Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-22
CHAPTER III.


From that day the change in Mr. Eyre
became still more markell, and though
he was able to hide the workings of his
mind from AIadcap, to Frank it became
clear that he looked, moved, and spoke
only by series Of continued efforts, his
will seemin to have lost the command
it had hitherto exercised over the i'm
paSSibla features, and aCute mind. And
in TRUTH the bitter sense that he no
longer ruled his own fate cr6pt like q
blight over that proud spirit to which
impotence meant dlShOnOr; and while
outwardly immersed in those peaceful
pursuits AMI pleasures That had hither-
to made the sum or his own and Md
caps happiness, inwardly his thoughts
were inWrapped AMI inWOven like those
thousands OF snakes in the bed of the
Canoes, of which Pllny speaks as
writing and twisting III ceaSeleSS con-
volutiOnS, yet never succeeding for one
instant i'll freeing themselves from each
other. lie was a man haunted by
strange echoes, as one who, walking in
dense for by the light of a lantern, and
by chance turning. sees himself i'm
preSSe on the fog III rude gigantic out
lines that make him strange IN his own
eyeS-eXagGerated, mOnStrOuS, startling
him with the thought of dudl exist
ence in which each self is known to the
other, though the link between the two
is invisible. Strange impressions came
and went i'll his mind-Something that
was not himself looked at him out of
the inmost chambers of his soul, and
impelled him to deeds of which he knew
nothing. In this rouSlng of blind in
ward forces. his hand would involun-
tarily cIinch and lift itself, till awaken
ed by the act, his will would assert
itself, and question the mind, that only
gave him back uncertain replies. like a
face that is reflected in shiYered glass
Ills sleep became fitful, and full of
dreams. More than once he had found
himself in some distant part of the
house, not knowing how he had got
there, and on waking, felt himself OPP
pressed by that indication which we
get, as it We're, by accident, and with
cut seeking for" that has been defined
as an omen.
His action in the hay feld-automatic
entirely without the ratification OF his
will-had appalled, him. True, he had
prepared himself for emergencies; but
this demon that leaped to the helm and
acted for him was unknown, I'm luthOr-
lied. Into what further depths of crime
1t might plunge him he shud Tered to
guess at. AMI next day sent Frank to
Hester, offering any terms she pleased.
if she would only leave the village. But.
alas. she hal got beyond either him or
Aladcap now. The starved motherhood
In her hal found food, and nothing short
or death ShOulu make her renOunca it.
and there was another reason why she
must stay. one that drew her to the
child with more idDlizing love each dav,
the outclSt'S heart recognizing that to
which the mothers was blind. She
must stay now Co the end. no matter in
how great peril her life stood (anl Of
Mr.. Eyre S attitude toward her there
could be 10 doubt since the day when,
taking covert peep ut her dari NJ.
Eyre had Spied and fired at her as an
asSaSsin); though if sometimes IN alter
native that offered safety with hapUi-
ness pres anted itself, she thrust it aside,
she would do nothing that could cause
MadcaD one moments pain.
And if Mr.. Eyre would ONLY have
realized it, Madcap ran no risk OF harm
from Hester. even if the latter had will
ed sucn to her; for life is made up of
chances, and though we keenly note
each untow"rl one, we are blind to the
million atoms that work in our favor:
since Nature, left to herself. plans
things eaSlIy-it IS only nun who, by
violent eXhrc So OF will, forces the cur
rents Of tie in Il wrong direction.
lie sad little when Frank announced
the failure OF his errlnd, but each hour
the sense OF dependence upon the wo-
man burned more deeply into his proud
soul, us With bitter humiliation he Sc
creJly filled that pillory ot Sllm1 III
which the county. to Il man, had united
to publicly place Frank.
Even the farmers were against the
lord OF the m lnOr, all r2cHJa4d him Il
hardened VILLAIN.
Look ut his complexion, they would
say 10 their wives; ana perhaps it WAS
this, among other items, that I'll make
the women look ut hlm-''d0 taat looE
like lynn awake ut night an | h ainr SOY
~ for his nS?" And yet he could lOOE
SOrrV and doWncaSt enough OH occasion
luuugd -.L.t.l~tp, ~ 40 iittl lOnr ar0 It >
covered that tault i'll Franks coIlC3a-
ance before mentioned, would never al
nit that he showed the smallest sirn OF
peniten:e. And. perhaps. the greatest
strain upon Mr.. EVra'S nerves cane ius,
then from his wife, whose scorn OF
Frank usually at odd moments. and
when he WAS least suspicious 81 her in
tentiou) showed itself in pnrpetnalcoo ~
parsons between Franks moral de-
prlvlty and his own Sp3cNleSS white
ness. till one day an UNEXPECTED ailv g,
his father was discovered in Dolly. who
burst into tears. excl aiming that Frank
was a dear. kind. beautiful man. ant
never called mummy names, AMI ioveu
her very much''-WherdSlt. and probably
it was Tor the first time lin his life. Mr.