The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-07-12

me and he preceded me up the nsrrow
lane which had been the short cut TO the
parsonage. +
On reaching the gate, which, about
fifty yards from the village green, stood
across the lane, the old man paused,
slowly deposited his burden on the ground,
and, resting his right hand on the top
most rail Strengthened himself TO his full
height and looked me quietly in the face.
You know me?" said he, in the old
passionless voice. You know Jacob
Smithers ?r
" Yes" answered ], recollecting from
his cold glance Yes, I remember you. -
/" Like the rest of them - said he, cam
| snake that every one shrinks from
me?"
Heaven forbid that / should shrink
from my fathers oldest and trustiest ser
yant!" replied l, with an effort overcom-
ing an unaccountable repugnance, and
laying my hand upon his shoulder. al
started only at the strangeness and SUD-
denness OF our meeting after so many
years" f
Yes" returned the old man, sit has
been long time-ten times longer to me
than to you, however-ten times. Yes"
continued he to himself, past so, and no
signs Of decay. Heaven has forgotten
me Twill kill myself"
l was 50 Mortified at the nature of his
speech that remained silent
"What do you want to know ?" said
he, turning slowly toward me- How
your father died ? Died a. he had lived,
without friend! Shall / describe his
deathbed-hOw she, my wife, died."
"No, no-not that ~ / exclaimed.
" Let as talk Of pleasanter memories of
times past--iet as recall the recollection
of earlier, happier DAYS than those"
=" Bring back our recollections ~ said
he, abstractedly. Blot them out, burn
them, yon mean. But" continued he,
eagerly, a sudden light shining in his gray
eyes, what will you give me for token,
remembrance, which will serve you
better than any words of mine arm
poor-very poor; will You give me
money-gold And he rubbed his bony
hands together as if elutching the expect
ed treasure, and bending down unfastened
the leather strap that bound the wooden
case. 8 There" cried he, producing my
mothers miniature, Z" could give it into
no other hands but yours. It has been
my only companion during these long
years; it has been with me ALWAYS. /
have sat and looked at it for hours; wor-
shipped it, prayed to it. could not
speak to a living soul about her, but
could talk to this" and he pressed the
portrait fervently to his lips.
81 shall indeed prize and treasure it."
exclaimed, stretching ont my hand;
6 but y and the words / would have Mt
tered died on my tongue.
Ah," remarked he, said you might
hear more than you cared to know! Ny
wife, the woman they wrongfully say
was your mothers sister-half-
sister, think they call it. They had the
Ts----sc>4hA- ,, IIa aapaA1- I--L-n--;l
he, looking suspiciously up and down the
lane "hush we are overheard! Some
thing moved on the other side of the
hedge -
"No,p returned. at is but your fancy.
Who would take the trouble to watch
our movements or listen to our converse
ton ?"
perhaps not" said the man but it
is better for me, perhaps for both of US,
not to be seen in these parts. But the
gold the gold :" continued he, reaching
out his hand and seizing the sovereigns
| was about to place in his palm.
must have my money. All, that's right.
Goodbye. We shall never meet again"
And, shouldering his bag and bundle,
Jacob Smithers abruptly turned his back
on me and walked away. Once called
after him, but he took no heed, and,
placing my mothers portraitin my bosom,
with my mind more disturbed than had
ever known it, I retrsced my steps to
After dinner that evening
l felt restless and uneasy. Although /
had been but little more than "a hours in
the hotel, and told the landlord in coming
| SHOULD probably remain a week or ten
days, | gave notice that ! would'Ieave on
the following morning. | should travel
through Wales, and first of all visit my
friends at Builth. When l returned to
my bedroom drew out the miniature
and gazed at my mothers beautiful face
saw now, for the first time, in those del
icate features, blue eyes, and fair cluster
ing hair, snch q resemblance to Jacobs
wife as left no doubt in my mind OF the
truth of the old mans story ~ to their
common paFentage. My sleep was dis
turbed. Fisions Of jacob Smithers, his
wife and the portrait passed indistinctiy
through my mind. Once only did my
dreams assume definite form, when the
ghastly face of the old man, bemeared
with blood, came close to mine, and the
white lips opened in their nsnsl mechani-
cal way, and slowly and solemnly uttered
the following words:
my own hand did this deed, but men
win not believe it-they win FIX my blood
on you as they have done my wife's on
me. The miniature Bewarer
Bahl indigestion! Why, the sun was
already mp. / would tnrn out, have q
plunge in the sea eat . good breakfast
and be of by the first train. All this |
accomplished fairly enough. Isettled my
account, walked down to the station and
took q first-class ticket to Builth. Two
or three days passed pleasantly enough.
We spent nearly AL our time on the river,
and although my friend was = skillful
angler, and threw fy wen, yet, out of
practice as was, my knowledge Of the
Welsh streams enabled me To hill the
greater number Of fish. Bat this did not
breed any Jealousy between ne on the
contrary, in admiration Of my skill, and
partly also from want Of company, he
asked me to join him in hia trip to Nor
way. To this proposal agreed very
readily. He had zlready takes his pas
aacre nv Hull nfs,ar.1er ma II waa ARRANGED