The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-02-16
WHOLE NO. 1903.

was to be expected, the last first, and
this was what | read: why don't
you come or answer? For Gods sake,
come. He is much worse" This
was thunderbolt to fall upon mans
head who had one only son, and he
the light of his eyes! The other tele-
gram, which | opened with hands
trembling so much that lost time
by my haste. was to much the same
purport: mo better; doctor afraid of
brain-fever. Calls for you day and
night. Let nothing detain you"
The first thing l did was to look up
the timetables to see if there was any
way of getting off sooner than by the
night-train, though l knew well
enough there was not; and then l
read the letters, which furnished,
alas! too clearly, all the details. They
told me that the boy had been pale
for some time, with scared look.
His mother had noticed it before l
left home, but would not say any
thing to alarm me. This look had
increased day by day; and soon it was
observed that Roland came home at
wild gallop through the park, his
pony painting and in foam, himself
as white as a Sheet" but with the
perspiration streaming from his fore
head. For long time he had re-
sisted all questioning, but at length
had developed such strange changes of
mood, showing a reluctance to go to
school, desire to be fetched in the
carriage at night-which was ridicu-
lous piece Of luxury-an unwilling
ness to go out in the grounds, and
nervous start at every sound, that his
mother had insisted upon an explana-
ton. When the boy-our boy Ro-
land. who had never known what
fear was-began to talk to her OF
voices he had heard in the park, and
shadows that had appeared to him
among the ruins, my wife promptly
put him to bed and sent for DR.. Sim
son-which, of course, was the only
thing to do.
| hurried off that evening, as may
be Supposed, with an anxious heart.
How | got through the hours before
the starting of the train, | cannot tell.
We must all be thankful for the
quickness of the railway when in
but to have thrown myself
into post-chaise as soon as horses
could be put to, would have been
relief. | got to Edinburgh very early
in the blackness Of the winter morn
ing, and scarcely dared look the man
in the face, at whom gasped What
news?" My wife had sent the
brougham for me, which | concluded,
before the man spoke; was a bad sign.
His answer was that stereotyped an
swer which leaves the imagination so
wildly free. Just the same" Just
The same! What might that mean?
The horses seemed to me to creep
along the long, dark country road.
As we dashed through the park, l
thought | heard some one moaning
among the trees, and clenched my
list at them (whoever they might be)
With fury. Why had the fool of a
at the gate allowed any one to
come in to disturb the quiet OF the
,lace? If | had not been in such hot
taste to get home, | think should
lave stopped the carriage and got out
o see what tramp it was that had
made an entrance, and chosen my
of all places in the world
vhen my boy was ill!-to grumble
nd groan in. But | had no reason
o complain of our slow pace here.
1he horses flew like lightning along
he intervening path, and drew up at
he door all painting, as if they had
un a race. My wife stood at the
pen door with pale face, and can
lie in her hand, which made her look
aler still as the wind blew the flame
bout. HE is sleeping" she said in a
vhisper, as if her voice might wake
i'm And 1 replied, when l could
nd my voice, also in whisper, as
hough the jingling of the horses
urniture and the sound of their hoofs
,ust not have been more dangerous.
stood on the steps with her mo-
lent, almost afraid to go in, now
hat | was here; and it seemed to me
hat | saw without observing, if l
lay say so, that the horses were un-
'illing to turn round, though their
tables lay that way, or that the men
-ere unwilling. These things occur
I'd to me afterwards, though at the
loment | was not capable of any
ming but to ask questions and to hear
{ the condition of the boy.
TO BE CONTINUED.