Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-07-31
FORCED APART
By W. A RUSSELL
Axthor Of the "Wreck Of the Grosuenor,'
"a Sailors Sweetheart" Etc.

By w. CLARK RUSSELL
Axthor Of the "Wreck Of the Grosuenor,"
"a Sailors Sweetheart" Etc.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A BITTER RESOLVE.
All the evening Jenny had remained in her
room, and had but now, at this hour of ten,
which was wen tolling, said goodnight to
her mother, parting with her after a long
and close embrace, and with a prayer that
God would bless her for her love. Then did
she lock her door, and sit and listen; and
presently heard both father and me- r
come to their bedroom, and the murnlu.' vi
their voices
In those old times there used to be in
fashion a little travelling box, light to carry,
with a strap across the lid that the arm
might sling it, and much used by country
folk.
One of these boxes stood on the floor, and
the packing Of II, with many a long halt for
a sobbing ft, and active protest and hopeful
reinsurance, had been Mrs. Strangfeld's &C.
cupation for a part of the evening. Pres
entity rising, Jenny went to the box and
tried its weight. Light enough it was-with
a single change Of apparel only; yet she took
a turn with it about the room (treading on
tiptoe) as if to make sure that 1t was not q
burden above her strength.
She was restless and could not remain
quiet. Now she would draw out her purse
and count the money that it held; now
she would approach the glass and gaze at
the spectral, mournful beauty Of her white
face; anon, and with no more sound than q
mouse creeping, she would paoe the room;
until the fever in her waned, and the passion
ate squirting Of thought ceased to lacerate
and drive. Whereupon she extinguished the
light and took a place at the window, and
surrendered herself to contemplation Of the
stars
Manifestly she meant to take no rest that
night, or was very long In going to it
One would have had no need for sharp eyes
to look at Jenny's face and know her as a
girl on the eve Of some wild business. To-
morrow morning was she to be carrieda long
and sorrowful journey by her father, and
when In London, from church to church they
were to wander; and all the while her heart
was to burn in the fire of his wrath, and her
sacred purity to be blackened by his thoughts
of it Her ignorance Of matters which, had
she but foreseen all this, would have been
easy to learn and remember, was so deep
that even her mother had groaned over her
that evening. The very neighborhood
wherein Cuthbert had hired lodgings during
his holiday in London she did not know; she
had never had occasion to write to him. He
had come to Sydenham and met her by an
appointment planned before they left Grey
stone, and all their arrangements were YER
bally concerted with never a hitch of weather
to disappoint them, and that was why no let
tiers had passed.
So, then, the London parish in whose
church they were united was unknown to
her. No light could she give, beyond taking
Gods holy name in witness that she spoke the
truth, which only her mother believed.
But the uselessness of the journey, and the
fear of her fathers anger if failure sh puld
attend their searrh, were not the first causes
Of her present resolution.
That night, she resolved, would be the last
she should ever pass In the old wooden house
Call her mad if you please-and few suct
desperate resolves but have madness a,
bottom; but there was courage, too, a virtu
GUS audacity, and Of a most womanly sort
acting without reflection; that is; influenced
by the present that was driving her, ant
taking no thought of the future upon which
she was rushing.
The church clock was striking the hall
hour after eleven, when with a SILVER she rost
from her chair at the open window, and
stealing to the bedroom door, opened it noise
lessly, and listened. The deep breathing il
the adjacent apartment where her parent
lay, the fall of an ember in the kitchen CRATE
the loud ticking of a clock, were tho onl,
sounds audible.
Leaving the door ajar, she put on her hat
to which a veil was attached, threw a shaw
over her shoulders, and raised the littl
trunk. There was clear moonlight .abroa,
now, and light enough reflected to give dis
tinctness to oil objects in the room. On tip
toe she descended the staircase. and, the BET
ter to make her exit s%oundless, went through
the kitchen. In a few moments she ha'
lightly drawn the bolts Of the back door, an,
stood in the moonlight.
The night was soft and sweet with dew
and the mild stars shone lustrously. Now
was it that the cool air and the deserte
length of the High street, and the blac
shadows of the soaring town, brought to he
an unutterable sense Of homelessness, and tn
chill n terror of the lonesome state. Sh
came round to the front of the house, an
under the gloom of the bay tree paused an
reflected, not daring to lift her eye to he
parents bedroom window.
She crept softly out of the darkness an
crossed the road and wen up the street, hug
ging the shadow of the houses. When abreas
OF the market place, again was she seize
with a numbing sense Of helplessness and
great agony Of spirit The sympathy Of
human wholesome one to tell her story t
and take advice from, she wanted, and pei
haps the very last person whom it woul
have entered her head o apply to under an
other circumstances she now resolved to seel
This was Mrs. Mead, who had shown he
some kindness that morning, and the sort O
sympathy that was not likely to thwart il
did not profit her.
So she fitted like some restless spiri
through empty stalls and vacant, silen
gloom, and, ~hesitating a moment before Mrs
Mead's door. knocked lightly.
Although there was no light in Mrs. Mead
window, the old woman was not asleep, hav
ing not two minutes before Jenny's arriva
extinguished her tallow candle and got int
bed. Hearing q sound that resembled
knock at the door, the old woman lifted he
ear out of the pillow and listened. After
little interval the knock was repeated, an,
there being no mistake about the noise thi
time, Mrs. Mead, greatly wondering, darte,
her withered legs out Of bed, struck a light
swathed her old form in the counterpane
which she plucked from the bed, went to til
door and opened it, holding the candle owe
her head.
She instantly recognized Jenny, and vi
tered a cry of establishment.
"Michasa Strangdeld's grill At this tim
o night! Seekin' of me, tool Lord, Lord
what is the matterlo
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