Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-01-17

second glance in that direction, for
there, close to me, only on the opposite
side of the closed gate, stood my broth
er Solomon. l could not have mistaken
him if there had been only. the very
faintest hickler of light. There he was,
in his long coat and his high hat, with
his arms folded on the top bar of the
gate, the brown book under one of
them, as usual, and his eyes fixed
steadily on me.
Solomon" I said, growing very
cold and uncomfortable under his gaze,
it's getting chilly for you to be out"
He did not answer that, and so pres
emily l went cheerfully ON: "Tve been
you remember where [ said 1 was 60
ing" stopped again here. I did
not want to confess where had been if
he did not know, and I did not want to
tell another falsehood if he did know.
So put it to him that way, intending
to be guided by his answer. 1t was so
long in coming that I took heart of
grace to try another tack. "Where
have you been, Sol?
Another pause, and then he answered,
Just in his old slow way: "I've been
at home expecting you, Jacob waiting
for you until 1 could wait no longer"
I'm sorry for that" 1 said, feeling
little cheerier to hear him speak. 81
would not have been so late only I had
to go round by Blagly on business. 1
daresay you notice that I'm coming
from there now. I only went on bust
ness, Sol"
He made another pause before he
answered, and though it was a trick of
Solomon's, and always had been, 1 felt
myself growing uncomfortably cold.
Why could he not have stayed at home,
as parsons should on Sunday nights =?
But the icy chill turned all at once to
a clammy heat when Solomon asked me
quietly, and without turning his steady
gaze from my face: Chow much of
that filthy lucre have you won, Jacob ?"
Wh-what ?" I stammered-ar
then you might have knocked me down
with the very smallest of the feathers
in JOS winning bird" Wh-what.
Solomon?"
He repeated the question, slowly and
steadily.
"How much of that filthy lucre have
you won, Jacob?"
. "You-you have been dreaming,
Solomon"
Unlinking his long fingers, which
had been clasped together on the gate,
he stretched one hand towards me.
Five notes." he said, still with the
unmoved gaze. "Five worthless, ill
won notes."
I clasped my breast-pocket anxiously.
81 haze little money here, Sol, ,"I
said, as airilyas [ could, ga few pounds
more or less /; and want to buy you
new umbrella, yours is getting shabby
I'll go into town tomorrow and choose
one."
I tried to get up little cheerfulness
over it, but Solomon's gaze damped it
all out of me and, besides, he had not
taken back his long, hungry, out
stretched hand.
Give notes" he said, again {" five
worthless, ill-won notes, Jacob !'
Even if [ had the notes, SOL" be-
gan, trembling like a leaf in storm,
"even if [ had them-ha, ha ! what an
absurd idea what should you want
with them? And-and," [ added,
clutching desperately at q straw of
courage, "what right have you to
them ?"
There is no right in the question:"
said Solomon, and his face grew longer
and longer. "It is all wrong"
You don't often joke, SOL" said I,
pretty bravely, though was trembling
like any number of aspens, "but, of
course, you're joking now, and its
rather late for a joke, isn't it =? Come
along home with me-"
81 am not going your way now," he
answered.
"Shall you be home tonight p" I
asked, trying to finish up the scene in
my natural tones.
Tonight? !? 1t is midnight now."
Good bless my soul, is it really ?" /
exclaimed, not so much surprised as
ridiculously furried and nervous under
my brothers intent gaze.
Solomon had shivered as the words
passed my lips, and for the first time
he looked away.
Goodnight" he said, in his slow,
absent way, and then I think he added
three other words, which he often did
add to his good-byes but he spoke so
low that scarcely heard, and [ felt SO
angry with him, too, that I didn't even
try to hear.
/ walked on moodily across the heath.
All the benign pleasures of the sport
had been swept away in one chill blast
the only definite idea that possessed
me was the determination not to buy
my brother Solomon o new umbrella.
Ialways carried my own key, and for
bade the servants to sit up for me, as
you may guess L was surprised to find
my groom watching for me at the gate.
" Walking, sir ?" he exclaimed, meet
ing me with hurried step and worried
face. "I hoped you'd ride home that
you might be the quicker at the parson
age. They've sent for you twenty times
at least, sir. Mr.. Solomon -"
81 know" / interrupted; "Mr.
Solomon is missing I've Just met him.
I'll go and tell them so, for I'll be
bound the parish is all up in arms"
All the parish aO0s up in arms, and
had all gathered at the parsonage, as it
seemed to me-but strangest of all
Solomon was there too, lying on his
narrow bed opposite the open window,
with the square of moonlit sky before
his closed eyes.
They tell me something about a
swoon or some such womanish trick
and it may be true and it may not. At
any rate, remember nothing after the
first few sentences they uttered. Solo
mon had been ailing for some time-so
the words went-and had felt worse
than usual that day, and lonely and
restless. Still, he had insisted on