The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-03

VI gentle, loving eyes, WHlle one man,
Roy Denial, lifts his hat with Unborn
knightliness and listens with listless
air to the services going on about him.
But the boy at his side kneels
down, and, leaning above chair
cushion, he presses the little purse
to his lips and weeps great tears of re-
morse. And when he lifts his head
again the women have gone away, and
Denzil stands his eyes fixed upon vacancy,
his cigar out and little of something
long buried warming his heart with a
different warmth from that of wine. The
youth catches at Roy's hand which hangs
nervelessly near him-a bejeweled hand
as white and shapely as woman's-
and kisses it raptuously.
Little fooln' says Roy, snatching it
from him angrily.
Fools speak the truth sometimes, Mr..
Denzil; listen to me. The devil and
the angel are battling within you. oh,
let the angel have the mastery!'
THAT depends" is all the answer he
gets.
The clock above the mantle rings out
four hasty peals. Outside the snow
comes dashing against the pane and
pile up wkite rift IN every corner. 1t
will he dark soon, and the chandelier
will be ablaze with lights. Mean
while
'How is it my friend?" comes tim
idly up into Roy's ears.
"The devil has won, he answered
with a sneer. "Wrong is so much strong
my boy" and he leaves him to dash
out into the darkening streets.
Along a grand avenue walks Roy Den
eel, full of bitter thoughts and pitiful
fancies. All, what might have been!
Along the avenue, out on the country
road he walks, through the deep snow,
keeping in the little path unwittingly;
walking on and on, though pair of fine
horses are champing and stamping impa-
tiently in their stables at home for dash
over these same country roads with their
masters hand upon the ribbons. On and
on; and at last, after crossing crazy old
bridge thrown over narrow rocky chasm
of sixty feet or more, he gains cross
road. He does not comprehend that he
has turned to the right and found bridle-
path near the fence; but he does so, and
at last, after another quarter of an hour,
| he stands before the door of brilliantly
Int mansion.
"Great Heaven What have I come
here for? Has the devil won, after alll''
Tap, tap, tap.
"Good evenin', Massa Roy! Gracious,
but Use glad to see yah Come in, come
in. Misses am in de pahlah, and Missy
Marjorie am in de libraree," says the old
ebony familiar-Roy's nurse when he
| hut ta1 70 ha .
mothers hallservant.
"Thank you, Uncle Ned; III go to the
library. Miss Marjorie is there, you
say7"
'Iss, massa. Done come visiting a
fortni't agone," says the garrulous old
negro.
Roy passes through the long, richly
carpeted hall, where he used to run riot
in the days of carly boyhood, but which
of late years knows him no more; and,
reaching at last a certain door, he pushes
it softly open and enters the quiet, I'M
| lighted room. The flame of the freight
/ fiickers about as the door opens and
closes. disclosing the face OF a girl,
whose eyes gaze almost mournfully into
the fiery chasms between the bars of the
CRATE.
"Marjorie" and tenderness thrills
in the voice that calls her name.
She rises, with quick cry, and stands
before him.
Good evening, Mr.. Denzil, she says,
after moments pause, cool and calm as
the marble bust behind her and showing
as little feeling.
Excuse me-" he says, turning tc
leave her presence; sit is not the Mar
jorie | expected. Good-evening."
"Stay, Royal! Why do you live sc
wicked life." the troubled voice seem
ing full of pain.
"Wicked: Who told you that"
Every one knows it, Roy-every one
but your mother"
"And she does nOtl"
She does not know it. They came
to tell her, but sent them away"
"Why did you interfere" he asks
not resentfully, but as if he enjoyed il
rather.
Il will tell you why, Royal. You
mother believes in YOU as she does il
heaven-beleves you to be good anC
true and pure. God help her! If sht
lost faith in you-the only one left hel
in her old age--if she heard of your fol
lies, your gambling, your hard drinking
she would die of shame!"
ell will go to her." and he passed
from the presence of the young, blazing
eyed maiden to seek the parlors.
His mother greets him with a cry o
delight:
oh Royal, my darling son."
'1ou are well, mOther!n
CAS- well as | can be without the sun
shine of your presence" letting her eye
rove from the handsome chestnut -coloreC
waves of silken hair to the round smootl
chin, whose dimples in his babyhooC
we're her pride. They talked joyousl,
for full an hour, until Roys clothes ar
dried without her knowledge, and he i
ready to turn his face cityward.
"Not going back tonight, Roy ~
81 am, indeed, lady mother" pulling
his tawny mustache uneasily.
) "Well, then, if you must leave me
ring the bell for me before you go
Bring up bottle of that oldest vintage