Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-20


back and forth. The man who carries a foul
secret In his bosom ia a marked man. lie Is
forced TO solitude even in the midst OF friends.
His own mind ia his bitterest enemy, that
persists In recalling and reprosohiug Rest
for me there is no rest I tell you must go
on"
As he paused a moment he stretched out
his arms with pathetic movement, az IL
pleading for human sympsthy and pity. The
veins stood out upon his forehead, and great
drops Of Precipitation rolled down his face.
why, you all know my story" he contin-
ued, with the cadence OF despair In his voice.
ut was told long ago, in the thirteenth CEN
tury, by holy monk Of Paris how l am
obliged to wander on and on without respite
because /, Oartaffilous the doorkeeper, push
ed the master Of the twelve apostles with my
foot as He was leaving the tribunal OF PLATE;
and when l said Walk on, Jesus, quickly;
why dost thou tsrry ? He turned and the
awful look He gave me can never forget az
he said, 4 walk on, but thou must tarry till
come
There was profound silence in the room AZ
the Jew sank down upon the bench beside
the terrified boy and covered his face with
bis hands. 1t was broken by the second
traveller, who began TO whistle a tune that
sounded like the cries OF lost soul. The
boy trembled as he listened, and the sound
had the effect OF waking John Willows, who
opened his eyes and stared in stupid amaze
ment when the first traveller pointed his fin
ger at him and said
"There are many others beside the Wan
dering Jew who abuse the innocent and in
suit the weak. In cold, cheerless room in
this house there Is a CHASTITY, half-starved
creature, once comedy man. Being sudden
ly enriched by wealth, be became the victim
of his brothers avArice and cruelty --"
II know the cruel brother we'll" chucked
the second traveller Ibis name is on my
book"
Tile was abducted from home, " con
tinued the first, land placed in confinement
while in perfect possession of his senses
but the cruel treatment which he received
from his keeper wore upon him, and he final
ly lost his reason. How great is your respon-
siblity, oh ungody man, for darkened mind
and blasted life To the creature in yonder
room l come as q blessed release he shall
rest upon my breast, to awake in the glory of
my Masters likeness bu. you-you shall be
left to the evil you have chosen"
John Willows tottered to his feet for he
had begun to comprehend that these words
we're directed TO himself. He tried to speak,
and at last managed to artculate few words.
II was the old boast that he feared neither
death nor the devil. No sooner we're the
words spoken than tho first traveller arose,
and Joe saw him place his hand upon the hilt
Of a sword that hitherto had been concealed.
The blood seemed to be freezing in the boy =
veins, but he hurried to the old mans side.
imploring him to repent aud beg for mercy,
and was Immediately seized by the Jew, who
shook him roughly, saying
Come away don't go too near II is the
Angel Of Death, and you are not invulnersble
as am. Come, let us leave this house.
am on my way to Sacramento l want to see
the western country again before return to
the Old World. Don't look back
But the boy did look back, and saw a fash
lurid IS lightning that was succeeded by q
groan. He would have turned back, but
great darkness fell upon him, and a sound as
II the great Connecticut river had overlooked
it's banks and was sweeping down upon him
filed his ears.
That night the inhabitants OF Mller's Flat
we're startled to see the sky toward the north
illumined by a glazing red light it looked
like sheet of fire, and seemed to hang sus-
pended in one spot.
why, it's Wilows's house afire," said
one. 1--WE must help him il we can ; when
a man is down, you know, that's the time to
show what you are made Of"
But one after another made excuses for the
storm was growing more violent every mo-
ment, and only three men at last set out with
lanterns. As they approached the pine woods
the light in the sky had vanished, and there
stood the old house, untouched by fire, silent
and dark. They entered the open door,
through which the rain was beating, aud were
horror struck to find the lifeless body of John
| Willows PROSTATE on the hearthstone. They
called in vain for the housekeeper and the
boy, and, as thorough search OF the house
failed to solve the mystery, the three men
agreed that it was the duty of all to remain
over night
The next morning the friends and neigh
bors OF MIller's Flat filed the old house to
OVERLOOKING, curiosity having been aroused
| by the prolonged absence of the three. Dur
ing an exploration of the house a small room
| in the garnet was discovered, carefully guard
ed by bolt and paddock. To find the key was
the next thing in order, and this the dead
mans pocket was found to contain. Then,
when the bolt was drawn, the people of Mil
ler's Flat saw a sight they never forgot.
| There, upon a small cot bed covered with
rags and straw, the emacated form of an I'M
known man lay peaceful and still, to be beat
en- and n, elected by his tormentor no more
The morning sunshine coming in between the
bars at the window liz up the wasted features
and gave them beauty that was not of THU
world. The closed eyes and smiling lipl
were those OF one who sleeps well as II in
deed he found the bosom of Death a resting
place from whence his soul had risen to
| glorious Immortality.
Gu the same day that he WAS buried the
boy was found wandering in the woods raw
ing with brain fever. He eventually recov
cred. but to this day he declares he saw tn,
svo of Death, although the village docto
as firmly asserts that John Willows died o
spopl' ~, aud that the three travellers seeI
by the boy we're the creations of fevereC
brain. The housekeeper, it was ascertsined
had absconded with the few articles Of valu,
the house contained, aud she was never seeI
or heard of again.
In conclusion it is well to add that for
long time afterward, whenever the men anC
lads Of Miller's Flat displayed growing fond
ness for the tavern and irreverent tales, the,
were admonished to remember the story o
John Willows and his guests -DeAth, tn,
Devil, and the Wandering Jew.