The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-09-17

my trouble, for assure you II e rea
began In my turn 10 look sober
Ignorance Of the worlds ways Is quit,
~ often a. knayery the source Of troubl,
TO an unsuspecting person. What had
he been led to dos
"Well!"
had to recall his mind once or twic,
from apparent wool gathering.
~ fsar, John, | really fear that
have tdt'e" ia lore wiia another man,
nitc!m
Heavens and esrth!"
l started to my feet and walked To-
ward the window to control a convul
sion Of laughter, not st the outcome
which might, Of course, bc bad enough
but that no, Of all men, should have DO
come the victim. The incongruity O.
the thing WAS dreadful.
81 knew you would regard Il IN Il,
true light, John, and I honor YOU for Il
! can not help remarking tho contras,
between you and H, tho only othe,
friend ! have spoken with On the sub
Ject. Would you believe Il. he did
nothing but laugh, and say he hoped
next to hear Of an elopcment. Thinl
Of that to me, q minister Of tho Gospel
trying to SEQ light and do right. How
could | gather any spiritual strength
from him? You have proved yourself
true, as you always werc."
l felt guilty ashamed Of myself 10,
laughing, and kept my countensnce
preternaturally grave during the rest Of
the interview. I saw he had dwelt on
the subject until his mind had become
morbid, and he could think Of nothing
else.
| addressed him by the old name with
somo reference to q scene OF our earl,
life together, in order to keep his mind
In q more cheerful mood.
lie broke into q sort OF Noyembc,
smile, and said:
"That name, John, sounds 20 muct
like old, merry times that | have almos,
forgotten how wrctchedly I felt when
came to you. You were always so rolick.
Ing and Jolly. You do not change, I see
As tor me, have seen cloudy, darh
days since them"
"No doubt, no doubt. Well, January
makes US prize June, and dark cloud:
tho bright sunshine. I've had 70 face
some pretty tough hills myself. but (
was the delectable mountains at the ton,
Julius, and 70 it .may prove At length
with you"
As l studied the expression Of his eve,
l discovered IN unrest and lack % re.
pose not characteristic of the earlier day,
OF our acquaintance. Twas even pre-.
pared for some slight mental alteration
when no said:
~ fear, John, that I have committed
. great SIM"
"Unconsciously, them" I said. $50,
l would DO willing to wager INV best
pony you have never done ANYTHING
wrong consciously in I'll your life."
"You mistake. You always though,
OF me better than I deserved.
was It an injury to any ono but
~ am not sure. Indirectly, il has
been. for II has hampercd me in my
work."
at must be . desperate case" I said
this without thought, and. without q yery
genuine feeling Of sympathy for the
wrong, bat he replied at once.
"Yes, knew you would 90 regard IL
your conscience Is not scared"
l took another stride across the floor
as . sedative, for knew he was inno-
cent, and then came and stood before
him.
"You know am q lawyer"
Eyes; and q counselor. I come "a
you for counsel, !" b said gravely.
"YOu may, in the first place, have To
submit to little cross questioning"
III am willing to answer all cues.
tons. t.t..3 'sa ia
"Wha& Is the lady's name?"
Mrs. Julia Gettenber9h
"Where did you meet here"
"She Was one Of my parishioners,
In fact boarded With Ter for q few
months. , She kept . very few select
"Wsre you aquaintsd with her hus.
"Oh, no, never saw him. He was
not at home. None a 10 ever spoke 70
her Of him. We recognised q silence on
her part and respected IT,"
"lsshe aware Of your ssntiments?,
"Oh, no. ! LETT the house and went
elsewhere - soon - I discovered
thom." t ~ 81. - m
"Is she good lookingP" td ssss
every. Here Il one oimy wronx
acts. I have kept her photograph.
I presume Il d one Of the mptations
Of Satan, but could not resist keeping
this mement0." 5lt4 =
He then took an old.iAshionetl locket
from the pocket Of his vest, aud spring.
Ing i open passed II over TO mo. he
had cut down tho Photograph and In.
serted Il. tm< - l
"Why, she = decidedly plain y
Chow can you say thste" 10 ques.
toned. ibid you ever 80 such eyesP''
l confessed tAat thego Was truth and
candor and suggestion ol soul about
the face that I had overlooked. b a
/" And You say that tho does not know
your sentiments regarding hsra" I
"That Il whatl sai buG I shall Give
Jon tho facts. While there I had an
attack a malignant tsvsr. TO make 4
long sbosy shoft, I owe mach moro %
let care Tor my recovery than % either
doctor or nurse. One incident occurred
q the time Of my convalsecsnce which
look back 10 ~ Slmost i declaration 81
sentimenas, bue Ase good sense ma
nodesey I'D her b take no notice Of Il
vhasever: A. y usually To cass alter
Ssvs!s, I had > rsvsnous sppetite ,buf
~ limited 70 osrtaip axicles a diet.
sv1hA ~s>nA A. IA -