Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-03
NO. 2OS.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE WEAVER OF RAvELOE.

of fifteen wears the Raveloe men said Just
the same things about him rs at the begin
ming. He was subject to catal, psy and to
the villagers there was something myste-
rious i'm these fits. rs a fit was stroke and
it was not in the nature of stroke 10 let a
man stand on his legs like horse between
the shafts, and walk off then MS soon rs
you can say "Gee'"
So had his way of life SO mysterious
peculiarities; he invited no conner to step
across his door sill. and he never strolled
into the village TO drink pint At the Rain
bow. and he sought no man or woman.
save for the purpose of his calling, or TO
supply himself with the necessaries of
| life
| He had the knowledge of herbs-and
charms too they thought--and perhaps he
was possessed of an evil spirit. so IL was
partly to this vague fear that Mariner was
indebted for protecting him from prosecu-
ton. and still more that as linen weaver.
his handicralt made him hi ghly welcome
settler 10 the rich housewives of the
district, There was only one important
addition which the years brought; it was
that Master Mariner had laid by fine
sight ofmoney somewhere.
His lille had reduced itself to the mere
functions of weaving and boarding, But
about Christmas of that fifteenth year, n
great change came over Marncr's life. and
his history became blent in singular
manner with the life of his nei.hbors.
The greatest man in Raveloe was Squire
Cass. OF his two sons. Dustan the second
the neighbors said il was no matter what
became of him. a spiteful, .ieering fellow.
whose taste for drinking betting and
swopping might turn him out TO he n
sower of something worse than wild oats.
But it would be a pity if Mr.. Godfrey.
the eldest. fine opcn-faced, good-natured
young man. should take the same road as
his brother which he seemed inclined to
do of late.
Godfrey was in Dustan's power. as he
had secretly married coarse beauty
whose love for drink had made her an unfit
companion Tor any one. and he lived in
fear of his father learning the dreadful
secret and turning him adriit. so Dustan
made constant demands on him for hush
money Driven to desperation by his
protiigate b. other he had given him per-
would make no further demands upon
him.
So Dunstan rode the horse to the races,
the horse, and went from the grounds in
drunken, pennless state.
As he was plodding home through the
dark he saw light in Marner's house
He knocked. but no one answered. and IN
stepping in he found it vacant.
Where could he he, leaving his supper
| cooking and the door unfastened II was
a dark. rainy night, and perhaps he had
gone out for fuel and fallen into the stone
pits.
| That was an interesting idea to Dunstap
If the weaver was dead, who had the right
to his money? Who would know where
his money was hidden2 Who would know
! that anybody had come to take the money
away?
| He saw place near the loom where the
sand had finger marks. He darted to 1t,
lifted the bricks, and found two leathern
bags. He Immediately left the house with
| the bags. The rain and darkness had
grown thicker, but he was heartily glad of
| it.
Silas came soon after, and after getting
warm he thought he would put his be-
loved guineas on the table before him, as
it would be pleasant to see them as he ate
his unwanted feast For joy is the best of
wine, and Silas's guineas were golden
wine of that sort
The sight of the empty hole made his
heart leap. but the belief that his gold was
| gone could not come at once. He had put
his gold somewhere else and then forgot
ten it. He turned his bed over and looked
in the brick oven.
| He felt once more all around the hole.
He could see every object in his cottage
and his gold was not there. He put bis
hands to his head and gave Wild ringing
| scream. the cry of desolaton. The cry
had relieved him from the first maddeninc
pressure.
He tottered towards his loom. and rot
into the seat where he worked. instructive
ly seeking this as the strongest assurance
reality.
The idea OF a thief began to present it
self He started from the loom TO the
door. He rushed out in the rain and made
his way to the inn. There Silas told his
story, under frequent questioning. as the
character OF the robbery became evident.
The slight suspicion Of his hearers
melted away before the simplicity of his
distress.
Dunstan Cass had never been heard
from, and on New Years eve Squire Cass
gave large party. That night Godfrey's
wife, was walking with slow, uncertain
steps through the snow covered lanes of
Raveloe, carrying her child in her arms.
Soon she felt numb with cold and
fatigue and then nothing but supreme
immediate longing to lie down and sleep.
The complete torpor came at last; the
fingers lost their tension. the arms unbent
and then the little head fell away from the
bosom, and the blue eyes opened wide on
the cold starlight.
Suddenly its eyes were caught by a
bright cleaning light on the white ground
and in an instant the child had slipped on
all fours, and held out one little hand to
catch the CLEAN. But the CLEAN could
not be caught and now the head was held
up to see where the cunning gleam came
from.
1t came from very bright place. and
the little one rising on its feet went on to
the open door of Silas Marner's cottage.
and right up to the warm bricks where
Silas's coat lay to dry.
The little one squatted down on the coat,
presently the warmth had a lulling effect.
and the little golden head sunk down on