Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-01-09

No,ionless miles above the air.
Sac hsd never heard The great Wind bare
AN OPEN VERDICT,
It is a very pleasant feeling, that Of
liberty from all business cares of what
>oevcr kind, if only for few weeks
when one avocations Tor the remainder
OF the year cOnrne one to tn busy brain
icvcuring city like this mighty London
~ ours: and therefore it was with nc
slight degree Of anticipated enjoyment
that year or two ago accepted an oft.
repeated invitation to visit al old school
cnum, DIR. Henry GLADDEN.. at the village
"f C!Avstone, in one Of cur northern
counties.
| arrived, however, at al unfortunate
period, and found that what | had pic.
tureu to myself As being happy, Jolly
country house; was at that time house
of mourning. Gladden's uncle and pre-.
,lece<>or, Old Mr.. Williams, had died
only few hours before my arrival. l
would have willingly gone on my way,
but this my old friend with his wife
would not hear Of, and everything was
done 10 render my visit as cheerful as
circumstances would permit. Iattended
the funeral, and, as we turned to leave
the churchyard, WAS struck by an ex-
preston Of Gladden's which appeared
to be uttered without any kncwled &c OF
1t On his part. 1t was The grave has
closed over the last l felt greatly
tempted to ask for an explanation, but
for obvious reasons checked my curiosity.
\ few mornings afterwards, while &C.
companying my friend on his round OF
visits, we came before an old, large, red
brick house that stood close beside the
road, being separated merely by hedge
and small lawn.
"Why, what's this?" exclaimed Glad.
den, as he saw a number of workmen
engaged in erecting scaffolding, digging
up the lawn, and otherwise demolishing
the place. What are all these men
about:-Hi"' calling to one of the peo-
ple) What is it you are doing here?''
g. Pulling down t'house for railway"
was the laconic response.
Then the final link is being broken"
unused my companion, as we drove on.
My curiosity was again aroused, and
this time resolved to satisfy it, so !
came to the point at once by thus ad.
dressing my friend: HAL, you are not
generally given to ambiguous or unsatis.
factory sentences, and therefore-if I am
not presuming too much-would you
mind telling me what you alluded to in
your last remark, and the equally strange
one uttered at your uncle's funeral?''
"Well, Dick he replied, cit is a
strange story, and one, perhaps, that does
not reflect much credit upon my poor
uncle; but, as the actors in this little
drama have passed away, and even the
very scene of action will in a few days
be ploughed up, may and will set your
mind at rest on the subject. You re-
member that after had walked the hos
pitfalls in town, I came here partly on a
visit, and partly to study under my late
uncle. But found greater attraction
than any had anticipated in the person
of my cousin Lucy, with whom | soon
fell over head and ears iu love. Her
father was not averse to it, and things
were shortly in good train for our mar.
rage. | was to be taken into partner
ship by my uncle when that event took
place, and the day before the deeds were
signed the old gentleman called me into
MS room and narrated the following
story, which will explain my late express
sions, and which l will tell in his own
words:
Harry" said my uncle, cas- you are
now to be my son-in-law and partner,
think it but right you should become
acquainted with an adventure that befel
me in my younger days, and for my
share in which-justifable as it then ap-
peared to mel have never ceased to
reproach myself. At the time I am
speaking of, was studying medicine at
Manchester, but while ON a visit to a.
distant relative, abr. Seyton, who occu-
pied this very house"--(' You see, Dick,
this is quite family practice paren-
thesized Gladden)-%I was one night
awakened by a shake of the shoulder,
and looking up saw, by the light of the
moon. which streamed up at my win
dow, DR.. Seyton standing at my bedside.
Come, get up said he, Il have been
sent for, and as Poor (his assistant) was
out last night, I'll get you to accompany
me now While he descended to- the
surgery and stables, l speedily donned
my habiliments, and by the time
reached the front gate, the doctor was
seated in his gig waiting for me. 1t was
most magnificent moonlight night.
Along the clear white road, as fast as
horse could draw us, on we went: past
cottage, farm and mansion; past pond
and park and stream; beneath long
avenues of trees that bordered the road
side and drooned over Us. now YELLING
all IN shadow, now showing some stray
moonbeam that danced upon the ouiy-
ering boughs to the soft cadence Of the
night-breeze. Sharp and crisp rose the
echo of our horses tread, and as we came
within 81 ght of our destination we heard
the gallop of another horse, and as we
sped past a turning, saw a horseman
riding up-as We imagined, the messen.
ger who had been dispatched for the
doctor, and who had said he must re-
turn by way of MERTON. We stopped
oe1o1e marlborough house, the residence
OF Hon: Frederick Wellester, presump-
tive her to the title and estate of the
earl OF Caultdale. There was great com
motion in the house; for ia o1ner who
had been ailing for some tina roat hod
that night been taken suddenly i'll and
while the doctor assembled to tho s;ct
chamber and our horse and tran wo~o
put up, l lit a cigar and stood UPON the
veranda, looking out upon the NIGHT and
musing. Presently one of the domest;cs
emerged from the house and passed out
into the road, walking briskly on; and
Juss as my cigar was out heard DR..
oeyt0n,s voice inquiriDg for me,
na,a aak e this" said he, handing me a