Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-27

not found 1t, and you think the search Is
hopeless. | m not going to preach to you
against your will, but you may find true
happiness yet; for I've found it, and it
took me twelve years.
Thanks, said Aylmer but | dare
say it isn't of much consequence, he adj
ded lightly, whether find it or not. -
There's great hereafter, brother, re-
turned the Captain decidedly and prompt
ly; and the Lieutenant slow, gentle voice
echoed:
Brother, there's great hereafter
Aylmer looked at them both, and sud-
denly broke into laugh.
Il hope there is he said. The pres
ent doesn amount to much.
Are you prepared to meet it, brother?"
persisted the Captain.
Yes returned Ayfmer with sudden
sharpness. I'm prepared to meet any
thing but life. Now are you satisfed?"
No, said the Captain. Far from it.
But I've said my say, brother, and III
leave you In peace, if peace you call it. -
He turned to a newcomer, but the Lieu
tenant fingered.
Maybe he said deprecatngly, ''you'd
like smoke. We've smoking In down
stairs room I'll show you. And I'm no
smoker myself but I've got a bit of
bacca handy, if you'll make free with it. "
You keep tobacco for the benefit of the
dossers, said Aylmer curiously. THAT
is very good-natured of you"
The Lieutenant looked embarrassed,
and Aylmer felt that he had used a wrong
adjective:
1T isn't in the fourpence?" he said,
smiling.
why, no, said the Lieutenant with
an answering smile. may be not
Then I'll have smoke gladly" said
Aylmer, land many thanks. You
look as if you knew what it is to be hard
up?"
'Bless you!' said the Lieutenant, 1--WE
been ard up all my life Come more nat
ural to me than it does to you, sir
You don't deserve it, however," said
Aylmer involuntarily, las | do"
Il think, maybe . replied the Lieuten-
ant mildly, there's not much difference
between mems deservings if it isn't for
the grace of God. But that S the forbid
den subject, isn't it? And now if you'll
allow me I'll show you the smoking
room.
What was it in Aylmer than won on the
Lieutenant, till he said in a puzzled way,
and disregarding all circumstantial evil
dence, that Alymer was not far from the
kingdom? He did not know, any more
than Ay lmer knew why the Lieutenant
won on him; yet in their sentences the
same thought passed through the mind Of
each:
He's such a gentleman.
''Does it NATTER said Aylmer the next
morning, IF come again to-night?'
you'll be very welcome" said the
Lieutenant with quiet sincerity Good
morning brother, God bless you!'
With which unusual benediction ring
ing in his ears, Aylmer went into the city,
a very briefiess barrister But at night,
having somehow amassed fourpence, and
no more, he returned, and was received by
the Lieutenant with cordial grasp of the
hand and look of welcome, and wondered
how long it was since any one had shaken
hands with him like that. For several
nights more he came, always reading his
own especial greeting in the Lieutenant s
face. Then again there was break; and
the Lieutenant looked for him vainly, and
somehow missed him. He was different
from the rest.
At last, one night, later than usual, the
well-Nnown figure entered Aylmer had
assembled the stairs quietly and steadily;
nevertheless the Lieutenant, who was &C
customed to this maneuvere on the part
of drunken men, gave him a doubtful
glance before his cordial Good night,
brother
I'm not your brotherr' said Alymer,
thlckly, and with savage oath.
A tumult arose among the dossefs, who
many of them had known the Lieutenant
long, and, in their wild way loved him.
He's half-seas over. Turn him out,
Lieutenant; wcll give you handr'
Half dozen strong fellows rose at once,
but the Lieutenant waved them back
You re not yourself tonight" he said
to Aylmer soothingly. sit down a oit."
What Aylmer's disordered brain made
of the kindly invitation there is no know
ing; but what he did was this: Without
a second warning he knocked the Lieu
tenant down. Then, partially sober al
ready, he turned Oh his heel
He had the advantage of the other dos
sers in being close to the door, and he
passed through swiftly. But a savage
howl rose, and dozen of them were after
him. There was only one voice that could
possibly stop them, and that voice they
heard. The Lieutenant was staggering to
his feet and stood between them and the
door.
wait bit, boys" he said, in his
gentle, deprecating voice. You re some
of you been the worse for drink as he was.
lis my quarrel"
Take my place, brother" he added
anXiousl y to a sub-officer who entered Just
then, bewildered at Aylmer's sudden exit.
and he was gone. Quite oblivious of the
fact that his face was cut and bleeding, he
ran down the dusky stairs and into the
street. There, just turning corner, was
Aylmer's retreating figure. What direc-
ton was he going in, with such a quick
and steady steps? The Lieutenant breath
ed a prayer and hurried after him.
Partially sobered by seeing the Lieuten-
ant one Of the best fellows he had ever
known, lying at his feet, the cold night air
did the rest for Aylmer. who, In one of the
moments of vivid awakening men have
suddenly knew, or thought he knew, what
he really wanted. A sense of freedom al
most JOY, awoke in him at the thought that
he could fling away life so utterly WORTH
less, as he would have flung away some
baneful thing 1t seemed no wrong he was
about to do; the thought that it was cow
ardly to die was obliterated for him by the
thought that it was cowardly to live-like
this. Words were surging in his mind
over and over.
And in the great food wash away my
sin. -
He was aware that he meant to do some
thing that would change all, and only
feared the failure of his courage.
''Oh, God. let me go through with it, -
he prayed. And so he came to the bridge,
moderating has pace for fear of attracting
SusniciOn: and entering one of the lonely