The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-02

oil the book ! have in hand may not have
induced-that and the picture we saw
Just south OF Croton POint-my confden-
tial revelations. The first chapter Of
Argylps Reign Of Law Is on the super.
natural-whst 1t Is. Let me read one
portion Of 1t"
gladly assented.
"The Reign Of Law in Nature Is, In.
deed, 30 far as we can observe 1t, univer.
sal. But the common idea Of the super.
natural is that which is at variance with
natural law, above it, or in violation
Of
Excuse my interruption" l said just
there, "but Of course the Duke means
does he not, sir Pat variance with, above,
or in violation Of that little, compare.
lively, which we kHoo Of natural law.
What an infinite amount Of Gods law
may be above and modify the small part
we know"
"Thank you, my friend; that Is very
well put" he replied, and continued his
reading. "'Nothing, however, wonder
full, which happens according to natural
law, would be considered by any one as
supernatural. The law In obedience 10
which wonderful thing happens may not
b kn0pn but this would not give 1t q
supernatural character, so long as We as
suredly believe that it did happen accord.
ing to some law. Hence, ii would sp.
pear TO follow that map thoroughly pos
sesSed OF the idea Of natural law as uni
Varsal, never could admit anything to be
supernatural; because on seeing any fact,
however new, marvellous, or incomprc.
hensible, lie would escape into tho conclu.
sion that II was the result Of some natural
law Of which he had before been ignorant.
= This is not the conclusion Of
pride, but Of humility Of mind. Seeing
the boundlGss extent Of our ignorance oil
the natural laws which regulate so many
OF the phenomena around US, and still
more OF tho phenomena within us, moth.
ing can be more reasonable than to con-
clude, when We sec something which 10
Us Is wonder, that somehow, II we only
knew how, 1t is "aH right'-all according
to the constitution and course Of nature"
lie closed his book, and hurriedly ge:-
ting together his lew traps, swinging his
duster on an arm, and buttoning his
gloves, he said: "And SO, my friend, these
facts In my own experience cannot eX-I
plain any more than l can doubt them. l
construct no theory for them. AS they
Uere. believe there must be some law
for them. But here we are"
"What, sir, do you got out hsrs'l" 1
had thought his ticket said Poughkeep-
sic.
-"Yes, yes-a sudden thought-but a
good evening 10 you. l am indebted 10
your company for a"
"Good evening, sir" and with real fer
Vor answered from the warmth OF my
heart, ~ trust VIC shall meet again."
That he answered with q peculiar
smile, sweet, fitting, but rather Incom.
pgehensible, and he was gone.
what mani" l thought; "what dig.
nifty and>Quietude OF manners 80 embrac.
ing in his sympathies What intelligence
Marvellous narrative that. 1t absorbed
me, as indeed did all he said. All! how
l shall enjoy telling Of this fortunate
ride to the company am 10 dine with TO-
morrow. 1t might make a sketch for
magazine" And so l pleasantly solilo.
quized for several miles beyond Peekskill.
But why had not asked his name? Ger.
tainly his ticket was for POughkeepsie, /
seemed sure Of that; what then could have
suddenly changed his plans to leave the
train at Peekskill?
However, what matter 10 me, except
the premature loss Of his charming socie
ty, that he did or did not change his trav-
cling plausY The interview had lett me
In very pleasant state Of mind as when
one closes some enrapturing romance aud
sits looking over II at NOTTINGHAM inter-
lude Of sensation between tue romance
lost and the reality to be quickly under
taken. l was conscious, in remote
kind of way, of the soft night settling
down on the river gorges Of the High
lands. saw tho twinkllng tiers oil lights
in Cozzens's, Garrison's depot, the blaze
and glare Of the Kemble foundry; and the
short, rafting tunnel under Breakneck |
brought me out OF reverie to the open |
piece of road opposite Cornwall, and a
shaking up Of my senses to travellers
preparations 10 leave the cars We were |
nearing Fishkill. I'm time for the ferry
boat? Let me see."
"But my watch. Where Is it? Could
have lett 1t on my bureau OF the hotel?
Stupid stupid! Could 1t be possible?'
tried to recall events-my dressing,
where l had last looked at my watch, etc,
but they were all in revolving maze.
Miserable confusion. There was nothing |
to do on the moment but to telegraph |
from Fishkill 10 the hotel proprietor.
"Fishkilll ler.r.r.y 10 NeWburgh !"
rushed from the cars before they were
fairly at a standstill, ran into the depot,
scrubbed of message for the operator.
"How much 2"
my pocket 6oOk!"
This pocket, that pocket, vest pockets,
inside, outside-nowhere. Ifslt as II all
my blood, in drops like lead, had gone
through the pores Of my feet into the
ground beneath. l jerked of my hat,
peered into 1t, answered not the waiting,
perplexed telegraph operator, but hurried
into the depot room, hat in hand, with the
wild, wavering look, and scurrying, IN
certain steps Of a lunatic. 1sIopped some.
where, my head uncovered, my limbs all
himsy. My fingers felt again for the &C
customed vest chain; they clutched
something, q couple Of links, a piece Of
metal. Igrasped the little broken bits Of
iewelry and studied them intently. What
did 1t meanH looked up: probably the
eyes Of all that travelling thrODg were fx
cd on me in wonder, perhaps amusement.
Suddenly faint, sneerirg whisper in my
brain seemed to say again and again,
louder and quicker with! each repetition,
and then with a whirl Of laughter, "Ar-
gyll's Reign Of Law Ha, ha.a.a.a - Alas!
| SqW it. 1 stumbled to q bench and sat
down on my-my hGt A cracking,
crumpling report, then burst Of laugh
ter. came 10 my senses and rushed for
the ferry. Without accident l reached
my family that summer night. My wife
meyer knew me more quiet, l had no in. |