Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-01-31


button, which the man put in his pocket.
He meant to show il to his friends as one
which probably burst from the clothing Of
the slater when his body was dashed upon
the ground.
The two stood for a moment as if over
whelmed at their sudden proximity to the
terrible spot. Then they passed rapidly
across the street, aud hurried TO the iron
gate which led TO the rector's door. The
curate disengaged himself, and stood still.
Brattle said the rector, kindly, and
laying his hand upon the shoulder Of the
other" Brattle. you are i'll, | think.
You shivcr aud look cold. Please give
up your hard duties to me for day or
two, or week or two. You demand
rest aud quiet. See look at your hand
shake. You have grown thinner within
three hours, poor boy" lie stops to re-
gard him. He recalls all the contests he
has wnged against sickuesses, miserics,
recreants, and the thousand ills of the
parish, and his eyes beam with affection
and regard. "Overworked, overtasked.
Yes, it is too plain, dear Brattle, too
plain, | could not have you incur a sick
ness that would oblige you to 60 away ;
that would be a great misfortune. So 90
home and dream OF whatever you like for
the rest Of the week, and will send my
little girl TO ask for you in the morning.
She will think it hard that she will not
see you before then, but she will have the
ring"
Tie curate, holding to the iron by both
hands, is entirely deaf to what is said.
He peers behind into the shadows of the
church, aud examines the gloomy walls
aud abutments, trying hard to find an
enemy.
None appears, and so his eyes finally
fall upon the perplexed visage Of the rec
tor, who slowly repeats his injuuctons.
"Yes-yes," !" answered the curate, rap
idly; Eyes, perhaps | will rest | may
take vacation. Put your mind at ease,
sir; do not plague yourself about me. 1t
is damp here, and feel sort of fog
rising dangerous mist. Allow me to
recommend that you 60 in, sir Such air
is not fit for you to breathe, and your
voice is none too strong. | beg you to go,
sir"
The rector begins to regard him with
anxiety, while the curate beg to con-
fuse his dread and his present pos ton
to mingle them together. He says, ner.
vously, 81 will watch, sir"
"Watch ?" repeats the rector.
His tone brings the curate to himself in
a flash. He comprehends his position,
and becomes ineligible by sheer force
and effort. He ingenionsly explains him.
self as meaning that he will watch by the
body Of the slater, and then coherently
urges the rector to 60 within-doors.
The rector does so, having exacted q
promise that the other will Immediately
60 to his own lodgings and takes leave
with all gentleness and confidence.
The curate crosses the street aud waits
lie feels that the catastrophe is about
to occur, and he hopes to prevent it at q
blow. He looks out from his covett fol
the boy. ....... ....
He cannot escape from the terrible
view of the moonlit steeple, for Gothic
window, and the fragment Of rope which
beats the tower with the rattle of a fail
or curves outward in the wind. If he
withdraws farther, he must lose sight oi
the rector's gate; if he stands where he
does, he must always wildly imagine Q
swinging man staring in at the organ-lott
with cry of angry surprise upon his lips
lie watches the bright lights in the
rector's house, but his eyes revert to the
steepIe. He conjures the beloved scenes
wherein the progress of his love was prov
cd, but his thoughts fly of to the man il
the garret room. He imagines how hap
py he would be had the cursed ring never
disturbed his desires, but be awakes tc
his dread of the limpipg boy.
The bright rows Of lights glmmel
through the gathering fog the steeple be
comes obscure /; passing carriages com'
into and go out Of sight in flash; tn,
twigs Of the trees begin to drip; the al
becomes raw, and his comprehension o
his position grows with the gloom Of th
hour.
Twice he dashes cut at false alarms
for bis sensitive eye distorts every humal
limb it falls upon.
The hour grows late, the clocks ring 70
eight and nine.
Suddenly he becomes impressed wit
the picture of the rector's daughter. |
rises before him with the strength Of real
ity. Her graceful figure, her carriage
her air, her beauty, absorb his thoughts
and for one moment he forgets.
/ His ear becomes filled with the musi
Of her tones, her laughter, and her whis
pers He meets her eye. He marks he
light stop, her extended hands, and partc
lips She seems filled with joy, and file
to meet him with cry of welcome. Th
air becomes permeated with her presenc
as with perfume she difuses a glov
over his troubled mind, and he has an in
stant of rest. 1t is flash of his expirin
peace, last gift TO his tranquility,
He lifts his eyes and beholds the dc
formed boy halting along toward the rec
tors gate.
He springs into activity in an instan
Here is something tangible, somethin
with name. form.
: All his energies concentrate upon i
He brings ali his rambling thoughts, an
trains them upon tho puzzle--how sha
he circumvent this threatening parsonage
He steps out from his covert with