Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-06-13
tackled him by little raillery as reas-

| DuyAHS low VOtoS lOT Z IosAuouG
'Oh, no.
Freezing on your neighbours melo
patch?'
''Do, John, enter into the spirit {
my trouble, for assure you it is a res
One.'
I began in my turn to look sober. Ie
norance of the worlds ways is, quite a
often as Knavery, the source of troubl
to an unsuspecting person. What ha
he been led to do?
''Well!
Il had to recall his mind once or twic
from apparent wool gathering.
| Il fear, John, I really fear, that
have fallen in love Uith another man
wife p
| Heaven and earth!'
i started to. my feet and walked to
wards the window to control convul
sion of laughter; not at the outcome
which might, of course, be bad enough
but that he. Of all men, should have be
come the victim. The incongruity o
the thing was dreadful.
II knew you would regard it In it
true light, John, and honor you for 1t
l cannot help remarking the contras
between you and H, the only 9th
er friend I have spoken with on tn
subject. Would you believe it, he die
nothing but laugh, and say he hopet
next to hear of an elopement. Thinl
of that, to me, q minister of the Gospel
| trying to see light and do right. How
could I gather any spiritual strength
from him! You have proved yoursel
true, as you always were
I felt guiltily ashamed of myself fol
laughing, and kept my countenanc'
preternaturally grave during the rest o
the interview. saw he had dwelt or
the subject until his mind had becom,
morbid, and he could think of nothina
else
Il addressed him by the old name will
some reference to scene of our early
life together, in order to keep his minC
in more cheerful mood.
He broke into sort of November
smile and said, That name, John
sounds so much like old merry times
that 1 have almost forgotten how
wretchedly felt when J came to you
| You were always so rollicking and jolly
You do not change, see. AS for me,
l have seen cloudy, dark days since
| then.'
mo doubt, no doubt. Well, January
makes US prize June, and dark clouds
the bright sunshine. I've had to face
some pretty tough.hills myself, but it
was the Delectable Mountains at the
top, julius, and so it may prove al
length with you.'
AS studied the expression of his eye
l discovered an unrest and lack of repost
not characteristic of the earlier days o
our acquaintance. I was even prepared
for some slight mental alteration when
he said:
II fear, John, that I have committed
a great SIM
'Onconsciously. then,' 1 said, for
would be willing to wager my best pony
you have done anything wrong con
sciously in all your life.'
''YOu mistake. You have always
thought of me better than deserved
WAS 1t an injury to any one but
yourself?'
II am not sure. Indirectly, it has
been, for it has hindered me in my
work.
1T must be desperate case.' said
this without thought, and without q
very genuine feeling of sympathy for
the wrong, but he replied at once:
''Yes, knew you would so regard it.
OuI CODSClcDCC 10 uOG ScdI6u.
4 took another stride across the floor
as sedative, for knew he was limo
cent, and then came and stood before
him.
'You know I am q lawyer
Yes and counsellor; I come to
you for COUNSEL he said gravely.
''You may, In the first place, have to
submit to little CROSS questioning.'
II am willing to answer all ques-
tions.'
''What is the lady's name?'
Mrs. Julia Gettenbergh.'
Nv here did you meet her p
''She was one of my parishioners. In
fact, boarded with her for few
months. She kept few select board
ers.'
Were you acquainted with her hus-
bend"
''Oh. no, never saw him. He was not
at home. None of us ever spoke to her
of him. We recognized a silence on her
own part and respected it,
''Is she aware of your sentiments p
''Oh, no. I left the house and went
elsewhere as soon as discovered them.
lis she good lookins?'
livery. Here is one of my wrong acts,
have kept her photograph I presume
it is one of the temptations of Satan, but
[ could not resist Keeping this memen-
to-
He then took the old fashioned locke
from the pocket of his vest, and spring.
ing it open, passed it over to me. He
had cut down the photograph and in
serted it.
why, she is decidedly plain.'
''How can you say that p he ques
toned. Did you ever see such eyes? p
i confess that there was truth anG
candor and suggestion of soul about
her face that had overlooked.'
''And you say that she does not know
your sentiments regarding her?' queri
ed.
''That is what said, but shall give
you the facts. While there had an at
tack of malignant fever. To make q
long story short, owe very much more
to her care for my recovery than to eth
er doctor or nurse One incident occur.
red at the time of my con nvalescenc,
which look back to as almost q de
claraiion of sentiments, but her pooc
sense and modesty led her to take pt
notice of it whatever AS is usually tn,
case after fevers, had q ravenous an,
petite, but was limited to certain article.
Of diet. The nurse would have brought
me the unvaryiDg standard at intermin
able intervals, tut this perfect woman
came with her daintily covered tray q nc
fed me in my weakness with delicacies
which her own hands had prepared
lit was. during one of these time
| that you revealed in plain words YOU
attachment to her?'
Oh, no, no, John. There were NJ
words spoken
''Then you personifled Dick s
Ter and the marchioness p
Exactly
He seemed to be grateful to me
]ieving him from the confession ID
English.
'You grasped her disengaeed
and between each dainty spoonf
ed it, after your illustrious ex
Dick Swiveller?'
'sOnly once, John , only once
i began to walk the floorAa
desperation. His long face wi
too much for my gravity.
''How did she receive this
esteem p
Just as any modest woma
under the circumstances, as if
nothing at all but gratitude; y
served that she came less fire.
that, and when grew strong