The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-06
The Weaver Of RaveIoe.

1t was fifteen years since SlIas Mariner
had first como to Raveloe, and at the end
OF fifteen years the RavelOe 1nen said just
the same things about him as at the be-
ginning. He was subject to catalepsy and
to the villagers there was something mys-
terious in these fits, as a fit was a stroke
and 1t was not in the nature of stroke
to let man stand on his legs like horse
between the shafts and then walk off as
soon as you can say "Geei"
SO had his way of life mysterious pecu-
harities; he invited no conner to step across
his door-sill, and le never stroled into the
village to drink a pint at the Rainbow, and
he sought no man or woman, save tor the
purposes of his calling or to supply himself
with the necessaries of life.
He had knowledge Of herbs-and charms
too they thought-and perhaps he was pos
sessed of an evil spirit, 80 it was partly to
this vague fear that Mariner was in
debted for protecting him from persecution,
and still more that rs linen weaver, his
handcraft made him a highly welcome
settler to the rich house, wives of the dis
trict. There was only one important addl-
tion which the years brought it was, that
Master Mariner had laid by line sight Of
money somewhere. ra
His life had reduced itself to the mere
functions Of weaving and boarding. But
about Christmas of that 10th year great
change came over Marner's life, and his
history became blent IN singular manner
with the life of his neighbors.
The greatest man In Raveloe, was Squire
Cass. Of his two sons, Dunsey the second,
the neighbor said it was no matter what
became of him, a sp,tetul jeering fellow,
whose taste for drinking, betting and swop-
ping might turn him out to be sowing of
something worse than wild oats.
But 1t would be pity if Mr. Godfrey,
the eldest, fine, open.taced, good-ns-
tured young man, should take the same
road as his brother which he seemed in
clined TO do of late.
Godfrey was in Dunstan's power as he
had secretly married coarse beauty
whose love Of drink had made her IN unfit
companion for any one, and he lived in
fear of his father learning the dreadful
secret and turning him adrift, 80 Dunstan
made constant demands on him for hush
money. Driven to desperation by his profit
gate brother he had given him permission
to sell his faVorite horse if he would make
no further demands On him.
and before he had chance to sell, killed
drunken pennyless state.
AS he was plodding home through the
dark he saw light In Marner's house. He
ping in he found it vacant. Where could
he be, leaving his supper cooking and the
door unfastened. 1t was a dark, rainy
night, and perhaps he had gone out for fuel
and fallen in the stone pits.
That was an interesting idea to Dunstan.
If the weaver was dead who had right to
his money! Who would know where his
money was hidden2 Who would know
that anybody had come to take it away7
He saw place near the loom where the
sand had finger marks, he dartcd to it.,
lifted the bricks and found two leather
bags. He fastened out of the house with
the bags. The rain and darkness had got
thicker, but he was glad of it.
Silas came soon after, and after getting
warm he thought he would put his beloved
guineas on the table before him, as it would
be pleasant 10 see them as he ate his un-
wonted feast. For joy is the best of wine,
and sguineas were a golden wine Of that
sort. The sight OF the empty Lole made
his heart leap violently, but the belief that
his gold was gone could not come at once.
He had put his gold somewhere else, and
then forgotten it. He turned his bed over,
he looked in the brick oven.
lie felt once more all around the hole.
He could see every object in his cottage
and his gold was not there. He pat his
trembling hands to his head and gave q
wild ringing scream, the cry of desolation.
The cry had relieved Kim from the frat
maddening pressure.
He tottered toward his loom, and got
into the seat where he worked, instinct
lively seeking this as the strongest assur-
ance of reality. The idea of thief began
to present itself. lie started from the loom
to the door. He rushed out in the rain and
made his way to the inn. There Silas told
Ills story under frequent questioning, as the
mysterious character of the robbery became
evident.
Tho slight suspicion with which his
hearers at first listened to him, gradually
melted away before the convincing sim.
simplicity of his distress.
Dunsey 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 Raveloo,
carrying her child In her arms.
Soon she telt numb with cold and
fatigue, and then nothing but n. supreme
immediate longing to lie down and and
sleep. The complete torpor came at last
the fingers lost their tension, the arms un-
bent; then the little head tell away from
the bosom, and the blue eyes opened wide
on the cold starlight. Suddenly its eyes
were caught by bright cleaning light on
the white ground In an instant the child
had slipped on all fours ana held out one
little hand to catch the CLEAN. But the
gleam could not bo caught, and now the