The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-08

the most encouraging intelligence as
to the durability and a spirit of the
universe.
Through all this walked Esther,
picking her small steps like bird, but
silent and with a cloud under her
thick eyebrows. She seemed insensi-
BILE, not only of nature, but Of the
presence of her companion. She was
altogether engrossed in herself, and
looked neither to right nor to left, but
straight before her on the road When
they came to the bridge, however, she
halted, leaned ON the parapet, and
stared for moment at the clear,
brown pool, and swift, transient snow
drift of the rapids.
Il am going to drink" she said; ;
and descended the winding footpath
to the margin.
There she drank greedily in her
hands and washed her temples with
water. The GOODNESS seemed to break,
for an instant, the spell that lay upon
her; for, instead of fastening forward
again in her dull, indefatigable tramp,
she stood still where she was, for near
minute, looking straight before her.
And Dick, from above on the bridge
where he stood to watch her, saw a
strange, equivocal smile dawn slowly
ON her face and pass away again at
once and suddenly, leaving her as
grave as ever; and the sense of dis
tance, which it is SO cruel for lover
to endure, pressed with every moment
more heavily on her companion. Her
thoughts were all secret; her heart
was locked and bolted; and he stood
without, vainly wooing her with his
eyes.
do you feel better?" asked Dick,
as she at last rejoined him; and after
the constraint Of so long silence, his
voice sounded foreign to his own ears.
She looked at him for an apprecia-
BILE fraction of a minute ere she an
swered, and when she did, it was in
the monosyllable- "Yes."
Dicks solicitude was nipped and
frosted. His words died away on his
tongue. Even his eyes, despairing of
encouragement, ceased to attend on
hers. And they went on in silence
through Kirton hamlet, where an old
man followed them with his eyes, and
perhaps envied them their youth and
love; and across the Ivy beck where
the mill was splashing and grumbling
low thunder to itself in the chequered
shadow Of the dell, and the miller be-
fore the door was beating flour from
his hands as he whistled a modulation;
and up by the high spinney, whence
they saw the mountains upon either
hand; and down the hill again to the
back courts and offices of Naseby
House. Esther had kept ahead all the
way, and Dick plodded obediently in
her wake; but as they neared the sta
bles, he pushed on and took the lead.
He would have preferred her to await
him in the road while he went on and
brought the carriage back, but after so
many repulses and rebuffs he lacked
courage to offer the suggestion. Per-
haps, too, he felt it wiser to keep his
convoy within sight. So they entered
the yard in Indian file, like a tramp
and his wife.
The groom's eyebrows rose as he
received the order for the pony phae-
ton, and kept rising during all his
preparations. Esther stood bolt up
right and looked steadily at some
chickens in the corner of the yard.
Master Richard himself, thought the
groom, was not in his ordinary; for in
truth, he carried the handbag like a
talisman, and either stood listless, OF
set off suddenly walking in one direc-
ton after another with brisk, decisive
footsteps. Moreover he had appa-
rently neglected to wash his hands,
and bore the air of one returning from
a prolonged nutting ramble. Upon
the. groom's countenance there began
to grow up an expression as OF one
about to whistle. And hardly had
the carriage turned the corner and rat
lied into the high road with this mex
plicable pair, than the whistle broke
forth-prolonged, and low and tremu-
Ious; and the groom already so far re-
Iieved, vented the rest Of his surprise
in one simple English word, friendly
to the mouth of Jack-tar and the
sooty pitman, and hurried to spread
the news round the servants hall of
Naseby House. Luncheon would be
on the table in little beyond an hour;
and the squire on sitting down, would
hardly fail to ask for Master Richard.
Hence, as the intelligent reader can
foresee, this groom has part to play
in the embroglio.
Meantime, Dick had been thinking
deeply and bitterly. It seemed to him
as if his love had gone from him, in
Iced, yet gone but little way as if
he needed but to find the right touch
or intonation, and her heart would
him and be melted. Yet he
durst not open his mouth, and drove
in silence till they had passed the main
park-gates and turned into the cross
cut lane along the wall. Then it
seemed to him as if it must be now, or
never.
Cant you see you are killing me?"
he cried. Speak to me, look at me,
treat me like human man"
She turned slowly and looked him
in the face with eyes that seemed
kinder. He dropped the reins and
caught her hand, and she made no re-
sistance although her touch was I'M
responsive. But when, throwing one
arm round her waist he sought to kiss
her lips, not like lover indeed, not
because he wanted to do so, but as
desperate man who puts his fortunes
to the touch, she drew away from him,
with knot in her forehead, backed
and SHE'D about fercely with her
head, and pushed him from her with
her hand. Then there was no room
left for doubt, and Dick saw, as clear
as sunlight, that she had distaste or
nourished a grudge against him.