The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-25

how TIE SHADOWS APPEARED AT MARLEY
GOMEZ, AND WHAT THEY SAID AND DID.
Our story commences in a quiet lane
in the garden of Deyonshire-in a mar
row, quiet lane, where, in the summer,
the lowered hcdge-rows on either side
shut out from view the pretty home
.steaGs in the rear, and where, in the
winter, the naked branches threaded
the air with snow lines Enthusiastically,
and the sharp, thin twigs were whitley
lighted up with pearl-drooping eyes of
icicle. A quiet, narrow lane, luxuri-
antly dotted in the spring with viOlets
and forgct-me-nOts, and in the drowsv
summer, when the hum of bees could
be family heard in the tangled bush Of
hOneysuckles and wild roses, dreamily
delicious with fragrant odors. A quiet,
narrow lane, at the end of which came
suddenly and quantity into view a shall
low reach Of a noble river, with a taste
of the salt sea on its lips, where the
clear waters lay calmly in their rustic
shelter, while on its bosom glowed the
shadows of It's gardencd banks. \
quiet, narrow lane, wherein 4 thousand
new graces perpetually unfoldcd them
selves, and where Nature made holiday
in every season Of the year.
Ii was the evening of a sharp, Win
tTy day in December, 50 near to Christ
mas that the sun threw a golden man
tie on IFS holiy-crOwncd head. and wei
coined its advent with fiery splendOr.
The old elm that had stood outside
Stephen WinkwOTth's house for more
-Christmases than Stephen Winkworth
could remember blushed crimson SYM
pathetically, and the tips of its
branches caught tie light of the
glowing sun and there impris-
.Oned it until the grayer shadows
usurped its place. The light touched
the form of Stephen WinkwOrth him.
self. as he stood at his door, watching
the declining day, and it fingered low
ingly at a window above his head, at
which a girl sat motiOnless, looking
out upon the scene. Stephen Wink
worth was by no means pleasant fig
-urc in the landscape, and did not show
in his face any sign of gladness. The
happy season which brought Joy to so
many hearts brought none to his; for
in all the three hundred and siXtv-five
DAYS of the year he held not one in
tender remembrance. Bitter, moroSe
and disconnected, he stood on his
Threshold at war with the world and
with himself stephen, the woman
.hater," his neighbors called him; they
might have added man-hater also, for
all the love he bore his sex. His spir-
itual influence for unkindliness was very
IN l-n
bad-tempered to look at the Surly
wrinkles in his face. and people, with
out knowing why, felt an inclination to
.snarl ut each other when he was in their
company. He was not an ungainly
man, and was still in the prime of life;
strong and sturdily built was he, and
blessed with good health; fairly we'll
TODD. also, from a worldly point of
view. But, with all these advantages,
he had never been discovered in an act
of kindness, and not a human being in
the world would have felt inclined to
say: God bless him.
Only on one occasion throughout the
wear did he of his own free-will aSSOci-
ate with his neighbOrs, and that was
'ChriStmaS-eve. And only in one house
in all DevonShire would he have been
welcomed. and that house was Marley
-cOmbe Lodge. the residence of Reuben
Harrild Harrild and he had been
friends in their youthful days; and in
one of their bOyish condolences had
pledged themselves, never, if circum-
stance permitted, to spend Christmas
apart from each other. That Stephen
WinhwoTth had not broken his prom
Use came from no active exercise of
sentiment; it was more mechanical
than al affectiOnate offering to a
friendship which now existed but in
name. The house of Reuben Harrild
was within view, and Stephen could
see the reflection of the dying sun in
each pane of glass that ShOne like a
fiery eye upon the landscape. No
softening influence came upon him as
he gazed upon this solemn splendor.
With deep-set lines in his face, and
with form immovable, he stood like an
image carved in stone-stern, impas-
ssiye. relentless and unfeeling.
Toward him approached two persons,
with that brisk motion of the body
which betokens enjoyment of sur
rounding and inward influences. He
was not conscious of their approach.
but the girl at the window above saw
them the moment they appeared round
the winding path in the distance, and
r look Of eager love, OF love without
hope. of love in which there was pain,
flashed into her eyes. With parted
lips, and a flush on her usually pale
face which did not come from the sun
sets glow, she watched their forms
grow larger and more distinct as they
emerged out of the deeper shadows.
From the younger of the two came a
cheerful greeting to Stephen Wink
worth.
"Good-evening. neighbor. Fine
weather this for Christmas"
The speaker was a good-looking
man. some tive-and-twentv wears of
age, William Fairfield by name. He
was farmer in the neighborhood of
Warleycombe, and although compara-
lively a new man in the locality, had
been cordially welcomed upon his own
merits into the society of his fellows.
The farm he now owned had been be-
equeathed to him by 3 relative who had
stood to him in the position of a par
~ent; and William Fairchild, who. at
about that time, was looking round for
a pursuit, thought he might as well try
whether the life of country farmer
would suit him. Ii threatened at the
outset not to suit him at all; he was
naturally daring. impulsive and am
bilious; and after trial Of few
months he had serious thoughts of
seeking his fortune elsewhere, when he
was thrown into the society of Reuben
Harrild's daughter, Laura. Between
the two an attachment had sprung up