Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-04-09
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Left alone with the unconscious man,
March stopped and rolled him entirely
over. He had been lying face down
ward, his cheek to the sward; one arm
was by his side, the other was thrown
in a natural position above his head.
His pulse was almost normal, although
somewhat sluggish; his respiration
heavy, but not stertorous; his COM
plexion was not sanguine. His breath,
and, March feared, his whole body,
reeked OF opium. March shook him
gently. He slept on. With disgust
full SILVER he forced himself to
pass an arm under his head and
lift it to his knee. There was
no change in the limp lethargy.
The young man laid him down, and,
rising, stood off and looked at the pitia-
BILE wreck. Testers frenzied TRADE had
disabused the listeners mind of the sus-
picion Of suicide. He could no longer
doubt that here was the unraveling OF
the complex design that had vexed his
heart and head. The popular preacher
was not the first of brilliant parts and
high position who had fallen victim to
a debasing and insidious habit, but his
skill and effrontery in concealing the
truth we're remarkable. Yet-might
not March have OWNED the nature OF
the mystery before this revelation? the
peculiar brilliancy of the deep-set eyes;
his variable spirits; his fluent and, at
times, cratic speech; the very charac-
acter Of his pulpit eloquence-might
have betrayed him to an expert. His
wife's nervous vigilance and eager ASST
DUTY of devotion-above all, the episode
of the midnight toilers, and the con-
fiicting stories of the need of that toll
lfinally-and he recalled it with burst
ing hoart--Hetty's declaration to her
lover that there were insurmountable
obstacles to their union-were as clear
Jas daylight now The sudden illness of
that memorable Saturday night was
stupor like that which now chained the
slave of appetite to the earth.
! How often and with what excess Of
anguish the revolving scene had been
enaeted only tho two unhappy sisters
knew, unless the still more hapless
daughter were in the secret. Her wall:
key to depths 81 suspenseful endur-
sance and labyrinths Of unavailing decep-
ton.
Unavailing, for the instant of detec-
ton was the beginning of the end. The
man was ruined beyond redemption. A
whisper of his infrmity would be the
loss of place, reputation and livelihood,
and his innocent family would 60 down
ouick into the pit with him. This was
the vision of impending gloom that had
disturbed what should be sunny deeps
in the sweetest eyes in the world to
him. This was the almost certain pros
,pect that made her write: 81 can never
be more than your friendr'
The Gilchrist was clean, honest blood.
Hetty testified her appreciation OF this
truth by refusing to marry him. he
could think how his mother would look
when she heard the story and how Fair
hill gossip would gloat over the newest
thing in clerical scandals"
WHY should it be made public? Why
should he not help to keep it quiet in
stead of pulling down ruin upon the
helpless and unoffending? Hetty had
written: In mercy to the innocent
He seemed to hear her say it now, il
his ear
A faint melodious chime just vibrate'
through the sultry air. The fine bell OF
the 'sOld First" had struck the hal
hour. The churc2 in which he wa
baptized; the church of his mother
love and prayersl At thought OF tn
pulpit desecrated by this fellows feet,
rush of indignant contempt surged u
TO his lips.
.sSacrilegious dogr' he muttereC
touching the motionless heaps at his foo
Homer shambled back out Of breatl
he had brought lantern
sNow-it's powerful shady under Il
t-eesr' he replied to March's remaE
that the moon gave all the light tbs
required. AN Tiers somethin' con
TER me, as l want ter seel"