The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-05-07

In three days more Peter was satisfied
that his two distinguished guests would
not fraternize.
CheviOt WAS getting the rest Of spirit
that lac needed. And soon, since the
Rochesters and Stamfords were not in
trusive, and the heart of the woods was
open TO him, he felt himself slowly COM
ing to life, after years of suffering that
had beHumbed him.
All his hopes in life had been centered
upon "A woman who was lost to him.
The old story, but never beyond belief
TO the stricken heart upon which it falls.
Clare Edgerton's marriage, against her
will to the man to whom her father was
indebted, had ca a shadow, like that
of grave-stonc, down the path of Che
viot's life. All beauty, all enjoyment,
were lost 10 him when he found himself
! bereft of her lie seemed to have died
! TO himself.
But now the sky and the rustling
bouSlIs, and the violets looking at him
blue and brave-eyed from the grass,
aroused and vitalized him. A. voice
came out of the woods recesses saying:
"ThiS is not ell. There is more to come"
Meanwhile he ate the trout of the hill
side streams, slept sweetly, was polite
to the Stamfords and Rochesters, and
avoided MIR. st. Lambert.
lie awoke cne night, and heard a voice
singing outside the window. A woman's
voice, sweet and strange, and with vi
brations in it that seemed familiar
| Moonlight shone white on the wall
through the branches of a tree. He
aroused himself and looked at his watch
| 1t was a quarter of three in the morning.
Strange as the circumstance was, M.
almost unaceOpniable excitement seized
| him, az he dressed and went out upon
the upper piazza. But already there
were lights and the voices of men about
the house. Soon n voice-it was very
much like st. Lambert's-called, ''We've
got herl" Then all grew still.
But he could not sleep again until past
daybreak. That singing voice so haunt
| ed him
The next day he made inquiries. A
sick woman, deranged by spells, had es-
capped from the care of her nurses, they
| told him.
Two weeks passed A wild, rainy
| spell drove CheYiot indoors from his
accustomed haunts, and little Mrs. Roch
ester, who secretly admired the stern
man with the sad eyes, invited him to
her private parlor, an invitation which,
TO his own surprise, he accepted.
First Sic tried him with a bit of gossip
''Have you heard" she said, THAT
Mr.. ST. Lambert IS 10 be married next
weekF
Cheviot had not heard.
''To Miss Rosa Grant. of New York.
who is staying at the village hotel, six
miles of. And they do say, Colonel
Cheviot, that lie has wife!r
"A wifeT'
! ''hGS, an insane wife. And that she
is kept here in back wing of the house
with her nurse Mr.. st. Lambert is
wealthy, though they say it is with her
fortune: but money won't help him to
| get divorced from Il sick wife, Gonolud
ed Mrs. Roch.sfra. with flashing eyes,
| whicl were to be interpreted by the fact
that the little woman was in delicate
health, and had n coarse-looking hus-
band, who treated her with brutal indif
ference"
Certainly not, said Cheviot.
II Lave never seen this invalid woman.
ST. Lambert says it is his sister, but
know parties who can prove that she is
his wife. Peter Stewart is in the secret.
DO you know that she escapes and wan
ders about the ground; And that is
what the excitement was about the other
night!''
Indeed! ! distinctly heard some
strange, sweet simging!"
''Sie. has a heavenly voice. Aud she
calls sometimes, II nam name, piercing
| lNY SNttllN. ~ NpAIl Ohl iA'fti
ache if you clIanced to hear it. But
they always hush her up aud keep her
quiet as possible. This Is my third Sum-
mer here, or should not know SO much. ,
'sThe skeleton III the house." said
Cheviot, smiling,
''Yrs, almost literally. They say she is
pinned away TO look like a spirit more
than "a living thing"
"A spirit. | think | saw one in the
woods the nj sht came herer' exclaimed
Cheviot.
Perhaps it was Mrs ST. Lambert"
Possibly" returned Cheviot, with a
start.
He sat musing for a while on what he
Iie had heard.
In course of a few days the strange
story became familiar to him. The in
difference which he had before felt for
St Lambert now changed for decided
disapproval and dislike.
"A bad man." he said to himself, re,
garding more attentively the handsome
Greek profile and the bold eyes.
The nextweeh closed the stay of Col
oneI Cheviot at the Heron Lake House.
Once more he wandered alone to the lit
tie sEeet of blue water, and as the after
noon was hot and the Dalsamic scent ol
the pines heavy, lie fell asleep, couched
Iuxl.riousIy Oil Il led of brown, rustling
leaves
a violent peal OF thunder awoke him.
He sprang ur. The sky was black.
Lines ofIightning played about the pine
tops. 1t was too late to escape; he could
only sink back underthe matted boughs
trusting to their density to protect hin
from the coming rain-
Suddenly, R!eadinsly, sweeily, voice
called his name.
'Hughiel HuglIie!"
Cheviot leaped TO his feet.
"Hughie! Hughier"
How frightfulIy like the voice OF tin
woman he had lost! But she woulC
never call him more. No, no-neve
any morei He threw himself dowI
GInong the russet leaves again, almos
with sob.
How he had loved the lips which haC
made that plain name sweet! Oh, God
but thou Only may witness the strong
mans agony
When Cheviot again raised his head