Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-14
CHAPTER XXI.
REAIORSE.

In a work of this kind not only the
external incidents should be noticed,
but also what may be called the mental
events. We have seen calamity pro-
duce q great revulSiOn in the feelings of
Colonel Clifford; but as for Robert Bart
ley, his very character was shaken to
the foundation by his crime and its ter
rible consequences. He was now like a
man who had glided down soft sunny
brink of a fathomless precipice. Bart
ley was cunning, selfish, avaricious, I'M
scrupulOus in reality, SO long as he
could appear respectable; but he was
not violent, nor physically reckless, still
less cruel. A deed of blood shocked
him as much as it would shock an hon
est man. Yet now, through following
his natural bent too far, and yielding to
the influence Of remOrSeleSS villain, he
found his own hands stained with blood
the blood of man who, after all. had
been his best friend, and had led him to
fortune; and the blood of an innocent
girl who had not only been his pecunia-
ry benefactress for time, but had
warmed and lighted his house with her
beauty and affection.
Busy men, whose views are all eXter-
nal, are even more apt than others to
miss the knowledge of their own minds.
This man, to whom everything was
e business, had taken for granted he did
not actually love Grace Hope. Why,
she was another mans child. But now
lie had lost her forever, he found he had
mistaken his own feelings. He looked
round his gloomy horizon and realized
too late that he did love her; it was not
great and penetrating love like Will
liam Hopes; he was incapable of such
a sentiment; but what affection he had
to bestoW, he had given to this sweet
creature. His house was dark without
her: he was deSolate and alone, and,
horrible to think of, the instrument of
her assassination. This drove him to
frenzy, and his frenzy took two forms,
furious excitement and gloomy despair;
this was now his life by night and day,
for sleep deserted him. At the mine his
nIoaoul es were all wise. but his manner
very wild; the very miners whispered
amongst themselves that he was going
mad. At home, on the contrary, he
was gloomy, with Sullen despair. He
was in this latter condition the evening
after the explosion, when visitor was
announced. Thinking it was some one
from the mine, he said, family, admit
him." and then his respondent head
dropped on his breast; indeed, ne was
in a sort of lethargy, worn out with his
labOrS, his remOrSe, and his SleepleSS-
ness.
In that condition his ear was sudden
ly Jared bya hard, metallic voice whose
tone was somehow opposed to all the
voices with which goodness and humani-
ty have ever spoken.
We'll, governor, here's a slice of
luck"
BARLEY shivered. as that the devil
speaking to me" he muttered, without
looking up.
NO" said Monckton, iauntily; "only
one of his servants, and your best
friend"
"My friend?" said BARLEY, turning his
chair and looking at him with a sort of
dull wonder.
"Ay," said Monckton, your friend;
the man that found you brains and
resolution, and took you out of the
hole, and put Hope and his daughter in
1t instead: no, not his daughter, she did
that for US. she was so clever"
Yes" said BARLEY, wildly, at was
you who made me an assassin. But for
you, should only have been a knave;
now am murderer-thanks to you"
Come, governor" said Monckton,
''no use looking at one side of the pict-
ure. You tried other things first. You
L1duo HIlu uboId1 OIleIS. YOU hIION. Dul
he would have war to the knife, and he
has got it. He is buried at the bottom
of that shaft"
God Forbid"
And you are all right"
Il am in hell" Shrieked BARLEY.
well, come out of it." said Monck-
ton. land let's talk sense. II read the
news at Derby, just as [ was starting
for London. 1 have been as near the
mine as thought safe. They seem to
be very busy clearing out both shafts
two steam-e-ngines. constan- res cf