Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-14
CHAPTER XIV.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS DURING THE MAsTER'a
SECOND AB6ENOH.

"
RI = .AsNSSsaS wv the last unmingled
rs<SSSssty $SsB,M ITg trouble that befell
~ -yY LGAIh/ my master and
Eiz1Elss s ssps ' q mercy .s: PER- IN
s<sr->6sE disguise, for what
~ pains OF tho body
could equal the mis-
cries of his mlndl Mrs. Henry and had tho
watching by the bed My old lord called
from time to time to take the news, butwould
not usually pass the door. Once, remember,
when hope was nigh gone, no stepped to the
bedside, looked awhile in his sons face, and
turned away with a singular gesture of the
head and hand thrown up, that remains upon
my mind rs something tr6gic, such grief and
such a scorn of sublunery thing were there
expressed. But most of the time Mrs Henry
and had the room to ourselves, taking turns
by night and bearing each other company by
day, for it was dreary watching.
Mr.. Henry, his shaven head bound in
napkin, tossed to and fro without remission,
beating the bed with his hands. His tongue
never lay; his voice ran continuously like a
river, so that my heart was weary with the
sound of n. 1t wss notable, and To mo mex
pressibly mortifying, that he spoke ali the
while on matters Of no imports; comings and
goings horses-which he was over calling to
have saddled, thinking perhaps Cthe poor
soul that he might ride away from his dis
comfort-inatters of the garden, the salmon
nets, and what particularly ragged to hear,
continually Of his affairs, ciphering figures
and holding disputarion with tho tensntry.
Never a word Of his father or his wife, nor of
the master, save only for day or two, when
his mind dwelt entirely in the past and he
supposed himself a boy again and upon some
innocent child's play with his brother. What
made rhis the more affecting: it appeared the
master had then run some peril of hislife, for
there was a cry-"Oh, Jamie will be drowned
oh, save Jamicln which he came over and
over with great deal of passion
This, l say, was affecting, both to Mrs.
Henry and myself; but the balance of my
masters wanderings did him little JUS
tice. 1t seemed he had set out to justify his
brothers calumnies; as though he was bent
to prove himself a man of dry nature, i'm
merssd in money getting Had bsen there
alone, I would not have troubled my thumb;
but all the whilo, as I listened, was estimat-
ing the effect on the mans wife, and telling
myself that ho fell lower every day. was
the one person on tho surface of the globe
that comprehended him, and l was bound
there should be yet another. Whether he
was 10 dis there and his virtues perish, or
whether he should save his days and come
back to that inheritance of sorrows, his right
memory, | was bound he should be heartily
lamented in the one case and unaffec teddy
welcomed in the other, by the person he loved
the most, his wife.
Finding no occasion of free speech, be-
thought me at last of a kind Of documentary
disclosure; and for some nights, when | was
off duty and should have been asleep, / gave
my time to the preparation of that which
may cali my budget.
But this / found to be the easiest portion
of my task, and that which remained, name
ly the presentation to my lady, almost more
than | had fortitude to overtale Several
days | went about with MY papers under my
arm, spying for some juncture Of talk TO
serve as introduction. | will not deny but
that somS offered; only when they did my
tongue Glove to the roof Of my mouth, and
think / might have been carrying about nay
packet till this day had not fortunate acct
dent delivered me from all my hesitatons.
This was at night, when l was once more
leaving the room, the thing not yet done, and
myself In despair at my own cowardice
"W nat do you carry about with you, Mr..
Mackellari' she asked. These last DAYS :
SEQ you always coming in and out win the
same arnful."
returned upon my steps without word,
laid The papers before her on the table, and
left her to her reading. OF what that was l
am now 20 give you some idea; and the best
will be to reproduce letter Of my own
which came first In the budget, and Of which
according to an excellent habitude) have
preserved the scroll 1t will show too, the
moderation of my part in these affairs, a
thing which some have called recklessly in
question.
"DURRIspEER, 1757.
"HoNoRED MADAME: ! trust ! would not
step out Of my place without occasion; but l
sec how much evil has flowed in the past to
all OF your noble house from that unhappy
and secIctdve fault OF reticency, and the pa
pefs on which I venture to call your atten-
ton are family papers and all highly worthy
your acquaintance.
II append a schedule with some necessary
observations, and am, honored madame,
your ladyship's obliged, obedient servant,
"EPKRAIM MAGELLAN
soHHpuLR PAPERS.
A Scroll Of ten letters from EphreiIn Mackellar
DO the Honorable James Duria, ESQ., by courtesy
Master Of Ballantrao durlnG tho latter residence
in Paris: under dates 0oow the dates)-Nota
10 be read In connection with and O,
B. Soven original letters from the said Master Of
Ballantrae TO the said n, aaokeilar under dates
(follow the dates),
c. Three original letters from the said Master
of Ballantrae to tho Honorable Henry Durie
ESQ.,, under -Qonow the dates)-Eota
given me by Mr. Henry TO answer; copies OF my
answers A l. A and 40 Of these productions
The purport Of LIZ. Henry's communications, o.
which can find no scroll, may DO gathered frou
those Of his unnatural brother
D. A correspondence, original and scroll, ex
tending over period Of three years till January
OF the current year. between the said Master o.