Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-11-10


mons came bidding me home. The mes
sage was given in such terms that |
feared oiioUs illness was at the bottom
OF it. and He'd homeward like The wind.
Janet was not in sight. y servant led
me up to my grandfather room. lie
was sitting alone, majestic gray figure,
10y the table. FASTENED forward To greet
him. but he suddenly stretched out hi,
hand, aud repulscd me with a gesture So
stern, u look 50 pathetic and diEuiiied,
that stood as il rooted to the floor.
Don't speak don't touch me- he said
until you have read that, and explained
it,"
He pointed with a long, lean .inger to
an open letter on lhc table.
took it up; it was The history OF my
intercourse with Rosalind Harrison from
bcginniug to cnd-leubly precise, terri.
J!y tue felt the blood surgiug hot
aud dmk into my face under those p.cic.
iug, uccd,o.Iac .ruy eyes lhat watched
ne as read The damned rcachcry.
Is this uuc?' M grandfather asked +;
bat could not reply. Is /, true, sir2 2'
persisted The pi,i,css voice; aud ,A,u /
forced myself to look up.
1T is true, in part, an afraid. Bat,
o. grandfather! Tor PHYS sake, listen to
me; let me speak one word for NY yscll.
am not so wholly base, or to blame, a
this says
Stop my grandfather cried. 81
will not hear another word Tho one
fact that | wanted to be assured OF before
condemned You, is true. You have
confessed it. You have been false to my
Janet. Jact! Janet"
The pathetic old voice breaking out
into this STANCE, sad cry, runs through
the lonely passages, and reached her,
wherever she WAS. She flew into The
room, and, bending over him, without -
look Mt nc. kissed his white hair aud
wilhered checks, soothing h m lendcily.
"Jauet my girI-my brave giri its all
true. You and I arc lvlt to love each
other alone, Janet" he said. cliuging TO
her hands.
And sc are quite happy. grandpapa.'
answered her sweet. clear voice; quite
happy, you and !. Cheer up-chccr up,
Dada" "
stood apart, listening as if on The
other siIe Of a great gulf Neither Of
them looked at me-
Forgive me" pleaded, for once in
humbleness. "Ifyou are thus determined
to east mo ou! OF your hearts. let ne. at
least. hear you say that you forgive me
before I go"
"Why should we boar enmily against
a stranger Janet ?" said my grandfather,
with cruel dis,incinoss. "Lot him 20 in
peace. Those whom he took In place OF
Us to be his friends have already played
the part Of Judas and betrayed him
Wha, could l sAy2 Fer 1t was Duu
Hauison's hand that, ,uuskilfuHy disguised
had pcnned that miserable episl!e in The
hope oil forever separating me from Janet
FenlonsIeigh. Was lie not Judas? So !
left them. without another ord--And at
that last hour knew the truth. My
grandfather had never cared for me ex
cept tor Janet's sake and whom he fancied
that had ceased to loyo her, he hated
me.
felt like q ruined man stunned. reel
ing-as stepped out into the open air.
\ great blinl; suddenly yawneI IN my
lie. | had always depended on Janel's
love. Whether were apparently rue t.
her or false whether / laughed. or
sneered, or smiled at her. expected her
TO love me. ! felt it impossible for her
to lie false. "A mans courage, mans
will, and mans sense OF honor, added
to Il woman's tenderness" how then
could Janet east ne of, possessing these
qualities? Sometimes pishcl aud ieer
ed, and told myself all this had come
iIom tie mans training Janet had re
ceiycd. She would have c!ung to me, in
spite OF every ything, as q woman ought,
had she been reared by woman After
all, preferred TO think that she loved
me, even then, in spite OF that lion old
man; 50 ! whistled Rosalind lIarrison's
memory down the Wind, aud, now that
my old Janet was lost 10 me, hugged her
dear image closer than ever
1t was solt, dark day-s,il, horribly
still, with the calm that prccodes or fol
lows tempest. Now and then the
heavy plunge OF sliding masses OF snow
was heard rs walked TO the station, and
great flakes fell from the clouds at long
distances. Oar train laborcd heavily
along. The wheels cloggcd, the rails
creaked, aud the Suilen All seemed 10 be
thrilled with lorebodings OF disaster. 10
add TO our gloom, heavy log settled
about us. Tho sheets OF black vapor
which at stated intervals roll up from the
Thames, and make London like the cities
one sees in dreams, vague and terrible,
would have been tut slvery mists cou-
pared with the thick curtain that wrap
ped us and crept as we crept onward.
was startled out OF my dismal rev.
erie by horrible sense of a failing, a
sickening crash as though the world had
been shattered; then came insensbiity.
When my Jared senses returned, real