The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-07-02
NUMBER 33-

it reflected alt below IT, only q frac-
tion5of it's surface being hidden. by
a small clock, on which it appeared
to rest The furniture wasai keep
ing: t:tblesi with carved legs and
brass handles and fittings; chairs
with oval backs and striped moreen
cushions : sescritoirss with drawers,
and Indian sjars-allf these were
conspicuous But most conspicu-
Gus Of all was a Japanese cabinet,
very large and cumbrous; black as
ebony, with quaint figures inS gold
and dead colors, in slight relief. 1t
must once have been very costly,
but was now out of repair, and was
only used as receptacle for pa
pers. LTs go III T.li, 54s srrz Il
"a Ineyer recall my, room without a
thought of this cabinet. 1t is es7
pecially associated with. the first
visit of a friend of Rodney Gaunt-
lett who afterwards came often to
the old house, far oftener than ]
cared to see him. I recall that
visit like a dream. 7 seemt to see
myself, a pale, slim girl, with hair
of a reddish hue, so thick chat it
will never keep its place in any knot
into which I twist it, but is always
hanging about my shoulders, stud
ded with hair pins. n'Tis evening,
fand 4 am close to the window,
Tstraining my eyes over book in
the failing light. The book touches
me deeply, and I am conscious that
my eyelids are red, and that there
are tears on my checks. Willie ]
am thus absorbed; the door "Opens,
and Bridget enters, bearing in one
hand one of the old plated candel
abra, with wax lights fiaring in it,
and so preceding two other persons
One is Rodney Gauntlet himself ;
the other bstranger-a fine tall,
square shouldered, man, with an
olive face, black eyes: and shining
white teeth. As gave a scared
look, and toss back my cumbrous
hair, it is Mr.. Gauntlet who says,
pointing to the stranger, "Mr. Hugh
Dimsdale,J my dear, an esteemed
friend of mime Wholly unused
to visitors, I am confused, but NUT
ter something to the purpose, and
am conscious of having my hand
squeezed in a broad palm, and held
there a trife-1only trife-longer
than / feel to be necessary. The
memory Of what follows is made up
of three incidents The impression
that Mr.. Gauntlet is gayer and
brighter than / have ever seen him
before !; that Mr.. Hugh is embar-
rassingly polite and this further,
that, whenever 1 catch his eyes
wandering, it is always IN the di-
rection Of the Japanese cabinet,
which appears to have a. strange
fascination for him. 81 f..fse
That nights introduction was
followed by many.a visit on the part
of Mr.. Hugh Dimsdale. 1t was not
long before he declared himself my
devoted admirer, and begged me to
regard him as suitor for my hand.
My patron, too, limited as delicately
as he could that such am arrange
ment would be gratifying to him.
But received him eoldly; / Icould
not, like him; his coming chilled my
heart. The touch Of his hand Ills
tressed me so that I dreamed of ii
in the night, and woke up with @
.shudder. ..,.a.-s sza,,.sa O IA n..,
ID Still he came and came. / had a
suspicion that he knew how loath-
ed him, and gloried in the power to
infict the torture of his presenee'on
me gloried, still more in suggesting
Gam I never to prove my love by
showing how happy I can make
you?' he would ask. 5g55 81.
II am very happy" would be my
cold reply ss..s--s4-~f
l., "The present amply contents me" !"
So it went on.
At last he lost all patience, and
grew fairly angry with me. When
ever We met, his words were harsh
and his looks threatening. l could
not endure this, and, in one passion.
ate outburst, bade him begone, and
trouble me no farther. Ds5e1s
81 will never be your wife" said,
II will die first. 1 hate you. Leave
me."kg 10 -yy- f.sr{ss{ 5.-Er IL
.1 He obeyed but there was a ma
lignant glitter in his eyes as he
strobe ols of the room: and I saw
that he lhs his thin lips to bleeding
to keep in the words with which be
would have cursed me. For N ore
than a month Irsaw him no more.
This might have surprised me; but
duriug the part of that time I had
no leisure to give thought to him.
My benefactor was taken i'll. twas
the winter time and he was seized
with a slight cold, of which he,took
no heed until infiamation followed
and he was soon really i'll. Even
then he would not deem himself an
invalid, would not see doctor, or
give up his daily pursuits. Within a
week he was worn to a shadow; his
eyes sank, his shoulders rounded,
and cough tore fiercely at his lungs.
l was terrified; but he only laughed
at my fears, and declared that he
would soon be better. p.
On the eight night of his Illness
l sat late in my room; I could hear
him coughing below; but Bridget
had broght a message that he was
busy over his papers, and did not
care to be intruded on. Having
given this message, and assured me
that he had all he could need for
the night, she had gone to bed. 1
was wretched, fer l felt certain he
was very i'll and needed advice. Sit
ting. there over the dying embers, /