangerou,
stream p
Give all she was worth to bring hin
back to life? How many OF us pour fortl
the same unavailing wish, for evil done
or said, or rendered, to those who art
gone! And we can only prostrate our
selves in the dust, as Lady Katharin
did, and wall out our repentance i'll vain
All was arrested. The preparations
which had been SO much thought of, wer
stepped midway, and the servants stoo,
in dlsmay over the half-laid tables, un
certain whether to finish them, or to re
move what was already on them. or t,
Eleave them incomplete What was to be
come of the wedding breakfast the meats
the fowls, the game, the sweets I? Wha
was to. become OF the grand wedding
cake? Trivial doubts and dllemmas, yo
will say, by the side OF that awful new
which had come; but they concerned tn
servants, aud were by them indulge
in. isi
I "What comfort can Ispeak to you, nj
poor child p asked Miss Bellassys, get
ting Annis to herself, and sheltering' he
aching head upon her bosom. -.
..None just yet, Aunt Ruth" was th
subdsed answer. Il do not know that
could bear it.
"Yut, my dear child, this appathy, thi
absence OF emmotion, is unnatural,
urged Miss Bellassys, who was fearin
from it she knew not what consequences
Better that you should give way an
weep"
Il can't said, Annis; "my eye
burn so."
Was she going out Of her mind? Mis-
Bellassys felt her own pulses quicken q
the fear. '.My dear, she grave!y said
syou must bear up for your father an
mothers sake. You are all they have.
! "Oh, yes, l shall bear up. | shall nc
die. may get better, Aunt Ruth, whe
the wears have gone en-.
The gears r CALCULATED Miss Bellassys
- IL. 4 1 81