Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-08
A SACRED TRUST.

ne tlTDc has no" Colllt lui llS w ih'iaA
a trust which was committed to my keep
ing many years ago, and which nave
ever held as sacred The few still living
who knew the man whose behest am
CARRYING out, on reading my narrative
will at once recugniZe him and their talth
in the nobility inherent in human nature,
which. for time at least. must have been
shaken, will be strengthened. TO the gen
eral public the story ought to prove
scarcely less interesting, as it reveals an
instance of boundless love and sacrifice.
Ferrier was the most brilliant of my
contemporaries at oxford, and not only
was he the most distinguished scholar of
his time. but it may be doubted II ever be-
fore there had been any member of the
university whose academical success was
greater. Though of course steady
worker, he had achieved his great distlnc-
ton without any exceptional effort, and
as he possessed all the qualities which
command success in the more ambitious
paths of life, his friends had formed the
highest expectations regarding his future
career To man endowed with Ferriers
great gifts ambition is a second nature, SO
instead of remaining as resldenttel-
low of his college, and engaging in tut
with the determination to succeed in his
profession was united the desire to earn
both literary and political fame. In Lon
don he became the center of small ard
exclusive hand Of young men, who, like
himself. had taken high honors at the uni
versity, and were already making their
mark iii the several careers which they
had adopted. The aim Of that talented
lasS than that pf lntinenC cling
tie thought of the age in which they hvedi
and more than one of them-for good or
ill-has since attained this end. Ferrler
was their acknowledged leader; but
trust he was not responsible for some OF
the opinions which was grieved to learn
prevailed among them. l, too, had come
TO town; but, though knew most of its
members, was never invited nor did
care 10 become one of the coterie. There
were several reasons which kept US apart
Though had done as well as most OF
them at the university, seemed recently
to have dropped behind them, and could
scarcely now be cons idered as their intel
lectual equal. Our religious and political
views were opposed; and lastly, they were
all eager for social and material success,
and / was working hard in poor
CuTdCY. l2lht DltfSl Va MS O@NAS@N
| contemporaries, | was much inter
ested in Ferrier's career, and by-and-oy
| heard without surprise that he was rap
| idly making his way at the chancery bar
and was already looking out for a seat III
| parliament. l still occasionally saw him,
| as we belonged to university club, and
| on all occasions when we met he showed
| towards me an undiminished friendship.
! We had been members of the same col
| lege, and, though never one OF his most
| intimate companions, had at one time
| enjoyed a considerable share Of his so
ciety.
can remember the surprise with which
| | heard from a common friend that Fer
rier was about TO be married. had not
thought he was a man who was likely 10
| take wife on the threshold of
| his career, but that he would
more probably wait till his position
was secure. | was told it was love
match. That too caused Inc TO wonder, as
/ knew that he was one who was very
unlikely to permit sentiment to interfere
| with his ambition. And that he would be
hampered by his marriage was clear, as l
was informed that the lady had no money,
and knew that Ferrier had not much OF
his own; and could not yet be making a
large professional income. Soon after
wards | learnt the tidings from his own
| lips, and our intimacy had never seemed
/ to me so close as when he made me his
| confidant on this occasion. He asked me
TO come to his rooms, and We had long
| talk together. He had been staying in the
country he said, during the long vaca-
| ton, and had fallen lii love. Then he re
lated TO me some incidents in his court
| ship which am sure he would never have
/ related to his more intellectual
and cynical companions. Soon afterN ards
/ | read his marriage in the papers and
/ wondered what manner Of woman She
! could be with whom the brilliant FerrieI
! had linked his fate When he returned Il
| town after the honeymoon he invited me
| to his house You are the first of my OK
ford friends who has dined with u.s. he
| said, gaily, as he received me. On seeing
| Terriers wife l was DO longer surprised al
/ his love match. There was something eN
traordinariiy fascinating about her. She
| was beautiful, but to her cOmelineSs and
grace there was added a charm that was
! far more attractive than handsome looks
She was not tall, but both her form and
| features were exquisite, and in her eyes
there was a depth and tenderness which
| have never seen equalled in any Other
4 face The world has since indorsed the
| opinion then formed OF her, as 1t after
wards acknowledged her 10 be one of the
most lovely women OF her time. They
were evidently greatly attached TO each
| other 1t was easy to see that Ferriel
| cherished his wife with fondness and pride
and she sometimes looked at him with
that expression of trustful affection which
| gives beauty To even the plainest features
| and makes face that is already lovely
/ appear almost divine.
was much impressed with the happI
ness of this newly married pair, and FOL
several days afterward my thoughts con
| stantly recurred to them. How full Of
| hope and happiness did their life appeal
| to me: he so strong and talented, she ST
beautiful and loving! 1t was scarcely
possible to imagine a brighter future thar
| that which seemed in store for them. But
alas, for the uncertainty Of human expec
tations! For only a few weeks later lis
tened to tidings that taught me, more for
chilly than all the sermons | ever listened
| 10, the futility of mans hopes and the in
stability of his happiness.
! was seated one morning at breakfa st
when friend of FerrIers, barristeI
| like himself, entered my room. Though
slightly known to me. he had never calleC
ON me before. and as he was pale and yisi
| bly, agitated, saw that something serious
was wrong He sat down without speak
ing. and l noticed that his hand was trem
bhng Presently he spoke the word Fer
| rieri" but was unable or unwilling to pro
ceed with what he was about TO say.
waited a short time and then asked:
is anything the matter with Ferrier''
,"Have you not heardl"
aNnu