Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-05-08
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story of Life in the Great
 Mississippi Valley.

light with a troubled heart. He did not give much heed to the way he went. but walked on, thinking darkly of what Celeste had said. He knew that he loved her now that this indetinable danger lowered over them. The shock that came with her words, though he could not see to the bottom of what he feared, had made his love for her as plain to his feelings as stream of light to the eye. It were much as if she had started to slip from him. and with the first throb of fear he felt how in heart, in inclination, in intellect and in person, she was beautiful and had melted into his being. After time he looked up as if something fa- miliar had come in his way, and saw that he had returned to her gate. For n moment he stood there looking up the pathway that led to the house, with the flood of light that came from the door and painted it white, thinking that tomorrow he would tell her all. But did she love himP A tumult ran through his blood at the thought, mingling gladness and dread in its flight. Then the singing broke out afresh, and he stood listening to Ce- leste's voice coming to him through it Hll, anu WlbL1 d lhIoO ho" AthA it had led him and how sweet and sympathetic it was, like crystal pict- ure of her soul in sound, when hand touched his shoulder and with a start he saw policeman standing by him.
 Sounds nice" said the man, with nod toward the house. "Who dives 'ereP'
 Mrs. Brayton," sad John Earling. looking at the man in his intent way. "Yes; will iz there a young oman named Bright Celestial, or some such a 'eavenly 'andle to Ter, Twin 'ere?"
 ''Yes, sir"
 "There izp We'll, snag me! but hi didn't believe i'm. Hi tole the Capin the hole codger was a crank, and had about as much sense as a 'ornet with the 'eadache, but e sent me to see any ! way, and shore enough!"
 ''Who are you talking about?" asked the young man, knitting his brows and feeling something like a chill run over him.
 "W'y, one of the beatenest hole flags looked somethin' like dead elm tree when the bark S mostly peeled hoff an it's turned ragged an white-come into 'eadquarters this evenin' with 'iz hyes stickin' bout so as ye could peck lem hoff with billy, an throwed iz grip down shriekin' bout e was a murderer an wanted some place to die in! Hi hain't been at the biz long, yit fol lered the river twenty year an am con- siderably used to sights, but snag me if hi didn't lave to old my false teeth 1 in with one hand I shuck so. while hi led i'm into cell with tother!'
 Clearly this was facetious person. John Earling looked at him impa- tiently.
 "Well, hid no sooner got i'm onto a bunk" he went on, ''fore e begun 6 rantin' about bein' murderer, an Celestus Shine. or Bright, an sayin' C wanted 'er fetched there to see i'm. an hi told the Capin an we looked il the directory an shore enough it was there, an hi come up to see"
 John Earling turned sick at heart and there was a buzzing sound in his ears as he heard Celeste's sweet voice die away at the end of the anthem Il will go with you." he said. huskily The man looked at him inquiringly "'Ow bout the miss?'' he asked. ''B' you Ter brother?"
 No friend. I am visiting here She should not see such a sight"
 That's so; you'll do as a starter anyway. Mebby ye can cover what! rattlin' the loon, then if need be WI can fetch the oman
 John Earling scarcely heard tht mans lingual conglomerate as they walked down the bluff and took ca into the city; his thoughts were going over and over again the dark field o probability. Was this elusive secre toward which he had been movin. | o1 bic 1sfA f0 kim at Ia Q just when his days seemed breaking into blossom, with something destruc tive and appalling in itP He went for ward with dread, yet with eager trem bling, and when he stood inside tn cell and looked down upon the pal let there, his hands went up to hi throat and he stood still moment t. let dizzy faintness pass. There lay tn white wreck, seeming little more thai bones and eyes, beating his withere' hands to and fro, and rolling his hea' upon the thin pillow in a mop c whitest hair. The policeman too hold of the tossing hands and put theI down; the head stopped rolling, an the glazed eyes hunted for his face. l moment they seemed adjusted that ruddy mark, and the drawn lip gasped: "Did-you-bring-her?" . '.No, CT feller-'er friend come."
 Again the staring eyes hunted unt at last they rested upon John Earling' face. Then the skeleton-like figur drew itself tremblingly up and leanin
 on its elbow peered at him. The plac
 was lilly lighted, and the sick, emaciate old man with his vague, weary, war
 dering look, to John Earling was ine1
 pressibly terrible.
 "You-didn't- bring me-anybody,
 the parched lips said. ''It's-only- s htn,, and it-looks like-her, tot
 I've seen hen,-always-cen
 and centuries - and centuries. the ( know-it, they know-I done-i I wanted-to-tell-it-
 -elser' then he laid tremblingly dow
 again.
 }. The veins that thridded John Earling
 temples rose into ridges, and for m
 ment vail seemed hanging before h e face as he faintly heard the policema saying: "You better tell it to me!