Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-02

! Then, for the first time 10 us lie, VIII
liam Dempton understood what II was 10
be left to his own conscience. During the
first hours of his pondering over IL, con-
science was not an idea only, but reality.
| He felt that his wife had more influence
over him in her death than in all her life
before.
Had this occurred at time when there
was pause in the course of events which
he had started-when some fresh impulse
was required TO continue it-it is probable
that no such effort would have been made.
But when such affairs as his are in progress,
they gather momentum which renders it
hourly more difficult 10 stop. He would
have TO be tenlold more in earnest to do ii
now than year ago. ct at this very mo-
ment there was a special motive for him TO
he active in the way.
Happy for herself in the time Of her
death, his wife was ignorant that he had re-
ceived information only The day before of
the success of his long-la plan. The post,
| that arrived in that remote region only once
a week, had brought him word of his broth
er-in-law's final resolve to join him, and
that he was on the very eve of carrying it
out. All the communications between the
two families passed through Dempton's
hands. His wife knew only what he
thought tit 10 impart. Her own letters he
| faithfully delivered, but they were few and
brief, and the correspondence was mainly
his. He neutraized the effect of her rep
resentations, partly by admitting their
truth, partly by toniug down her strong
| language; but mainly by his own plausi-
| BILE statements as to the prospects which
that region opened to a newcomer. Let
James Elsey come and see for himself. Let
him bring the money 10 pay down, which,
in the unbusiness like ways of The people,
would make the sum seem twice AZ large
as if he only promised TO pay, and he might
suit himself as to land on his own terms.
In that case Jane and he would be together
again. They would both have better
| chance in that climate 10 live long, aid
they would all have an opportunity TO rise
| 10 the world such as Dempton by himself
could never hope for.
Such were the ideas suggested, with va
rialions, from time to time, that prevailed
with a lonely man, somewhat feeble in
health, and shrinking from society, TO con-
|
join the sister who was his only intimate,
and her husband, who, besides showing
generous and friendly spirit, had some
| claims on The score of his disappointment.
As often happens, the resolve that had so
long been pondered was taken suddenly at
| the last, and acted upon promptly. The
letter Dempton had received announced
| the writer's immediate departure. He
would be some days on the road nor. had
Dempton been so inclined, was there any
way of arresting his journey by the news
of his sisters death.
Here, then, the crisis in the fate of those
| three persons came almost in one day, and
suddenly.
Men who mediate crime seldom study 1t
out in all its detail. The dark result is in
the future-known to be there, but not ac-
tually seen. The first step, and the next,
and the following, are evident and easy;
afier that, the general course itself is hard
ly distinct. There is an indefinite interval
to be passed over before the result. Few
spirits are so hardened as not to receive
shock when, all at once, there appears but
one step more before the irreversible event.
This was what berell William Dempton.
| All that had as yet distinctly occupied his
thoughts was 10 persuade Elsey to make
the move. There was no reason as yet to
look beyond that point. 1t had been un-
certain if he should ever get even so far.
Thus matters stood only few hours be-
fore, while he yet held that unopened let
ter in his hand. The news it brought start.
led him with its significance, and he had
purposely let day go by without speaking
of 1t to his wife. With the event OF that
day, however,, the final issue OF his whole
scheme advanced upon him at one stride.
For James Elsey to come while his sister
was living, creating all the stir Of such an
arrival with its preparations for tue routine
of their new life, was one thing-and seem-
ed progress quite fast enough for the steady
moving spirit of a man like Dempton.
Just because be was so deliberate, it came
as near as anything could 10 take his breath
away, that things suddenly assumed a
shape so imminent. What effect would his
sisters death have upon Elsey? Would
he still be inclined 10 remain? Would he
not attract more observers into their little
circle than Dempton cared to haver OBJ
viously there was less margin for opportu-
mites than the latter had counted on.
There was a necessity to do promptly what
ever he decided on doing.
And why should he not be promptS If
he seriously held to his purpose, why delay
to carry it outH Why not grasp the oppor-
tunity so suddenly within his reach, and
that might not remain there?
For this once only, he looked in the face
that truth which his wife's words, aided by
the impression of her death, brought be-
fore his mind-only long enough fairly TO
see it, and make his rejection of its prompt
ings deliberate and willful. Should he
and Esey meet and mingle condolences as
The afflicted widower and the sorrowing
brother, and he himself take his chances
for bettering his condition, that way2
Where everything had so unex pectedly
proved favorable TO his purpose, should he
give it up because of what had happened
on that one dayf
A coarse ruffian would have broken out
into an oath, and sworn to have his own
way in defiance of heaven aud hell.
William Dempton only paused in his
walk up and down that path which his
wife had last trod between the house and
the river, and raising both hands tightly
clenched above his head, as though he were
about to deal double blow, brought them
forclbly down again by his side. 1t was
the only sign of emotion that escaped him
except the measured heavy tread which,
like his slow, determined utterance, had
always been noted by his wife as indicat-
ing the immobillty of his spirit.
Id Gulo hod dNHJnn