, 1874-01-25
THE WHITEHALL PIT.


At ear1v twilight on a June evening there eat
1t & tea-tab1e in one Of the lofty parlors OF 3
fine old country-house among the Essex hills
party Of four persons, one Of whom Was
detailing m experience that had befal1en
him that day, while the othere we're assentively
listening.
The host, IN aged gentleman. Eat opposite
the relator, On his right hand, Silent and mo-
tionless, was Godfrey Nassau, tue young rector
OF the parish, and on his left WAS bus daughter
With her pretty head resting upon her hand,
md With her face softly illuminated BY the fall
ing light, TUNED, like her fathers, full upon the
This story-teller Was handsome and pow
erinly- uan OF thirty or theseabo1s. ,;n ana
and to the girl, seemingly ignoring the pres-
ence OF The rector. His voice Was strong
snd sympethetic, and be modalated it artfnly.
It appeared from what be said that he Ind that
day, while in search for subjects 1or ske.chlng,
conc suddenly and without Warning upon an
immense, terrible, aud dangerous pit, q deserted
mnrb1e-ouarry, the edges Of which we're sec1eted
by fringe OF under-orush.
This Tie hos: bad explained, Was the White
Hill Pit -,
yiyidIy setting forth it's sinister features, and
dwelling at great length upon the horrors OF fail-
ing into it. ,.,,,.
and tho two young tneA tetce4sout eson ~ AAo
faint hight. that she had become pale. Nassau
gaw that the speaker observed it. but still he
hesitatod to interfere.
The other, battered at the effect he had pro-
dpccd heartless1y vent on, and With subtitle skull
enlarged upon tho agonies OF downward fight
throush tho air, and dwolt with painful minute
ness upon the final shock, AMI tue accompanying
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the body.
Miss Alice. heavy-eyed, palid, and trembling
from head to foot, he:e fell forward in faint,
in tue midst Of grsst eontusioaI ro5 ,ro, ,a roo,
with the aid Of servants, md. nfter short ap-
eeuce. the host hastily returned to assure his
guests that they need feel no apprehension IN re-
gard to her.
Tn l;stenel for moment in astouishment.
sad Nassau in half~suppressed. but still
penetrating, voice:
calculated attempt on your part 10 produce an
DESCRIPTION Of that terrible spot that you Should
couple shocking personal experiences with it.
You we're wantpn and crucl!"
II do not admit that you are a Judge"
"Posaably. then you do not admit that ne
have had evidence Z"
temper in this mntter that does not become
rector"
III is as uauch the duty Of = rector, cir, to
declare his antrnthy to an Ill as 1t 10 to show his
| q
discovers has been covert one. ne u bound to
let it be known that he has not been blud. -
.sNassau! Nassau! sH!" The host here haAt-
eued forward. NASSAU, I am eurprised-I-
you-th1s il q sudden outbreak! -
ut had sudden provocatlon, slr.
.But you a,e too hasty. You jump at con-
cyuBions Now, did not see anything OF tue
fnult you mention. You must remember that
Willis is giant in physique, and that he has,
naturally, the feelings Of giant. HIS mna ID
active and vigorous: and MS linaentn9lon paln1s
in strong co}ors. You, who arc sli:hter and
thinne1-b!ooded man, are acute, and Perhapa
morbidiy aiiyo, to shades OF meaning that Tor
him do not exist Aa for Alice, do not doubt
that she was tired. or nervous and"
"}sut, even" eagerly interposed Nassau
.stop!" interrupted the other ''Allow me,
for moment. beg OF you wanted to say
that ii nhe yields SO readily to such mild attacks
upon her fancy, think it Ia high tlme that She
aud all the household we're infused with soue
need tie influence Of all active and animatea
spirit and, If am not greatly mistaken, Mr.. VIII
lis is to prove QUE refolmer am sre Nassau, that
you vii, alter little cool thought, agrce with
me. Perhaps you are some"hat o'eEss1nng
yourself. Iou know that your labors have been
reyere. OF late-pcrhaps you arc q little seusi-
tlye-who knowsI" ..
There was 1nonent's silence. Tie three men
etood motionless in the gathering gloom, and
wero hardly discernible to each other.
AAx
gcntly~urgent tone-' come, let me maize your
peace; permit mo to express your goodwill fur
my guest-may not {"
Perhaps there was something mandatory IN
the request, still Nassau did not permit h1maelf
to hesitate. He replied:
- Certainly, il you will be so kind"
EACH made rigid and formal boF, and then.
after the silence of another instant, the host
essaged new aud moro cheerful vein of talk.
He was but partially successful. however, for
H. %nr1 Nf
too strong to be thus easily changed Both
NaueBau and Willis made formal attempts at
courtesy, but these each and all lacked the
saving grace of truth, and 80 they chilled up
Oh the atr like winter breaths.
In an hour The rector took his departure.
He walked down over the lawns, now aud then
locking at the lighted upper %indows OF the old
house.
He leaped over the palings. md stepping into
the moonlit road, walked slowly on toward hls
distsnt homo, with his head bent upon his
breast, aud with his hands clasped behind him.
He was passing Lis case aud its circumstances
"Coma," said be to himself, t'let us ad~
Que. I can no longer refuse to 30 convinced OF
that. Willis is mY rival. Alice has grown
strangely cold to me. The fathers eyes are filled
with the virtues OF the Few hero, aud the old
one is being pushed aside. That is tue sun, sum Of it.
powerful, athletic, spirited man be is full of
lie and eaorgy. He sings. ho rides. be ROWS, w.
he laughs aloud, he recl1es, ho 1lls
tho house with noiso and exclte-
ment. This p1caaes his host. His old
heart ia dclighted-and it is natural that it
should be yes-it is natural. But Aice-Alico
can scarcely find little to love in all this. It is
impossible that her tender spirit can bo cheerod
or aoothed by such virtues. Yet she is gradu~
ally drawing away from Inc. she avoids me, sho
gives me short answers, she does not smile
when I come, or try to detain ma when CO.
ALI, did not think I could be so unhappy
Still, how impossible this is! 1t cannot be!
He is cruel, selfish, heartless. Nothing
true and lasting can bridge the gulf
between tteml They arc too disslmilar to
love each other. am sure Of that! But lot mo
be- calm. Let me Judge fairly and Justly between
us-let me examine our separate dlapositions.
aud assure myself that I am not in the wrong.
It seems hard that he, so much Of 3 stranger,
should rush in and tear asunder our sweet COM
panionship with SO rude hand. aud assume by
force what had earned by long waiting! But
patience, patience Let me study how can un-
deceive them, and warn them Of the impending
danger. Let mo think and plan what I can do
to restore the old order of things that loved
alas perhaps, too we'll"
CommuaiDg thus with himself, the rector kept
on his way, revolving his troubles in his mind.
and gradually bringing out Of tue chaos we'll