Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-22

saw your family name. Then [ read on and
discovered that there were pictures at Mount
Morven, and that, strangers were allowed to
see them. / like pictures. And here | am. .:
This allusiOn to the house naturally re-
minded Randall of the master. Il wish
could Introduce you to my brother and his
wife, he said. "Unhappily, their only
child is ill.,"
Capt. Bennydeck started to his feet. 81
am ashamed of having intruded on YOU" he
began. His new friend pressed him back in
to his chair without ceremony. 'On the
contrary, you have arrived at the best of all
possible tmes-the time when our suspense
IS at an end. The doctor has just told us
that his poor little patient is out Of danger.
You may imagine how happy we are''
And how grateful to God!' The captain
said those words in tones that trembled-
speaking to himself.
Randall was conscious of feeling momen-
tary embarrassment The character of his
visitor had presented itself in a new light.
Capt. Bennydeck looked at him-understood
him-and returned to the subject Of his tray
els
DO you remember your holiday time when
you were a boy, and when you had to go
WYNN
mind is in much the same state at leaving
Scotland and going back to my work in Lon
don. l hardly know which to admire most
your beautiful country or the people who in
habit it. have had some pleasant talk with
your poorer neighbors; the one improvement
| could wish for among them is a keener
sense of their RELIGIOUS duties"
This was an objection new in Randars eX-
perience of travellers in general.
"Our highIanders have noble qualities he
said. eff you knew them as we'll as | do
you would find true sense Of religion among
them; not presenting itself, however, to
strangers as strongly-I had almost said as
the devotional feeling of the lowland Scotch.
Different races, different temperaments"
And all, the captain added, gravely and
gently, with souls to be saved If sent to
these poor people some copies of the new
testament, translated into their own Ian
guage, would my gift be accepted?'
Strongly interested by this time in study
Ing Capt. Bennydeck's character on the side
Of it which was new to him, Randall owned
that he observed with surprise the interest
which his friend felt in perfect strangers
The captain seemed to wonder why this i'm
preston should have been produced by what
he had just said.
Il only try" he answered, ito do what
good can wherever CO."
Your life must be happy one" Randall
said.
Capt Bennydeck's head dropped. The
shadows that attend on the gloom of meIan-
choly remembrance showed their darkening
presence on his face. Briefly, almost sternly.
he set Randall right.
mo, SIR"
Forgive me-" the younger man pleaded,
"ff have spoken thOughtleSsly."
''You have mistaken me-" the captain ex-
planned; ''and it is my fault. My life is an
for the sins of my youth. l have
reached my 10th year-and that one purpose
is before me for the rest of my days. Suffer
ings and dangers which but few men under
go awakened my conscience. My last eXer-
else Of the duties of my profession associated
me with an expedition to the polar seas. Our
ship was crushed in the ice. Our march to
the nearest regions inhabited by humanity
was hopeless struggle of starving men, rot
ten with scurvy, against the merciless forces
of nature. One by one my comrades drop
ped and died. Out of twenty men there were
three left with last flicker in them of the
vital flame when the party of rescue found
lis. One of the three died on the homeward
voyage. One lived to reach his native place
and to sink to rest with his wife and children
round his bed. The last man left, out of that
band of heroes, lives to be worthier Of Gods
tries to make Gods creatures
better and happier in this world, and worth
Ter of the world that is to Gomez.
RandaPs generous nature felt the appeal
that had been made to it. "WilI you let me
A
take your hand, captain?' he said.
They casped hands in silence.
Capt Bennydeck was the first to speak
again. That modest distust of himself,
which man essentially noble and brave is
the readiest of men to feel, seemed
to be troubling him once mOre-just as it had
troubled him when he first found himself in
Randal's presence.
Il hope you won't think me vain," he re-
sumed; Il seldom say so much about myself
as have said to YOU"
Il only wish you would say more" Randall
rejoined. Cant you put off your return to
London for day or two?
The thing was not to be done. Duties
which it was impossible to trfie with called
the captain back. Its quite likely" he
said, abiding pleasantly to the impression
WHICH le udu plOuuC6u LII speaking OF The
''that | shall find more strangers
to interest me i'll the great CITY,"
'tAre they always strangers?' Randall ask
ed. Have you never met by accident, with
persons whom you may once have known?'
''Never-yet. But it may happen on my
return"
In what way?'
I'm this way. [ have been in search of
poor girl who has lost both her parents. She
has, fear, been left helpless at the mercy of
the world. Her father was an old friend of
an officer in the navy, like my
self. My last letters suggest hope of trac
ing her. There is reason to believe that she
is or has been employed as pupil-teacher at
a school in the suburbs of London, and [ am
going back, among other things, to try if |
can follow the clew myself. Good-by, my
friend, let us hope to meet again. When you
are in London you will always hear of me at
the club"
Heartily reciprocating his good wishes,
Randall attended Capt. Bennydeck to the
door.
On the way back to the drawing-room he
found his mind dwelling, rather to his sur
prise, on the captains contemplated sealch
for 10 lost p1I