Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-27
WHOLE NO, z ;260S

sionate look. and lingering atpaptine, the dream of unspeakable happiness that day had been And her words rang Ike a swinging-bell in his bran, fsT will Go what ever you say; know what you do win be right" He did not, he would not he could not think of anything else. All his nature was flooded and borne along with no more thought or possibility of resist ance than one who resigns himself to the delicious swirl and flow of midsummer tide, with nothing more solid under his trailing feet than the treacherous eddies and cllnging sea-grass. The chime Of her sweet tones swung on back and forth in in his brain, Il have no one else can go to; would not if could choose; l will do whatever you say," l..s A fierce impatience and hunger took hold of him for another day like that. for another and another, for all days, fair or stormy, to be with her, help her. guard her, comfort her, fight and die for her if need were. He had not chosen or plan ned that day of days; he could not see how he could have avoided it if he had desired, as Heaven knew he had not. He had gone about his duty honestly, taken the hard places as they came without whining, and as manfully as was in him. Was h1s duty less plain or incumbent be- cause it was anything but hard or dark now? Had not others their, sweetness mingled with the cup of life? Had not fate sent this hunted, stray lamb, to his care and keeping, and could he think for moment of putting her away, or setting her some hard new task, who was never made for any tasks any more than arobin? She had shown her gladness of heart in every word and look all day, and slept like play-worn child because he was near. Fate had unmistakably brought her, and bldden him guard her and make her hap py, and had as markedly shown hIa She | way. Oh, it was all plain. He only put it so to himself for fairness sake. The world would not understand, but he need not try to explain--the earth was wide and long. He had long ago learned that the worlds rules, though good and wise, and not to be lightly disregarded, were, of necessity, general, and fitted few partieu- lar cases exactly, and sometimes did not apply to special case at all. He Femem- bered having seen such exceptions very plainly once or twice, and having thought the persons involved should act carefully | and according to their conscience, but I.shou1d keep to themselves the necessary real or apparent deviation from the usual path for the sake of the undist;nguishing multitude who would only be led to con l demn blipdly, or confuse right and wrong altogether. This was clearly a case Of that kind.
 Oh, it was all very clear and very,. very sweet! But why, then, was he wandering aimlessly while early evening drifted into night, and the city gradually went to sleep? Why did his face take on the feel ing of corrugated iron, and his head Feel the grasp of a wise? He asked himself if he was sick; but if he was, or il, he was tired out with emotion and want of sleep, why in the name of reason did he not go to bed? He neither tried nor felt any sort of wish to resist the flood that bore him along, but perhaps he had some vague suspicion that this same delicious current might fling him on jagged, sunken rocks, or murderous sharks teeth, or he di1nly l perceived that somewhere, not far of, lay the breezy harbor bar, beyond which was scant hope of return, and farther on the heaying ocean of terror, full of darkness I and destruction. f4 a9s 9G7 TIT
 Late at night he found himself at ethe door of the railway office, and heard the clicking of the telegraphic instrument somewhere within. He went in, looking and feeling like one worn out with weeks carouse. He talked to the clerk a few minutes, and came out. A train lad come in meanwhile, and a number of pas sengers walked along with him. 8 He came to hotel and went wearily up the steps, dozen or so of the..belated travellers clat- tering before and beside him. One man stopped at the door and looked back and, as Will gained the topmost step, hand took hold of his arm, and turned aside to- ward the light; and the face that had looked out at him all that night from dark places and faring windows, and pass ing vehicles, confronted him now, and said, .al ''BirdsalI.' tg e,. ys al5 . It was Chris.
 He only held Will so and looked at him steadily, ,Eut he saw and felt that he shook from head to foot in his grasp, and turned ghastly pale. Little had Birdsall eyer thought he should quake before the sim pie fellow whom he had once so despised and always looked down upon=-thatt he should have to depreciate before him, and Chris have the upper hand.
 ''Where is Mabel?" Chris asked sternly. 'Is she hefe?" .E .f r. sisEa I "
 "Yes," Will answered, and his voice shook with the rest of Lim. t.--s.
 Chris glanced up at the building, and then back to Will with dark look. But then Will remembered something that had been driven out of his head for the mo- ment. A thrill of stern joy went through him, and he thanked God and gathered his strength to stand up and face Chris. and his voice did not shake now.
 Don't speak to me again or look at me like that. She is not in thefe.9 Come here." saeoH a5i @
 He led Chris back the way they had just come, and into the telegraph office. ha1 AfS~ snaa sage?" he demanded of the clerk T '-ta "No, I'd have sent it if I had. h7if1
 "Let me see what you said. !" 1,ia '1+
 'I said just what you wrote, !" the Ope- rator answered surlily. "There it is if you can't remember" toa 'sIt
 Will glanced at the message and held it up before Chris. It was addressed to him self at Mapleton. Chris saw, and was in these words: ai7oam t,av 4
 Come here as quick as you can.Y x,st
 It was in Wills we'll known hand. Chris laid in down, and they came out. ~s'
 "Will." said Chris, standing at tie rail. way crossings and in the glare of missing engines headlight, and speaking less steadily than before, '1 want to under stand. saw Mabel's personal in the pa per the day after and followed yOug l heard of your going on the boat the night OCAOIO dAu CcuO OA GoAus kYAASfr lstA4A she was in trouble; what was itT
 Will answered: 1 Af't aA' s-iA
 "Grifiths." ~s i6y1,ta1 a3aan1
 "What! that devil again?" He cursed him savagely. ''Did he do her any hurt?" 'Tormented her till he drove her nearly | distracted" "t H''d tAd af3as baa l Chris's first words in answer were like so many sobs. Will stood against lamp post with his head down. Chris took hold of his hands.
 Forgive me, Will" he said. 'I aI- | ways was fool ought to have known you would do what was right. It's been rough on you, too; you look as-if you'd been through fever" a..4s..s- ''Never mind that" Will answered, knowing there was not great dealto for