Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-10-04
Rex, The King.
n. NJ. LEwTRAL.

| ~
| SsSss
| T &UNDAY morning in q proper
I13HS Western city. All the arighfeousi
49, Inhabitants and sinners, who
Is had just gotten new summer
suits, were in the churches saying their
prayers, or noddiug-approval? Pat
Ilonngers around depots, and groups of
vagabonds splitting and growing be-
fore the low boarding houses, and one
young man cantering up streets and
ldown alleys, as if witch7ridden. But
IgeneraIly speaking, the city was NOR
al city and had gone to church.
What allied that man? His body was
big and vigorous. He walked with a
broad-chested swing. You knew he
Ibis face; did not his dress, notwith-
standing its disorder, impress that TACT
on you, before You noticed this. But
he was acting like lunatic. Ever as
he swung forward, he turned aud
watched the ground behind him. Often
he wheeled and kicked the past. His
eyes were dilated. Cold sweat stood on
Ibis forehead, and broke through the
beard of his cheeks.
Organ. thunder and peoples voices
filed all the air around him. -.s
ooh, you're all safe and comfortable ~
he painted fiercely;. ;.'I'd like to take it i'm
there and let It wriggle down some of
your backs, and then hear your thanks
givings! Oh God. if you are mp alofC,
listening to all the gable made to you
this day, send me deliverance from this
$50 So over sa erossing,s down astrset,
across the river-bridge, "the thing"
marched him on. He was in the sub
urbs; miners wives and broods staring
after him. He was i'm the woods, crush
ing grass beneath his heels, writhing
with his arms reached treeward. His
face turned again to the town, and he
ramped through ways of men, lion
wrapped by boa-poor Reginald.
Folks were flowing out of the church,
es, and sweeping homeward with
thoughts OF Sunday dinners on their
peaceful countenances.
Now the man was mad indeed. He
darted this way and that among the
tranquilly-moving flock. Rushing
round a corner, he came in contact
with Marian, and rebOunded, painting
aloud. Marian stood, drawing a deep
breath of astOnishment. He swept her
with a lightning glance into his per-
ceptiOn. She was a woman, all pur-
Piles and grays as to her dress-rain-
washed purple and pearly gray. She
|
look at under the fiery sun, as a silvery
fiag-lily.
Her face flashed suddenly beautiful
as he encountered il. OF all the souls
going home from spiritual pasture, he,
by instinct or accident, struck the right
soul for him. How the twittering young
women would have stared at him how
would even the mild pastor have stood
at bayi
She OWNED l,is@s need before he
twisted his hands and strangled to her
l-"Hclp me! for Gods sake, help me ~
s'What shall do?'' HnH hail VI i
ssSliowl me where to go from that
snake which is following mel! he
pointed behind, near his feet-"Quickr'
"Come this way!" said Marian.
snatching his hand. She took charge
of him as she used to do of her young
brothers on stormy nights from school.
to the ridiculous, we learned In our
copy-books. In fact, a thing may be
sublime to one or two, and ridiculous
to everybody else. ~
| They ran; Marian, purple scud-
ding cloud, her patient, the gale which
blew lfer. She guided his force, and
let the people stare.
Thus they dashed into the grotto par
lor of her cool, large home. She
/
safe in a morning nap many rooms
away, and the boys employing all the
powers of their minds getting ready for
luncheon and Sabbath school.
ssOh, you've saved me from it,"
breatheG Reginald, dropping breathless
and dusty on sofa. stThink of the
cold, scaly thing following You a whole
night-darting its tongue, Kissing! l
defied it, kicked it, trod on it, and it
grew bigger every minute. When 1
first saw it, it wasn't as large as my
finger, but now it is the size of a tree. Il
know it is delirium. tremons, but, On
God! it would unman anybody! You
angel-woman, how must have fright
ened you! But there-there it is
again! 1t came i'm under the door,"
He rolled back in convulsions.
Marian went swiftly between him and
the door.
'sYour foot is on its neck!'' yelled
Reginald, leaping up, with his eyeballs
starting horribly.
s.There will keep my foot ~ said Ma
rian.
"But it can turn and strike you !!
Come off-come away from there!" with
despairing howl. He threw himself
before her and tried to fling her from
the spot. "No woman shall stand be-
$ tween me and what dread"
Marian threw up her arms, and trust
full, believing looks, before which he
fell back, an exhausted, abject heap on
the floor.
"Oh, our Christ" she begged, 1--WE
Il shall die unless Thou come to us. There
is no help in man. Satan, even in per-
son. Now show us that Thou art a
mighty Saviour, and Saviour to the
uttermost, no matter what self-sufficient
folks have told us to the contrary. We
: can't see Thee. Oh, our Christ! take
hold of us! we lie at Thy heroism and
patience! Oh. take hold of us, or we
shall die!''
Here Marian's heart burst and ran in
stormy tears over her face.
f.Its gonev' whispered Reginald !;
"mOve away and let me see. / knew it!
yes, its gone!'' t.r ~
He stretched himself and lay as life
v less as a seaweed; and while his ex-
hausted body barely breathed, the spirit
'r of music, freed by Marion's hands, be-
and shivered, saying plainly, "Ah, son
;, of man, both you and L are tormented
rs and hampered in this world'' Then il
: rose up, with the fetters on its feet, and
20 moved him with heroic impulses. He
felt strong; sat up; was thrilled tC
quivering. 1t led him on to a tender.
ness and newness of life. Marian, hei
Dack 10 nm, her nanQS ana nearG swirl
a and strong upon the keys, was opening
Heaven to his imagination. ''Hope fol
me?" he asked himself aloud.
"Hope for me?" caught the young
r woman, whose ear was keen. A piano
was hardly able TO give utterance to tn,
triumphant anthem which burst out I'M
der her touch.
Having exercised his tormentor, sh'
IS tnrned her helpful, beautiful face to
ward him.
ng ''Sit there and let me look at you,
begged Reginald. "and let me tell yo,
nR all about it,
en- She was all his in listening.
He laid down the outline of his ease
Much of his confidence cannot be told
it was in his eyes, in his alternatel
,e, crimson and haggard face, i'm the stoo
n of his proud figure. His father ha
nut been a drunkard: and his fathers faith
er. The curse of their race would b
II covered for years by the hard crust @
manhood, but it's lava finally brok
through aud overfowed everything
'ss They all rose from untainted bOyhoO