The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-04

~
] saw him again consigned after my
business with him was finished.
As this is not book of travel / will
not recapitulate the journey. The
weather nearly all the time was favor
able. the roads were in good condition.
My impatience forced me to travel al
most day and night. j spared no ex-
pense; my extraordinary passport pro-
cured me horses when other travellers
were compelled to wait-my large
gTatuities made those horses use their
best speed. In thirty-fiye days we drove
up to the Hotel Russia at Nijnei Nov
gorod. with the tarantasS in such d.
lapidated condition that In all proDa-
bility another stage would have finish
ed its work in this world. ! bestowed
it, free gift, upon my guide, who, L
believe, sold it Immediately for three
Tubles.
From Nijnei by rail to Moscow; from
Moscow TO st. Petersburg. / only tar
RED in the capital long enough to pay
nv respects to Lord, and once more
thank him for his assistance; then, hay
ing collected what luggage l had left
there, away for England!
On my road back from Irkutsk l
found letters from Priscilla at Tomsk,
at Tobolsk, and at Perm, also more re-
Gently written ones at st. Petersburg
All up to the date of the last was going
on well. Priscilla had taking her charge
to Devonshire. Having been reared in
that county the old woman had great
belief in its virtues. They were at
quiet. but beautiful little watering-place
on the north coast. and Priscilla ayerred
that Pauline was blooming as rose,
and seemed as sensible as Master Gil
bert himself"
No wonder after hearing this good
| news | was eager to reach home-long-
| ing, not only to see my wife again, but
| to see her. as ] had never yet seen her,
with her mind restored. Would she re-
| member me? How should we meet?
| Would she at last learn to love me?
| Were my troubles at an end or only be-
| gun? These were the questions which
| could only be answered when England
| was reached.
Home at last! How delightful to
| stand among ones own countTymen,
/ and hear nothing but good ineligible
! English around one. am bronzed with
| exposure to the wind and sun, my beard
| has grown to a great length; one or two
acquaintances / met when / reached
London scarcely knew me. In my pres
| ent trim | could not hope that | should
| awaken any recollections in Pauline
| mind.
BY the aid of razor and fresh ap-
| parel | was soon converted to fairly
| good semblance of my former self, and
then, without having apprised even
| Priscilla of my return, | started for the
! west, to see what fate had in store fol-
| me.
What is a run across England after a
man has made such journey as my re
cent one? Yet, that pitiful hundred
and fifty miles seemed to me as long as
thousand did month ago. The last
| few miles | had to go by coach, and, al
| though four splendid horses spun us
along, each individual mile seemed as
| long as a Siberian stage. But the jour
ney was at last ended, and, leaving my
luggage in the coach office, | SAILED
forth, with beating heart, to find Pau
| line.
l went to the address given in Pris
i elias letter. The house was a quiet
little building, nesting on a wooded
bank, with sloping garden in front
! full of late flowers. HOneysuckle twin
ed round the porch, great sunflower:
stared tiercely from the beds, and carna
tons sweetened the air. As j waited
| for the door to be opened | had time tC
approve Priscilla's choice of resting
place.
I inquired for Mrs. Drew. She was
not at home-had gone out with the
young lady some time ago, and would
| not be back until the evening. | turn
ed away and went in search of them.
1t was early in autumn, but the Leaf
| showed no signs of fading. Everything
was green, fresh and beautiful The
sky was cloudless, and soft balmy all
famed my cheek. / paused and looked
around me before | decided in which
direction to go. Far below my feet lay
|
clustered round the mouth of the noisy
brawling stream which ran down the
valley, and leaped joyOusly into the sea
| On either hand were great tors, and be
hind them inland hills covered will
| woods, and in front of me stretching
away and away was the calm green sea
The scene was fair enough, but / turn
ed away from it. / wanted Pauline.
/ 1t seemed to me that on such day as
this the shady woods and the runnine
stream must offer irresistible attrac-
tions; so l found my way down the steer
hill, and began walking up the riverside
| whilst the merry stream danced past
me, throwing its rich brown peatstain-
ed waters into thousand little cascades
as it shot over and foamed round the
great powders which disputed its pas
sage.
l followed its course for about a mile
| -IlOW CldluDtIluS over UlOSS-SIONI
rocks, now wading through ferns, now
forcing my way through plant haze
| boughs-then in an open space on the OPP
poSite bank | saw girl sitting sketch
| ing. Her back was toward me, but
knew every turn of that graceful figure
well enough to feel sure she was my
wife.
If had needed extra assurance l hat
but to look at her companion, who sal
near her and appeared to be doing ovel
book. / should have recognized tha
shawl of Priscilla's mile await.
like has never been known on earth.
Hard as | found it to do so, Iresolyet
not to make my presence known Il
them. Before | met Pauline | wanted
to talk to Priscilla and be guided by he
report as to my future method of pro
ceeding. But in spite of my determine
ton / yielded to the temptation o
drawing nearer-from where l stood
could not see her face-so | crept OF
the sketcher, and, half hidden by tn,
underground, | stood watching her t,
my hearts content.
There was the hue of health upon he
cheek-there was the appearance o
, health in every movement, and as sh
turned and spoke few words to he
companion there was that in her lool
and III her smile which made my hear
bound The wife | returned to was
, different being from the girl had mar
ried.
She turned and looked across tn
, stream. Carried away by my joy hal
entirely emerged from my lurkin,
T place. With the river between us on
: eyes met.
She must in some way have remem
bered me. Were it but as in adream M
} face must have seemed familiar to her
She dropped her pencil and sketch-bool
and sprung to her feet before Priscilla
} exclamation of surprise and delight wa
: heard. She stood looking at me a
| though she expected | would speak o
} come to her, whilst the old servant wa
} | sending words of welcome across tn
noisy stream.
Had / wished to retreat. it was nov
, too late. found a crossing place an
in a minute or two was ON the opposit
} bank.
, Pauline had not moved, but Priscill
ran to meet me and almost shook m
hand off.
Does she remember--does she kno,
me?" | whispered, as | disengaged my
self and walked toward my wife.
Not yet; but she will. / am sure sh
will, Master Gilbert"
Breathing prayer that her prophee,
might come true, reached Pauline
side and held out my hand. She tool
it without hesitation, and raised he
dark eyes to mine. How did / refrain
from clasping her to my hearti
Pauline, do you know me?"
She dropped her eyes. Priscilla ha
talked of you. Sne tells me you are
friend and that until you come I mus
/ be content and ask no questions"
@But do you not remember me?
| fancied you knew me just now
She sighed II have seen Won i