Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-01-07
the passionate pleading of every solemn
Seeking me Thy worn feet hasted,
On the cross Thy soul death tasted:

On the cross Thy soul death tasted:
Let not all those tolls be wasted 20
sang Elsie, and, as the last notes died
away, he rose abruptly, saying, Il am
tired out, Elsie, and my head aches.
will go to bed"
His wife soon followed him, but before
midnight she was at Isott's door with q
frightened summons. He had awaken
ed from short sleep to find the pain in
his head violently increased, and was in
state of so much fever that Mrs. Den-
bigh was dreadfully frightened. He was
quite conscious, however, and would not
hear of her sending for Mr.. Scott; in
deed, she had not confidence enough in
Mr.. Scott's skill to care to press the mat
| ter; and she was presently comforted by
Isott's pronouncing that he was merely
over-tired, and recommending that uni
versal panacea, a cup of tea. 1t did him
good, for he fell into sleep. 1t was so
uneasy a one, however, that Mrs. Dem
bigh would not risk disturbing him by
lying down again herself, but Joined the
old servant, who sat keeping watch over
the teapot by the fire in the dressing
room.
"He seems to be dreaming very mis-
erably, and he is SO feverish," she whis-
pered. DO you really think it is not
going to be anything bad?"
"Lor' bless We, no." said Isott, reas-
suringly; ''he be just downright tired
out, that's what he be. Ts my mind,
he ha'n't been really like hisself this
ever so long"
II have sometimes thought that too, ~
said Elsie, too frightened not to speak
plainly to this tried old friend of her
husbands. Il have fancied him out of
spirits, o, this long time.n And she
glanced through the open door at the
bed where he lay, his countenance lcok-
iiag most careworn and haggard in his
uneesy sleep.
My dear" said Isott, in mysterious
whisper, ''he do love We better'n any
thing as ever he we got; whatever I've
a troubling of him, it bain't nothing as
you've got call 10 be jealous of; you be
sure of that"
20, surely yes,n Elsie said, smiling at
the LrepOsterous idea that she could be
jealous.
/ well, then," the old woman went
on, "supposin' he've got some secret
as he do keep from ye, it bain't nothing
I of that sort, and maybe, if he'd take
courage, and up and tell ye, he'd be a
deal easier once't was over.n
Mrs. Denbigh felt and looked surpris.
ed, but did not know what to say, and
Isott went on rapidly: "I be foolish
old oman like enough, but sure L am
he ha'n't never been the same since that
there strange gentleman came here the
night afore you and he was married. -
What he never told ye, eh ?" she add
ed, quickly, seeing her mistress's bewil.
dered looks.
II do not think he ever did, said
Mrs. Denbigh, collecting all her soft
dignity; $50, Isott, don't you tell me
either, for 1 should not like to hear it at
all, unless | hear it from him.
''Lor' bless ye, Mrs. Denbigh, ha'n't
a got nothing to tell We. IT was only as
| were up late, over in my cottage there,
! ironing out Jonathin's shirt, and | seed
u light in the surgery parlor, and look
ed across and seed he and a strange man
standing between the light and the
window tafking. There, nay dear, that
be all, L do assure ye."
/ "Well, that is not much certainly
! What makes you tell me of it? I don't
understand" -
"Strangers be scarce in Sedgbrook, !"
said Isott, bluntly, land strangers like
that, too, with lot of nasty hair stuff
all about his mouth and chin, and the
hair o. his head Lord knows how long,
and his face all one as the color of that
there brown table-eover. Not as I saw
much of 'un, It were master as / did
look at, and as sure as you're alive, my
dear, he'd brought him some bad news
or other; for master ID got look on his
face as never seed there afore, though
many and many's the time I've seen it
there since"
Mrs. Denbigh felt uncomfortable
Still, she felt that to discuss Philips af-
fairs with servant, even 50 old and
tiled & servant as Isott, was not seeniiy,
and, rather reproaching herself for hav-
ing listened so far, she began, "Well.
Isott, when Mr.. Denbigh is well, will
ask him about it, you may be sure"
do ye, my dear, do ye," said Isott,
interrupting her eagerly. "New that
be the very reason why I've telled We
all this. Suppose master have a got into
debts with this here new furnishing, or
suppose there be any trouble as he've .
got into afOre he was a courting of you.
Lord bless ye, young men will be young
men! Why, it's only natural as he
should MT like to tell We, and nething'll
ever put it out Of my mind as that there
queer, furrin looking chap were either
bullying him for money, or trying for
| to break off his marriage VII you. or
sum'at o. that. So now, my dear, do ye
try and make 'un tell ye about it; fort
is nasty tiresome feel for man to have
sum'at as he's bound to keep from his
missus. Hark! He be waking"
| He had indeed awakened with great
start, and Elsie, going softly to his side,
| found him sitting up in bed, and could
hear him repeating under his breath,
very rapidly, the words: Fear not them
that kill the body,-but fear Him that
can cast both body and soul into hell. !"
She was overpowered with horror and
alarm; but, in another moment, ne came
to himself, and said in his natural voice,
as he sank back ON the pillow, "Elsie,