Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-04-07

Winter could have struck his brother in his
rage. In his superior age and wisdom, the
other seemed no better than a boy to him
What he said he hardly knew; words that at
ealmer moment he had certainly never
uttered. Jack was told what an unwelcome
intruder he had been, nothing but burden {;
and was bid to 90 forth that same night be-
fore he was an hour older, and shift for him
self for the future.
For moment Jack stood as one stunned.
But of course there could be no appeal
against the mandate, even had be felt in
clined to make any. The house was his
brothers.; and he had been, in truth, but an
interloper in it.
very well .Septimus, " be said calmly ac-
quiescent. I'll just put my things together
and send for them when know where shall
have ceiling to put them under
Jack went up stairs, treading softly. 1t
did not take quarter of an hour TO - put has
things together. They were bundled into
| his small pOrtmanteau and the big sea-chest
| that used TO be his father's-which sea-chest
! had been deemed too shabby for Septimus,
the clergyman, to take 70, and 80 It fell to
Jack. Jack treaded the things down after
I the mos; approved bachelor fashion, and so
| got both receptacles locked. There was no
room for the pistol-case, or for all his books
he went down carrying some of them in bis
hands and .tuiing his pockets
Twelve years elapsed. Twelve years a
vast period Of time to look forward TO, not
much to glance back upon, when they pre-
sent but a wide track Of unbroken smooth
ness, as they did 70 the retrospect of the
Reverend Septimus Winter He had done
nothing but 60 up and up in prosperity's
scale. lie had another living added 70 his
rich one he was an honorary canon of some
cathedral or other land very great honor it
appeared TO a man Of his turn Of mind his
name stood high with the world socially and
clerically he was regarded as one of the
sanity diyines Of the day, quite beacon
light. lie fully believed 1t, and was pulled
up with vain-glory
They had been one care-0ne intense dis
appointment-Mr and Mrs. Winter were
childless The delicate little blossom. Flor
encc, had faded soon; and strong, trouble
some, INDUCED Harry a couple of years az
terwards How keen the grief to Mr. VIM
ter had been he alone knew. how bitter the
disappointment at finding, as time went on,
that his wife had no more children, be
would have been ashamed TO tell Of lie had
got over 1t all now had ceased almost 10 re-
gret il his affections were set on the sub
stantial good of the world and on the amhi-
ton growing rife and more rife within him.
Men-aud women to0-must possess an
object in life ilr. Winter preached from
his pulpit the desirability of that object being
Heaven; Heaven alone; but he had not
made it his yet. lie thought the bishopric
he coveted was advancing nearer, and bis
heart glowed within HIM
And Jack Jack had never been seen by
Mr.. and Mrs. Winter scarcely been heard of,
since the Saturday night that he kissed the
baby's hand in farewell, Clearing TO wake
her If he kissed her face and went out with
his books and bis pistol. On the Monday a
porter brought barrow for the sea chest
and portmanteau. Mr.. Winter was out at
the time, or he might have asked where they
were to be taken to; or he might not In the
elati0n of heart caused by the riddance Of
his house from 50 undesirable an inmate, Mr..
Winter was quite content 70 let things be as
they were. lie was of rather a close nature,
and 1t was q great thing TO be relieved of the
third at table Perhaps it may be more cor
rect to say selfish, instead of close; since be
own enjoyment and his wite's; but he
grudged the cost of an interioper.
1t was at this period Just twelve years al
ter Jacks departure that a blow fell on Mr..
Winter. In the full zenith Of his pride and
power, before q silver thread had mingled
with his luxuriant brown hair, or wrinkle
crossed his handsome face, he was stricken
suddenly all but to death Driving his
.s.1r 81 .
people of the land, (n0ne greater in self
Importance than hc,) his wife by bis side.
his two servants behind, there arose an acci-
dent. In turning by Apsley House some
thing fretted the horses they dashed at the
gate, and the carriage was overturned
Mrs Winter and the servants were not hurt.
to speak Of, Mr.. W inter lay ~ he fell. tie
was conveyed home, and those of the faculty
most eminent in name and skill were
speedily gathered round bis bed. His right
leg was broken and, worse STILL there was
some inward injury. Dangerous symptoms
superyened, and Septimus Winter lazy face
TO face with death
No one living can rclize what such q POSI-
ton must be, unless brought personally unto
it. For three weeks Mr. Winter llc hoy
er d in the balance, not knowing, one hour
of that time, but the next be should be called
TO meet bis Maker. The medical mon. in
obedience 70 bis wish, had informed him oi
his true state and without reluctance.
What need thought they, to hide II from 80
sanity pilgrim, whose reputation for holi-
ness and good works at least equaled that %,
the Archbishop Of Canterbury? Mr.. Winter
listened to the possible fat, and be knew
that it was Gods fat, not mans.
lie was not fit to die; he know it quite
well, lying there in his mental agony.
There could be 20 tampering then with con-
science, and it seemed that for him there was
not any balm invented to heal its stings.
He, the morally good and sell-rishtcous man
who had stood on a lofty pinnacle 10 teach
and guide other souls. saw things now in
their true colors. God had shown him his
sin.
The one great weight was his brother.
His hardness Of heart IN regard to Jack was
brought home to him in a marked and spec
ial manner. Quite at the first there was
some slight delirium, during which present
events were obterated, and he was back in
the past 1t was on the second evening after
the accident that he subsided at dusk into q
delirious dose lie thought be was at their
old home in the country yillagc-hc and his
mother and Jack. They seemed to be
parting; that he, Septimus, was going
forth to try his fortune IN the worlds In
reality he had done His mother held his
hand in hers, all his old intense love for her
was working within him it seemed that she
had given him some great help at cost 70
herself, to get him on. Little Jack stood by.
looking up with bis bright brown eyes, his
ready smile; and his mother suddenly releas-
ed one Of bis hands and laid it on Jacks
shoulder, as if presenting the lad 10 him.
- leave him to you. - she said D." take care
OF him and bring him to me hereafter
And he put his own hand out to Jack and
accepted the charge. Just then some crash
awoke the sick man-it was but a gust Of
wind against the window panes-and he
started in wild fear. For a few blessed
moments he thought the dream was reality
that he was back in that dear old village,
and only Just entering on life. As the truth
revealed itself, and he remembered that his
mother was dead, he a great man in the
world, Jack nowhere, groan burst IRON
him. How had he fulfilled his mother
wishes for she had left Jack to him-what
should he say when he met her? And the
meeting must he at hand, if indeed he was
crossing the threshold Of this world When
the nurse, hearing the groan, glided to the
bedside the patients face looked livid as
with some mortal terror.
That it was the vivid dream that in the
first instance caused the remorse to set IN
with so intense an agony, there could be no
doubt of. Conscience, awakened by his pO-
sition, could not have failed to bring Jack
before him with terrible reprisal but not,
perhaps, as he was brought now. Whether
dream OF delirium, Septimus Winter be-
lieved that it had come direct from God;
and the words " will require of thee thy
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