The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-04-15

minded of the death which his conscience
told him his own negligence and unkind-
ness had caused. 1t seemed to him that
he was constantly walking over the grave
of his murdered friend. Pass where he
would on the ice, there the dead face
seemed to rise beneath it, and with up
, turned eyes, and still, livid lips, reproach
him for his crime. And he was now help
, ing to make merchandise of that ice.
The thought of it became intolerable to
him; the very sight of the pond, which
had before been his delight, filled him
i with loathing.
Every body noticed the change that had
come over the late foreman, and he had
the sympathy and respect OF the entire
community. Emma Wexford heard of it,
and she longed inexpressibly to see him
once more and to speak to him one little
word of comfort-all the interest she had
: telt for him, all the tenderness he had
ever inspired, returning with ten-fold
force upon her heart, now that she knew
he was unhappy.
1t was generally believed that Kermer
was working his way back gradually and
surely to the place which he had felt
obliged temporarily to resign A week
was engaged, and the ice was at last thick
enough to cut 1t was Saturday evening,
and on Monday morning, if no more snow
fell in the interim, the harvesting of the
crystal crop was to begin. AS Phil was
leaving the pond at dusk, the President
stopped him and put a letter into his
hand. think of it till Monday" said
he, 'then give us your answer"
Phil went into the tool honse, struck
light, and read the letter. 1t was for
NAL proposition for him to resume his
former duties as foreman, with an increas-
ed salary.
He put the letter into his pocket, ex-
tinguished his light, locked up the tool
honSe, and went home He did not wait
till Monday, however, before coming to-
decision Before he slept that night,
his mind was made up. He determined
to decline the offer and leave the pond.
In leaving the pond, he would of course,
leave the town; for what would then be
left to hold HIM there but those painful
associons from which he was growing
morbidly anxious to be free? But, before
going, he felt he had a duty to fulfil He
had never yet had the courage to visit
Clint's grandparents since the accident
he would do so now. And EInma-he
ought to see her once more and acknowl-
edge to her thar she had always been
right with regard to his enc dangerous
habit, and then bid her final adieu.
The next day he wrote his letter, for
maly and positively declining the com
pany's proposition, and in the evening set
out to make his farewell calls Emma
fErct Stl, ctr
ing of the heart.
1t was clear January night; beautiful,
still, moonlight on the beautiful, still
snow. Phil's shadow glded beside him
as he walked, and darker shadow dog
ged his every step-the memory Of Clint.
1t was only two weeks since they had met
together in that house, and then the boy
had been in the mans way. But what
would not the man have given now to
have had the boy in his way to night.
1t is true, a horrible temptation beset
Kermer as he approached ard saw the
| light in the windows, and all his old feel |
ings towards Emma surged up again. lie
believed that if Clint had lived she
would have married him. Now that
Clint was gone, perhaps he, Phil-But he
would not let the thought shape itself in
his mind To profit in any way by the
boys death would, he felt, make him a
murderer indeed mo, no !" thought he,
crushing down his heart as it rose rebel
liously, this very thing makes union
with her utterly and forever impossible;
should always feel that had gained her
Ivy getting rid of Clint. l wont forget
this now when | come to see her." and he
did not forget it.
They met almost in silence at the door,
so much were they overcome by the emo
tons the occasion called up in each The
children ran to meet him, as of old, and
Sissy, remembering the fun she had the
last time he was there, asked for Clint.
"What have you done with Clint? Did
you put him down under the it'll? Wont
the titheth bite him there!"
"Hush, hush," said Emma, while poor
Phil was unable to speak word.
But the little chatterbox ran on. She
wanted to know how Clint could get I'D to
heaven, now that the ice was frozen thick
and hard all over him, and would Pill
cut hole to let him pass through.
Il with he wouldn't 60 to heaven" she
said, for i want hlm to come and make
"a wheelbarrow of Tommy, and me be
DdS vi pOVdtOctiI, anu tuGli Hic lIhp lit
lid lath time. VIII you let me be bag
o potatoeth, Mithter Phil?"
But Phil, cut to the heart by the limo
cent pratte said lie didn't believe he
could make wheel barrow; besides the
: blacksmith shop (namely, the old grand
+ father had gone to cali on sick neigh
5 Dor; then what would they do if the
: wheelbarTow should break down? So,
g Sissy was put off, and the children were
!, soon sent out of the room.
S Then Phil told Emma of his detcrmi-
: nation to leave town, probably never to
s return. She had not expected that. She