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


In the sky alone,
matches wonderful, Silvery light,
Radiant and lovely, the queen Of the night.
Said the Wind What a marvel of power am II
With my breath, good faithl
blew her to death
First blew her away ri ,ht out of the sky
Then blew her in: What q strength am II"
For high in the sky,
With her one white eye,'
Motonless miles above the air
She had never heard the great Wind blare,
AN OPEN VERDICT.
1t is very pleasant feeling, that of
liberty from all business cares of what
soever kind, if only for a, few weeks,
when ones avocations for the remainder
OF the year confne one to the busy brain
dcvouring city like this mighty London
OF ours; and therefore it was with no
slight degree of anticipated enjoyment
that year or two ago accepted an Oft
repeated invitation to visit an old school
chum, DR.. Henry GLADDEN., at the village
Of GLADSTONE, in one of cur northern
counties.
l arrived, however, at an unfortunate
period, and found that what I had pic
tured to myself as being happy, jolly
country house; was at that time house
of mourning. Gladden's uncle and pre-
decessor, old Mr.. Williams, had died
only few hours before my arrival. I
would have willingly gone on my way,
but this my old friend with his wife
would not hear of, and everything was
done to 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 knowledge of
it 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.
A 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 a hedge
and small lawn.
"Why, what's thisY exclaimed Glad
den, as he saw a number of workmen
engaged in erecting scafolding, digging
up the lawn, and otherwise demolishing
the place. "What are all these men
about?-Hiw calling to one of the peo-
ple)" What is it you are doing heref' "
"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 I resolved to satisfy it, so l
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 am
not presuming too much-wou1d you
mind telling me what you alluded to in
your last remark, and the equally strange
"Well, Dick he replied, sit 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, I may and will set your
mind at rest on the subject. You re-
member that after had walked tile hos
pitfalls in town, l came here partly on a
visit, and partly to study under my late
uncle. But l found a greater attraction
than any Ihad anticipated in the person
OF my cousin Lucy, with whom I 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.
riage. 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
his room and narrated the following
story, which will explain my late express
sions, and which will tell in his own
words:
"Harry," said my uncle, !" as you are
now to be my son-in-1aw and partner, l
think it but light you should become
acquainted with an adventure that befel
me in my younger days, and for nv
share in which-justifable as it then ap-
peared to mel have never ceased to
reproach myself. At the time I. am
speaking of, l was studying medi.ine at
Manchester, but while on q visit to q
distant relative, a DR.. Seyton, who Occur
pied this very house"--(' You see, Dick,
this is quite family practice paren-
thesized Gladden)-"I was one night
awakened by shake of the shoulder,
and looking up saw, by the light of the
moon, which streamed dp at my: win
dow, DR.. Seyton standing at my bedside.
'Come, get up said he, tLhave been
sent for, and as Poor (his assistant) was
out last night, I'll get you to- accompany
me now. While he descended to- tl1es|
surgery and stables, I speedily dopnedl
my habiliments, and BY the time III
reached the front gate, the doctor Haal
seated in bic gig waiting for me-. It waat
most magnificent moonlight night. II
Along the clear white road, as fast Is !
morse could draw us, on we went; past,i
cottage, farm and mansion; past pond
and park and stream: beneath .sIono
avenues OF trees that bordered tia roSd.
side and dro0ned over us. now veilinol
all in shadow, now showing some st1rav
moonbeam that danced upon tha nS,iv.
ering boughs to the soft cadence - the
nightbreeze. Sharp and crisp rose tho
echo of DUR horses tread, and a. Va came
within sight of our destination we heard
the gallop Of another horse, and as We
sped past turning, saw q 'horseman
riding up-as We imagined, the mesen.
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 non: Frederick Wellester, pres,1mb-
i've he1r to the title and estate Of tie
earl OF Caultdale. There was oreat com.
motion in the house; for its 0dSHSfr,s I'm
had been ailing fors some, timaare.t Nod
that night been taken sudden,T ;1i ond
while the doctor assembled to tha sicSl
chamber and our horse. and tran 1 1lsn
put up, I lit cigar and stood unon the
veranda, looking out upon the niah III. s yr +
musing. Presently one Of the dome.t;c.
emerged from the house and passed onf
into into the road, waiting briakly on J; and
Suss as my cigar was out I heard Dr.
oeyt1n,s Voice inquiriDg for me.
,.. 1ake this" said he, handing me q
PaPe1' and ride home ~ fast n Won