The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-05-22
A Sad Story.

All day had been porting over Black
stone; and now, to escape from the
gloomy Office to my own cheerful room,
was, indeed, great relief.
l had drawn off my coat and boots
and seated myself at the CRATE, when q
tap at the door caused me to look around
sharply, and exclaim-
"Come p
In answer to this, head was thrust
in, and then came these words
"a gem'man to see you, sah."
"Show him up" said l, biting my
lips, for, being an old bachelor, l did not
relish being disturbed.
A heavy footstep sounded upon the
stairs; the door open suddenly, and
there stood my old friend and college
chum, Harry Rushton
"Ed p exclaimed he, springing for
ward and wringing my hand
"Harry, old boy, how are youg Do
sit down-take off your coat, and make
yourself at home p
II was very much "furried," as the
saying is, but my happiness was too
great for me to speak another word till he
was seated comfortably in my great arm
chair before the fire. Then, after some
preliminary conversation, dwelling upon
everything in general and nothing in
particular, l suddenly lin the midst of a
tremendous ''Ha ha = broke out seri-
ously-
"Harry, have you seen the lady lately
of whom you have spoken so frequently
in your letters Rachel Gayson
Perhaps it would be egotism for me to
claim that am physiognomist. Ac-
cepting this as a truism, l can safely
state all my physiognomical powers were
brought into requisition to define his
thoughts Immediately upon the conclu
sion of my words. His face, so cheerful
with ripping smiles before, was now
the scene of deep emotion. Anger,
chased by disappointment, showed itself
in his face for one instant, then followed
look of intense pain.
ed" said he, drawing closer to me.
and grasping my hand. Il have some
thing to tell you concerning this lady
which will cause the very blood to boil
in your veins. /"
"Why, Harry = exclaimed l; has
anything befallen her? Why do you
look sof
He withdrew his hand from NINE,
clenched it and brought it down with
such force upon the arm of his chair
that it caused the blood to flow. Then,
starting up, as if struck by sudden re-
collection OF some foul proceeding in the
past, he paced the floor.
Never have / seen a face showing
such anguish as did his upon this occa-
sion. Every step he took seemed to
grind something beneath it; every action
evinced spirit, which, like vessel fas-
tened to its wharf, fretted and chafed to
free itself
"Has-anything- befallen herr he
calculated, as if soliloquizng-''has
anything befall-Yes, Ned, yes :" he sud-
denly burst forth, coming once again TO
my side; land you shall hear the story,
if l can but be sufficiently patient to
narrate it.
Immediately after graduating with
you at college, returned to my native
village, to recuperate. l needed rest;
my brain was completely overworked.
Some months subsequently, I began to
feel rejuvenated. / frequently took
strolls in the great woods-went hunt
ing, fishing, et;-
''On one occasion, while hunting, /
caught sight Of some object in the woods,
and Immediately started in pursuit. l
soon caught UP with the object, and
great was my astonishment to behold
lady She had been with others, taking
walk, and had, by some accident, be-
come lost Her face was so handsome
that l could hardly keep my eyes from
it; her actions and voice so bewitching
that / was enslaved. Never before in
my whole existence have l seen such a
face, such an angelic countenance, as was
hers. guided her to her home, and
was rewarded by receiving an invitation
to call.
"This was how ] first learned what
love is. Thus it was that l first became
acquainted with Rachael Grayson and
learned to love her with my whole heart.