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


much for his brain, and he feels the
potent spirit of the long-imprisoned wine
taking fast and furious possession of
him. She sees it, too, this little Ma
jorie, who loves him with her whole
heart and SOUL and who sorrows, as the
angels might sorrow, for creature gone
astray.
{. Come to me, Royal, after you have
said good night"
In moment he is beside her as she
enters the library.
"Royal Denzil, l implore you not to
go away from here tonight l feel a
horrible presentiment-what it is can.
not tell! Oh, Roy, stayl You are not
fit TO ride to town to night Stay with
us Roy, dear Roy!"
But the wine is his master, and he
knows not what he does save that there
is a fierce exultation in feeling that he is
opposing her wishes. Finding that he
does not heed her, she leaves him and
runs out through the yard, which is
black as ink, to the stable, where the
groom's lantern, swaying about like
yellow, unsteady star in the still falling
snow, makes the surroundings more
gloomy.
w iuI DCdob dlC OOu SOlNlhS Oul lOl
Mr. Denzilg"
"Princc, Miss Marjorie" looking
round eyed at her bare head and dainty
figure abroad in the storm.
"Prince is well enough when Mr..
Denzil is sober; but tonight saddle my
own horse. Regan, and bring her around
Mr.. Denzil is too drunk to see a differ
ence;" which unvarnished truth she
leaves to astonsh the groom as it may,
as she whsks back with icy powdered
curls and limp little silk wrapper into
the front hall.
And Roy is ready to go. A dreamy
smile, with which the wine spirit lit
up his handsome features, has changed
to glance that is horrible to the little
maiden who stands at the door to see
him off
"Good night, little Prim won't you
kiss me once before ! go"
Her lips touched obediently the few
cred brow bent low for her caress; for
presentment of coming danger is strong.
He gets into his saddle and is away.
Down the long, rutty lane to the cross
road. A sharp jerk on the left bridal
rein brings Regain into the highroad,
and away through the darkness she gal
lops straight for the crazy old bridge
that lies half a mile beyond.
Two feet beyond him Roy cannot see !;
and, giving the beast rein. he lets her
carry him on and on through the i'm
penetrable drizzle of snow; overruts and
ridges, now down through gully, now
up over snowy bank. On, and on, and
on; and at last, with loud snort, Regan
stands still, stiff kneed, immovabe, in
the dreary, penetrating snowfall.
Curse the BEAST" calculated Roy,
cutting her sharply with his riding
whip. $50 on Prince! Get up! You
won't, ehl" he shrieks, in drunken fury.
cutting the delicate TANKS until they
culver with pain.
Sharper and sharper descend the blows
from the hand of the now iufuriated
man, and still firm as rock stands the
tortured animal. Only a low whine,
almost human, comes from her as the
cruel lash cuts her once glossy brown,
but now red and acerated sides.
Roy works himself into a beastly--
nay, it were better to Say human
passion, and wreaks all his ill-feelings
upon the patient, dumb brute beneath
J HIM.
At last little glimmer of apprehen.
, sion breaks upon his dazed brain; he
dismounts as best he may, and creeps
along the ground, feeling cautiously be-
} fore him.
And three feet further on his hand
finds no ground beneath its grouping
, woodworking save empty air.
When it comes to Roy's confused
senses that the bridge has fallen and
, no ho ho, boop nrnincr hio horca =
take him to his destruction, the emotions
aroused within him outweigh every in.
tluence of the wine, and, in gratitude,
, his arms 90 around the neck of his faith
full dumb friend whose face he kisses in
thankfulness; and when ne remember:
, the cruel stripes his hand has cut great
tears of bitterest remorse fall holly down
his pale checks.
And the tears, once getting headway
where they have been kept in so long {
r bondage, come storming from his eyes
/ Every better emotion is brought into
play from his nearness to death, and hi!
2 life has so different meaning from thI
r life of moment ago!
And here on the lonely brink of {
chasm, with the snowflakes falling
about him, and the bitter wind cutting
l him like knlfe--tor the great coat ha!
been DOTTED to cover the wounds of thu
suffering horse-here, in the blackness o
the night, his souls angels of good ant
bad fight terrible battle between them
selves-and the good angel wins
Back through the long dreary road
= side by side, slowly and painfully, IL,
S horse and man find their way, and stop a
length in Denzil's stables.
l THE bridge was down, John. Bring
lantern; Prince is in need Of Re
: GAM
e eyes, sir! She would have it So
S Miss Marjorie would Said as how he
beast was safer and--law! he's gone"
He is gone; like the wind, lie flies t
2 the library-she is there still.
"Marjorie, God bless you, darling
!, come with me-quick" The gray eye
}. looking down into hers are perfect.
, sober: so she laws Il wee rose petal o