The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-22

nNDnL u ~ - -
Gems hard to say why, but | could not burst
in m the oil man n I could on the young
woman. With whatever reluctance, | must
knock. but his old slumbers were light, or
perhaps be slept not. and at the hrstsummon
was hidden enter.
He. too. sat up In bed very aged and blood
los he looked: anil. whereas he had a certain
Iarceness Of appearance when dressed Tor
davliQht. be now seemed frail and little, and
his face the wig being laid aside not bigger
than a child's. This daunted me; nor less,
the haggard surmiso Of misfortune In his eye
Yet his voice vas even peaceful as he in
ouired my errand. | sat my candle down
mon a chair, leaned on the bed foot and
looked at him. =.
.LOrd Durrisiecr,r said | "it Is very well
known to you that | am a partisan in your
family" .
IL hope we are none OF us p~artsans,' said
he. THAT you love my son sincerely, have
always been glad to recognize"
"Oh, my lord, we are past the hour oil
these ciyilitics," | replied. IF we are to
save anything ont Of tho fire, we must look
the fact in its bare c~ountenance. A partisan
am. partisans we have all been; il is as a
nartisan that | am here in the middle Of the
night to plead before you. Hear me; before
Igo | will tell you why"
II would always hear you, Mr.. Mackel-
lar said he, land that at any hour, whether
Of the day or night, for | would be always
sure YOU hal a reason. You spoke nee be
fore to very proper purpose; have not for.
gotten that"
- 80 - 49, a. - 49,. A.--, ~ s,- r.ao
tar.n | said. II need not tell you how he
acts. You know how no is placed. You
know with what generosity he has always
met your other-met your wishes" | cor
rected myself, stumbling at that name OF
son. "You know-yOu must know-vhat he
has su~Tered-what he has suffered about bis
wife"
"Mr. Mackellarr' cried my lord, rising in
bed like n bearded lion.
"You said you would hear me-" | contin-
ued. "What YOU do not know, what You
should know. one Of the things | am here 10
speak offs the persecution he must bear in
private. Your back IS not turned, before
one whom / dare not name to you falls upon
him with the most unfeeling taunts; twit.
upon him-pardon me, my lord.-twits him
with your Partially, calls him Jacob, calls
him clown, pursues him with ungenerous
raillery, not TO be borne by man. And let
but one Of you appear, instantly he changes
and my master must smile and courtesy t.
the man who has been feeding him with in
suits; | know-fOr have shared in some Of
it. and | tell You the life is ~insupportable
All these months it has endured; IL began
with the mans landing. il was by the name
OF Jacob that my master was greeted the
first night
Ny lord made a movement rs if to throw
aside the clothes and rise. If there be any
truth in this said he.
dol look like n man lyingfI Interrupted
checking him with my hand.
"You should have told meat first, he said
"Ah, my lord, indeed | should, and you
may well hate tho face Of this unfaithful
servantl7 | cried.
Il will take ORDER said he, sat once.
And again made the movement to rise.
Again | checked him. IL have not done, .
said l.. "Would Col | hadl All this my
deer, unfortunate patron has endured with
out help OF countcnauce. Your own best
word, my lord. was cA.y gratitude. Oh, but
he was your son, tot lie had no other
father. lie was hated in the country, God
knows how unjustly. Hehad a loyeless mar
riage. He stood on al hands without airec
ton or support, dear, generous, i'll fated, no
Die heart"
Your tears do you much honor and me
much shame says my lord, with a palsied
trembling. "But YOU 10 me injustice. Henry
he's been ever dear % me-. very dear. Jane,
Z do not deny il, Mr.. Mackellar, James l.
perhaps dearer, you have not seen my jane
in quite a favorable light; he has suffered
under his misforiunos. aud we can only re-
member how great AMI how unmerited these
we're. And-eycn now his is the more affec
tiouate nature. But | sill not speak OF him
All that you say Of Henry is most true; | do
not wonder, | know him to be very magnani
nous; you will say | trade upon the knowl
elgei 10 Is possible. there are dangerous
sirtucs-virtues that teinpt the encroacher.
Mr.. Nackcllar, | will mako it up 10 him; ]
vii take order with al this. | have been
weak, aud, what is worse, | have been dull. %
Il must not hear yoa blame yourself, my
ord, with that which | have yet to tell upon
ny conscience" | replied. you have not
been weak; You have been abused by a devil
ish dissembler. You saw yourself how he
lal deceived you IN the matter Of his dan
ger: he has deceived You throughout in every
Yep Of his career. | wish to pluck him from
your heart, | Eish to force your eyes upon
your other son all, you have a sou there!"
mo, no" sail be, two sons-l have two
sons
/ made some gesture Of despair that struck
MIN. he looked nj me with a changed face
There is much worse behindf' he asked, his
voice dying a. it rose upon the question.
Much worse | answered. This night
he said these words to Mr.. Henry; i have
never known a woman who did not prefer
me ~ YOU, and / think who did not continue
to prefer me-"
Il viii hear nothing against my ~daughterr
he cried; and from his readiness TO stop me
IN this direction ! conclude his eyes were not
50 dull as | had fancied, and he had looked on
not without anxiety upon the siege of Mrs
Henry
81 think not Of blaming her" cried |. at
is not that. These words were said in my
hearing 10 Mr.. Henry, and, If you find them
not yet plain enough, these Others but n littl'
after; Your wife who is in love with me-
"They have quarreled." he said.
nodded.
IL must ny to them" he said, beginning
once again TO leave his bed.
NO, nor | cried, holding forth my hands
"You do not know" said he. These are
dangerous words"
"WiD nothing make you understand, my
lordf said |. o
His eyes bcsought me for the truth.
flung myself on my knees by the bedside
"Oh, my lord,n cried |. ''think on him you
have left, think Of this poor sinner whom 20.
begot, whom your wi,o bore to you, whom We
have none OF US strengthened as we could
think OF him, not Of yourself; he is the Other
sufferer-ihink Of himl That is the door fol
sorrow, Christ's door, Gods door; oh. II
stands openi Think Of him, even as he thought
Of YOU. Who is TO tell the old mani thes,
we're his words. 1t was for that | came; thai
is why | am here pleading at your feet"
LET me get up" he cried, thrustins ne
aside, snd was on his feet before myself. Hi
voice shook like a sail in the wind, yet he
spoke with a good loudness. His face was
like the snow, but bis ewes were steady and