Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-02-12
THE WHITE-HILL PIT.
BY ALBERT WEBSTER, JR.

On June evening there sat at table
in one of the parlors OF house among
the Essex hills four persons, one of whom
was detailing an experience that had be-
fallen him that day.
The host sat opposite the relator. On
his right hand, silent and motionless, was
Godfrey Nassau, the young rector, and on
his left was his daughter.
This story-teller was handsome and
powerfully-built man of thirty. 1t APP
peared that he had that day, while in
search for subjects for sketching, come
suddenly upon an immense, terrible, and
dangerous pit, the edges of which were
secreted by fringe of under brush.
The narrator described the place, vivid
ly setting forth its features, and dwelling
upon the horrors of falling into it.
At this point the girl moved a little,
and the two young men perceived that
she had become pale. Nassau saw that
the speaker observed it, but still he hesi-
tated to interfere.
The other, flattered at the effect he had
produced, went on, and with skill enlarg-
ed upon the agonies of downward flight
through the air, and dwelt with minute
ness upon the final shock, and the dis
memberment of the body.
Miss Alice, trembling from head to
foot, here fell forward in faint.
She was carried from the room, and,
after short absence, the host returned TO
assure his guests that they need feel no
apprehension in regard to her.
He found them in the midst of hot
dispute. He listened for moment in as
constituent.
Said Nassau in half-suppressed, but
penetrating, voice:
81 am certain that that was deliberate
attempt on your part TO produce an effect.
You were wanton and cruelp'
ut seems to me that you are showing a
temper that does not become rector"
at is as much the duty of a rector, sir,
to declare his antipathy to an i'll as it is
TO show his love for virtue"
Nassau! Nassau Sirr' The host here
fastened forward. Nassau, am sur.
prised-you are too hasty. You jump at
conclusions.
There was a moments silence.
"Come, Nassau" said the host finally,
"come, let me make your peace; permit
me to express your goodwill for my guest
may not?"
certainly, if you will be so kind"
Each made rigid and formal bow, and
then, after the silence of another instant,
the host essayed new and more cheerful
vein of talk. Both Nassau and Willis
made formal attempts at courtesy, but
these each and all lacked the saving grace
of truth, and so they chilled upon the air
like winter breaths.
In an hour the rector took his de
parture.
He walked down over the lawns, leaped
over the palings, and, stepping into the
moonlit road, walked slowly on toward
his distant home, with his head bent upon
his breast. and with his hands clasped
behind him.
Come" said he to himself, ''let us adj
NIT it. Willis is my rival. Alice has
grown strangely cold TO me. The fathers
eyes are filled with the virtues of the new
hero, and the old one is being pushed
aside. That is the sum of it, 1t is neither
more nor less than that But patience,
patience. Let me study how | can unde-
ceive them, and warn them Of the impend-
ing danger. Let me think and plan what
can do to restore the old order of things
that loved--alas! perhaps, too we'll"
Communing thus with himself, the
rector kept on his way, revolving his
troubles in his mind, and gradually bring
Ing out of the chaos well-defned pur
pose.
During the few days that succeeded
this, Willis urged his claim to Miss Alice'i
iavor with great persistence, and Nassau