St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-29

ing MS DfOtnerS eye. lie nau maze
miserable>eff0rt to dress himself for the
occasion. The clothes he wore were an
evening suit, in rags, and patched at
elbow and knees new paper collar
showed at his neck there was a bit of
gold lace on the filthy cap, for John
Harbour had once been an officer in the
regular service. Under the cap was the
lean, pimpled face, freshly shaved.
This hint of preparation raised Mr..
Harbour's fury to white heat. 1t was
an effort to approach Sarah as an equal.
He drew back, elevated his thin body,
oddly conscious of his own spotless
linen, and of the coat which was the
badge of his calling, as well as of his
virtue compared with this Outcast. The
sense of his position was strong upon
him. A vague remembrance of Ithuriel
standing before the evil one crossed his
brain hazily.
"What is your business ?" he asked,
peremptorily.
Captain Harbour's eyes twinkled.
"My business? Loafng and liquor,
principally, since l was kicked out of
the army. My errand here is"
"Begging. You need not explain. |
sent you a cheque to New York not a
month ago."
"That's gone long ago." filliping his
thumb. ''NOw Nick, be reasonable.
You have more than your share all
the virtue and all the money, too.
) There ought to be a divide. There was
Lazarus now; if the dogs licked his
sores, he had the satisfaction of know
ing his turn was coming hereafter. But
Pm to be left outside the gate in both
worlds.
There was touch of earnestness in
the last words, which he turned off by
an uneasy chuckle.
"You want money How much ? For
what sum will you take yourself out of
my sight, and never come into it
again ?"
The chuckle died out. Captain Har-
bour raised his bleared eyes to his
brothers. face. 'EYou are hard, Nicholas
Be patient"
"Patient7 Good God! How much
money have you drained from me ?
How many times did my father give
you fresh start in life Oh, I've seen
, other men of your sort, John Harbour
, Blood-suckers, leeches, lazy to the very
marrow. You shall cling on me no
!; longer. l tell you that plainly. The
sight of you tonight draws the life
, blood out of me. Patient -
Captain Harbour was completely sob
cred. 81 did not come to you this time
for money, Nicholas" he said, in low
voice.
"What then ?" Mr.. Harbour tried
, by this time to control his anger, but
savage irritation broke through every
. studiously mOdulated tone. Estate your
business in as few words as possible.
Then let that be the end. You go one
. way, | another. Our paths be as faI
apart as heaven and hell"
John did not answer him at once. In
! the meantime, Mr.. Harbour's rage he
: gan to turn into pity for himself. He
r glanced up ut the stately house in the
quiet distance shaded by the old elms
J he thought of the life waiting him there
5 of dignity, love, holy work and medita-
ton. Must he be dragged away from
such fate to carry this vicious wretch
Like body of death fastened to his
r pure life? 1t was hard. Yet if it was
5 known that this man was his brother
+ he could never ask Sarah to marry him
r Captain Harbour, who had been pick
2 ing the lichen from the fence irresoIute-
ly, spoke at last. "NO, | didn't mean
5 to ask for money this time that is fol
S more than would keep me from starv-
2 ing. Pve been leech, know. Pm Il
? mean devil; you're right, Nick"
1 "What brought you here, then 7"
"What brought me here 2" suddenly
standing erect. "Great God, look at
me. Pm brute, and Pm only thirty
} Do you think | never want to be a man
again It's not pleasant for you to see
me reeling in the streets, lying in the
bar-rooms till Pm kicked out-what is
it to me? | can't get on my feet again
, alone, and l know nobody who can nelp
l me-nOt man in Gods world unless
, you do it."
He was silent. His face burned with
heat; great drops of sweat trickled
{ down his neck the sham collar hung
f by one corner like Il wet lag. Mr. Har,
, bour eyed the repulsive wretch with
1 cold suspicion, but said nothing.
. II was in New York last week.
l thought: 'I'll go to Nick. He and ]
were never intimate. But he's clergy
5 man. So you area man of God, you
know. | thought you'd set me on my
little, but he cOughed, and took q
chew of tobacco.
Still Mr.. Harcourt did not speak.
4 81 have no claim on you Nick,
know. But we had the same mother
2 once"
Nicholas's pale eyes flashed. "We
a had a mother; yes. Who was it thai
: brought her gray hairs to the grave ?
! have no faith in you, John Harbor.
knOp you. This whining cant of re.
, pentance is clever trick, but it doe.
b. not impose upon me. You want me to
S bring you here-here, at the sacrifice o
a every chance of happiness l have il
e life, and to carry dead weight while
you fool me with promises of reform
J, Reform Bah !"
Y Captain Harbour waited immovablt
: until this TRADE was over. 1t occurree
to the clergyman that the slouched
= bloated figure had certain dignity o
D bearing at the moment, and he wal
!, startled by quick glance which re
t minded him of Jack, his brother Jack
with whom he had slept and played
: when they were very little boys.
'"That will do, Nick" The captain
put on his cap. "We1l drop the sub
ject now, if you please. was mis-
l., taken. Good bye"
e Mr. Harbour waited a moment irreso
lutely. "Where are you going now q
y he called roughly.
;. "fo the shop in the village. They'v,
d some capital Bourbon there. feel lik,
: going on big drunk tonight
"Stopw walking to his side. "I'l
b see you in the morning, and pay you
:. way to New York. I'll send you ;
: stated sum monthly as LONG as Won re