Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-04-03
CHAPTER XXXII.
RETURN OF THE wANDERER.


RETURN OF THE wANDERER.
Hazel left London for Lancashire on
one of the bleakest and dreariest OF No
vember days. The dismal dawn was la
den with a thick, sodden fog which
later on dissolved into a wretched driz-
eel, The wind was cold and raw, de-
cided fortaste of the coming winter,
The sky seen through the fogsbank was
of nasty, sullen, leaden hue; the earth
black and dreary.
The fog was so thick that one could
hardly see any object until he came
close upon it. On this particularly
gloomy November evening Hazel Kirke
sat in railroad carriage on her way to
her old home, She looked years older
than when she had left it. There were
hollow creases under her eyes and deep
burrows made by hours of silent suffer
ing were about her mouth and on the
forehead which had been so clear and
smooth.
She sat silently gazing out of the
window on the fog-enshrouded land
scape while the train dashed onward.
The past few hours had seemed to her
like lifetime. A horrible numbness
had come over her which dulled the
sense OF pain she was suffering. She
could only wonder if life would al
ways go on like this--this dull, dread
fully blank hfe-woud it last forever,
or had the crisis of her fate arrived ?
The unhappy girl asked herself these
questions over and over again until the
train arrived at Blackburn.
When Hazel saw the familiar station
she aroused herself from her cemi-
torpid state by great effort, arose and
left the train. There was no one wait
ing to receive her, the wanderer who
was returning to her old home like the
prodigal OF old. She waded on through
the sea of mud in the cold dismal night
not meeting a soul that she knew until
she stood at her fathers house.
There was a red light burning in the
stting-room, and she crept up the step.
of the poarch and fell exhausted on it.
There she lay in her wet and bedraggled
garments, while the cold chlls ran
through her frame shaking her from
head to foot.
On this particlar day Dunstan Kirke
had been more troublesome than usual
He was restless and impatient, cropping
his way from sitting-room to kitchen
and back again. Did he feel dim pre-.
sentiment that the child he had driven
forth was on her homeward journey
Since the fever had deprived him of his
: eyesight the miller had suffered a grea
deal OF mental torture. He knew tha
he was burden to both his wife ant
his niece, and the knowledge made hin
irritable. Mercy Kirke's patience wa:
very often sorely tried, but, the gentle
! woman quietly bore with all his whims
Dolly Duttonlwas as busy as usual ir
the kitchen; but hearing the miller.
footstep she said, anxiously, as she saw
! him cropping his way into the kitchen
"What can l do for you, uncle?"
Nothing, laes. suppose | get tiret
sitting stlll. You know / am not uset
to it; but, Dolly, it is the will o
Heaven" and the blind man sighed
heavily.
"Cheer up, Uncle Dunstan; yol
know Doctor Thorne says that he be
lieves you will recover your eyesigh
when you grow stronger"
"Nay, less, am afraid to hope tina
: the cloud will be lifted from my life
for it is three months since | had tn,
? fever and I am blind yet. My days ar
| all dismal nights"
"The Lord will give you patience
uncle" said Dolly, sadly. 4fst
, ~ hope He win, lass, hope He will
| need all the patience | can music
Q when | think OF you all being obliget
to do my share of the work; and /, al
u able-bodied man. having to sit here idl
:. from morning tonight. All, my girl
e it is wearing out my life thinking tha
u | am burden to you ALL" and th
!, afflicted man shook his head sadly.
u "There, there, dear heart, cheer up
7 All will come right" said Dolly, layln
I her hand afiectionately on her uncle
|. arm
"Did youInot tell me, last that Squir
Rodney had come back %
4 Yes, uncle; Jackson told me tn
g squire had been home three days. H
: sent the man over to inquire abou
your health"
a "Ah, Dolly, he is a true friend.
e shall be glad to have him come here
II He has only been to see us once o
II twice since l was i'll, but / must hav
u him here now"
IS Squire Rodney has been away S
:. much, Uncle Dunstan. He has nj
e been in Blackburn three weeks at
?, time since he returned from America
Shall | send Tor him and tell him yo
y want him to come for a particula
i reason ?"
"Yess, lass, must talk to him abou
y business which can no longer be d.
e ferred."
81 will 60 for him myself, Uncl
is Dunstan. Come and sit in the sitting
room, and let me light your pipe f
d you. 1t will help to pass away th
time"
D And the kind-hearted girl led IL