National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-06-20
DOWN INTO THE HEART.

Edgar Bishop and Lucius Fernleig
were in their early manhood-not NOR
than one or two years beyond thirty
and OF all the moving, busy spirits O
| Dunelitf they were the most positiv
and influential. Bishop was lawyer
and Fernleigh was a merchant. The,
| had prospered in the new town of tn
western land-they had helped to bull,
tie town up-and the wealth they ha,
gained had been truly, manfully, an,
honestly earned. And Bishop an,
Fernleich had been friends-had beer
like brothers through the years of thei
pioneer labcrs-and like brothers the,
had joined in making patriotic use o.
their wealth.
In politics, through the years of you'll
they had worked and fought together
but time had come at length when the
old party lines seemed to be breaking
up A new party was forming. Busi,
ness called Bishop to st. Louis, and
during his absence movement was
made in Duncliff, and club was form
ed i'll the interest of the new party, and
Lucius Fernleigh was at its head
The old party organized a club, and
chose Edgar Bishop for its president,
the members believing he would accept
the position upon his return. Fern
leigh shook his head. and told them
they had made n mistake.
" Bishop will not accept" he said
:" know his fe hngs; he will identify
himself with the party of progress and
reform"
But the merchant was mistaken.
Business detained the lawyer beyond the
limits originally set; but he wrote to his
friends of Duncliff, accepting the posi-
ton to which he had been elected, and
saying they might draw upon him to
the extent of n thousand dollars in fur
therance of the objects of the club.
" 1t pains me, he wrote, "to learn that
Fernleigh has gone over to the enemy.
He has made mistake, and will live to
regret it,"
This letter was shown to Fernleigh,
and it stirred him bitterly. Among his
fellows he was loud and emphatic in his
laudation of the situation they had ac-
cepted in the political field; but in the
privacy of his own closet he was not so
sanguine. 1t was this sense of weak
ness in his position that gave room for
the bitter effect of Bishops letter.
A meeting for business pusposes was
called of the District Committee of the
old party. There were accounts to be |
settled, and old bills to be paid. Fern
leigh had been of that committee, and |
some of the unsettled business was in |
his hands. He was waited upon on the |
morning of the day of the meeting. and
requested to he present. His wife and
youngest child were away in Clarkton,
and he had proposed to go that day for
the purpose of returning home with
them; but he concluded that he would
remain and attend the meeting; and he
telegraphed to his wife to that effect.
Evening came, and the old committee
all save Edgar Bishop-were present,
with other friends. One of the num-
Der reported that he had received n
telegram from Bishop, and that he
would be at home on the following day,
it was voted to adjourn the
meeting to the next evening. Fernleigh
opposed the motion, but he was alone
IN his opposition, and his vote went for
nothing {
On the next day came intelligence of 4,
railroad horror Men and women had
been killed Lucius Fernloigh was
IKE one distracted. He believed his !
!, wife and child had been on that train,
\, bound. He telegraphed to
tne station nearest to the scene of the
usaster, and waited in agony of sus-
Pense for the answer. The answer came r
al length His wife and child had been
on board the train but they we're safe, C
'nd We're on their way home. He sank n
ipon his knees and thanked God He d
'ouid have gone ont to meet the loved
'nes, but he might miss them on the {
'Sv. ~ aud he would await their coming. y
Ahat evening he attended the meet
" again, and Edgar Bishop came in d
| ME the committee were in session. IL
ne lawyer was late because he had Il
'st arrived in town. He had met with a
|, accident on the way, and had been L
eiayed. There was livid mark upon 81
y lace, as of burn, and his left arm h
as IN sling. Fernleigh did not greet te
m n cheerfully, rs of old. The memory HI
tne letter ranked in his bosom, and
ade him wroth. to
IN That region of country a meeting d.
Ae the present was seldom had with OF
y .he presence of the spirituous side hi
'ard, and those who had prepared for h'
: eauhering had not failed to provide hi
,ll-filled decanters. di
LATE In the evening. after outstand- q
. Items of business had been disposed ns
|, the matter of future movements was hi
Ken up, when it was suggested that hi
iclus fernieigh. having left the party,
. no longer qualified TO act With them. m
= had been upon the point, at iu
Is Stage OF the proceedings. of resign