The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-29


had always these letters | could shake over
his head: and now-what Is 10 dot We are
80 falsely situate, we dare not show the man
the door; the country would fly on fro
against u.s. and lad this one hold upon him
and now IL Is eone-now he may come back
tomorrow, and We must all sit down with
him 10 dinner, 90 for a strollsvith him on tho
terrace. or take a hand al cards, OF all things,
10 diver. his leisurel No, madame; God for
give you, II he can find it in his heavt; for
cannot find it in mine"
81 wonder TO find you so simple, Mr.. Mac
aeilar." said Mrs. Henry. "What does this
man value reputation But he knows how
HIGH We prize IL: he knows We would rather
die than make these letters public; and do
vou slppose he would not trade upon the
bnowledgoi What you call your sword, Mr..
Nackellar. aud which had been one, indeed,
against a man Of any remnant Of propriety,
would have been bat sword Of paper against
him. He would smile in your face at such
threat. 10 stands upon his degradation he
makes that bis strength, il isin vain to strug'
gle with such chasiciers." She cried out this
last little desperately, and then with more
,giet; "No. Mr. Mackellar, | have thought
mon this matter all night, and there is no
way out Of it, Papers or no papers, the door
# this house stands open for him. He Is the
r.gbtful heir. forsoothl II We sought to ex
Guide him. all would rebound against poor
Henry. and | should see him stoned again
unau the streets All, if Henry dies, II is
different matterl They have broken the en-
tail for their own good purposes The estate
GOES 20 my daughter, and shall see who sets
, foot upon H. Butt If Henry lives, my poor
fr Mackollar. and that man returns. we
INST suffer; only this time it will bs 20
.ether
On the whole, ! was well pleased with
irs. Iionrys attitude Of mind; nor could J
wen deny there was some cogeucy In that
which she advanced about the papers.
"Ict as say 10 more about it, said l. Il
an only he sorry trusted lady with the
riginals. which was an unbusi ncsslike pro
ceiling = tine best As FOR what said on
asvlng the service Of the family, it was
.oo.en with tho tongue only, and you may
n your mimi at rest. belong e. Durris-
eer. Mrs Henry, as if had been born
here.'
must do her the justice to say she seemed
.srfsctly relieved; 50 that we began this
morning. as we were TO continue FOR so many
years. on a proper ground Of mutual indul-
.euce and respect.
The same day. which was certainly prcdi-
.lte 10 Joy, wo observed the first signal OF
ecogcry in Mr. Henry; and about Of the
Glowing afternoon be found his mind again,
..cognizlng me by name with the strongest
wilderness of affection. Mrs Henry was also
% the room, at the bed foot; but 1t did not
.npear that be observed her AMI indeed
the fever being gone, he was 50 weak that
le made but the ono effort, and 0unk again
ltoa lethargy The course Of his rcstora-
ion was now slow but equal; every day his
.ppotite improved every week we were able
ID remark an increase both Of strength ana
issh. and before the end Of the monsi he was
ut Of bed and had even begun TO be carried
d bis chair upon the terrace.
IL was perhaps at this time that Mrs Henry
md were thc most uneasy IN mind Appre
ension for his days was at an end, and II
sorse fear succeeded Every day we drew
CONSCIOUSLY nearer 70 aday Of reckoning, and
hedavs passed On and still there was nothing
Mr. Henry better in strength, he held long
alks with us on great diversity Of subjects
his father camo and snt with him and went
,gain: and still there was no reference ~ the
lts tragedy OF To- the former troubles Which
al brought it on Did he remember, and
ouc,al his dreadful knowledgei or was the
giole blotted from bis mindi this was the
rohlem that kept Us watching and trembling
10 day when We were in his company, and
ieli us awake at night when we were in our
ouoly beds We knew not even which alterna-
I'VE TO hope for, both appearing so unnatural
md pointing so directly 10 an unsound brain.
nee this fear offered. observed his conduct
With sedulous particularity Something Of
nc child he exhibited: a cheerfulness quite
oreign TO his previous character, an interest
cadily aroused, and then very tenacious. in
mail matters which he heretofore despised
When he was stricken down | was his only
'onfdant. and may say his only friend, and
le was on terms Of division with his wife;
.pon his recovery all was changed the past
orcotten, the wife first and even single in
IFS thoughts. lie turned to her with all his
motions, like child to its mother, and
eemed secure of sympathy; called her in all
is needs with something OF that qrerulous
amiliarity that marks "a certainty Of indul
,ence, and must say, in justice to the WON
M, he was never disappointed To her in
ICED this changed behavior was inexpressbly
fYecting: and think she felt it secretly rs a
cproach; so that | have seen her in early
lays escapas'ut Of the room that she might
indulge herself in weeping. But to me tho
.hange appeared not natural, and, viewingit
llong with all the rest, began to wonder,
with many headshakngs, whether his reason
we're perfectly erect.
As this doubt stretched over many years,
injured indeed until my masters death, and
'louded all our subsequent relations, may
well consider of it more at large. When he
vas able 10 resume some charge Of his at
airs, had many opportunities to try him
With precision There was 30 lack of under.
landing, nor yet Of authority; but the old
continuous interest had quite departed: he
crew readily fatigued and fell t. yawning:
md he carried into money relations, where 1t
IS certainly ont Of place, a facility that Dor
Tered upon slacl,neSs. True, since we had no
onger the oxactions Of the master 20 contend
igainsf. there was the less occasion 10 raise
.trictness into principle. or do battle for
iarthing. True again, there was nothing ex
'esSive IN these relaxations, or would have
oeen no party 10 them But the whole thing
marked a change, very slight yet very per
'eptihle. and, though no man could say my
master had gone at all out OF hi, mind, no
nan could deny that he had s'ifted from his
'haracter 1t was the same 20 the end, with !
ais manner aud appearance Some Of the |
neat OF the fever fingered in his veins; his
movements a little hurried his speech nota-
bly, more volublc, Yet neither traly amisS.
His whole mind stood open 10 happy i'm
pressions, welcoming these and making much |
II them. but the smallest suggestion OF trouble |
Dr. sorrow he received With visible Impotence
and dismissed again with immediate relief |
10 was 10 this .emper that he owed the felicity |
II his later days, and yet here it was, il any |
where, that you could call the man insane. A |
great part Of this life consists in contemplat- |
ING what we cannot cure, but Mr.. Henry, il |
ne could not dismiss Solicitude by an effort of |
he mind, must instantly and at whatever |
sost annihilate the cause of Is; so that be |
played alternately the ostrich and the bull. |
!, is 70 this strenuous cowardice Of pain that |
/ have to set down all tho unfortunate and |