The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-06-22

Lancashire pushed on it's industrial
way; we often astonished poor Mrs
Stelnhardt sometimes even ourselves
by the warmth with which we would
discuss the outrage done to man and
nature
one afternoon we talked thus. 1t
was well on in springtme; the stream
was running full, and all nature in
spite Of drawbacks, was striving to
look green. | told them how had that
morning stood by the little plank bridge
just below Timperley Hall looking
across at the dreadfully numbered little
peninsula on which the ruined spinning
mill stood, when there stood up at my
elbow an old man whom l knew by
sight as an ex-handloom weaver.
A tine brook, tina, parson," he said.
Yes said l, suiting my reply to
what | thought his persiflage; what
pity no trout seem to know of it,"
'Ah, but said he sadly, there We're
trout in it wonst; though there's been
none for mony day. Thout Aw defy
onything to live in that, bout gettin'
cured first, like red herrin' or a sally
mander. There was a lad drownded
like as it might be this spring, and he
were never found till like as it might
be next back-end down theer in that
mud; he were not gone at all, but he
were cured thro and thro' black, mon
black"
This l told! and then I continued:
browning, they say, is an easy death; F;
but TO drown in such stream as that
seems horribly repulsive l fancy no
ono would crave to commit suicide in
it."
| perceived my stupid blunder as
soon as | had spoken; had not thought
that what said could be taken as al
lusive,' to the disappearance of Mr.. La
croiX.
Excuse me-" said Miss Lacroix. ris-
ing hurriedly, Il do not feel very well.
Do not come Mrs. Steinhardt; / shall
get better by myself"
[, Of course made apology to Mrs.
Steinhardt for my stupidity.
Yes said she. you see she can't
bear any kind Of allusion to her fathers
end She told me soon after she came
here tshe couldn't, you know, go on
living in that big house up there all
by herself)-She told me Il strange
dream she had once or twice when her
father was missing-the strangest thing
but | scolded her SO, she has never said
another word to me about it. Still, l
fancy, she thinks a great deal about
her father though she does not say
much. they We're rare and fond o one
another.
That very evening I unexpectedly
learned from Miss LacroiX herself what
that strange dream was | was return
ing by moonlight from the house Of
parishioner along that same road which
first brought me upon the valley. A
railway engine in the distance was
uttering a long-drawn whistle, and the
great yentilating crowl of the ruined
mill was grinding painfully round, with
a sound Of the most eerie melancholy,
to bring change of air to rooms that
no longer existed. as l descended the
steep path toward the stream. Pass
ing the pond on my right (Which | be-
fore mentioned as rejecting the lighted
windows Of the many-storeyed
cloaked and hooded, standing on
the margin of the pond under
one of the trees. l paused
minute, while my heart beat with
apprehension, an1 then l passed
through gap i'll the fence and ap-
proached The figure turned quickly,
as if impatient at the intrusion, ana IN
the pale moonlight l recognized the
face of Miss Lacroix.
Miss Lacroix"' l exclaimed. You
here
"Oh. Mr.. Unwin.' she basln, in evi-
dent tension of feeling. Il aould rot
rest indoors, and so l came out here to
see Uncle Jacques; could not remain
with him, and SO l came out here 10
look at this. which always fascinates
me. Look"
I stood by her side and looked; this
is what l saw: An inverted reflection
Of the tall chimney OF the cht'nlcal
works which was emitting, as II o1ten
did late in the evening, its strange pix
ish yapor; this yapor in the renectloh
looked as il it were slowly rising from
the bottom of the pond, and, as its
color blended with the tints the water
somehow took as the breeze RULED IL
This way or that, produced the impress
sion of a slowly simmeriDg eauldron
of red. green and copper-broWn lame
This was so wonderfully weird fancy
that I confess | felt my skin creep.
turned my eyes away, and then looked
again and again, but the impression
was ever the same.
lis indeed very strange" | said.
as II not?" said she. You see it
,lsoa Mr. TnWin," she went on, turn
ina suddenly to me. and speaking with
! yahemence which increased is the
words came, Il have wished to tell you.
Won are a clergyman, and must hear
mo make my confession; and you VIII
loon if secret to yourself. You have
heard, perhaps, that my father-my
dear father,-is thought to be dead,
now just year ago.!
II have" said |.
Gle went to London and to Paris
on business and he never came pa.h,