Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-04-25
A MIDNIGHT CRY.

pecially if that inn be situated in the
heart of picturesque region much be-
loved by summer tourists if the host has
been taught thereby the art of making
comfortable and is Inclined through
leisure, to exercise it. was glad, there
lore when l drew up before the old fash
loned hostelry, for the night was coming
down fast with cold and cloud and
blaclness in its train. l was still 10
miles away from Grafton, my destina-
lion, and any further attempt at reach
ing it would be apt to end in a snow
drift. So, willingly enough, suffered
Princess to be led away to a box stall,
willingly enough swallowed the steam
ing punch which the landlord deftly
mixed for me, willingly enough thawed
and revived before the fervent hickory
logs on the taproom hearth until was
called into the great deserted dining
room, where chicken and eggs and slices
of fried potato and tender cakes. afloat
in butter, were awaiting me.
Willingly enough, too, after had met
these most captivating enemies and they
were mine, did ensconce myself i'll an
easy chair before the CHEEKY CRATE in the
best front chamber and over a cigar
mediate on my good fortunes.
Yes, it was best from every point OF
view that I should be here The increas
ing tempest, bowling around the angles
and under the caves, warned me to be
thankful for perils avoided. Recollection
assured me that the Grafton tavern af-
Jol .foiy nd
was it not well that I should have fur
ther time to consider my mission before
chance met certainty face to face? Had
Eunice forgiven me, and even so, was
forgiveness necessarily the herald of re-
turning love?
Ten years, truly, must assuage the
most poignant grief, ten years must tenn
per anger with humane excuses, but
might they not also fade passion into
a dream and dream into a sorrowful
reminiscence? But no. Eunice's nature
could never become apathetic If she
had loved me that terrible day when
rushed despairingly from her sight, she
loved me still. She had never married,
so my friends told Ine. She was living
with her father in that old house at
Grafton-that dear old house, so replete
with coziness and hospitality until that
cloud of horror had burst over It'll Had
she forgiven me?
Did she still love me?: Come, living
embers, imbued with thought, reveal
my future to me. In their tranquil but
intense glow l seemed to see my dar-
ling's eyes as they gazed on me that
morning-deep pensive, mournful eyes,
so true, so beseeching in their truth.
'Don't go, Harry" they had said 81
know you too well not to know your
weakness. I love you too well not to dis
regard them But II was over
whelmed with shame Like Cain, my
punishment was greater than l could
bear Forth I went a fugitive and a
vagabond in the earth. Throughout the
adventurous years that followed-years
that proved, however cowardly I really
was, that I could still be courageous
those dear eyes had gazed on me beseech-
ingly, reproachfully, until at last they
had drawn me to my native land, until
now they were drawing me to that spot
which innocent blood, still unavenged,
made it seem PROCLAMATION for me to ap-
proach.
"Ah, we'll" mused. cts idle to
speculate The morning will surely tell.
Why should not be patient and hope?
was but boy then. Why should I
have been expected-but no, must not
think of it. If do, that whole horrible
nightmare will return to me with un-
diminished reality"
threw away my cigar, rose from my
chair and strolled about the room Yes,
the Landlord had given me his best with
the graciousness born of superabun-
dance. Probably was the sole guest, but
no, there was some one directly over
head. A restless some one from the way
he was pacing up and down the floor, a
stalwart some one from the weight of
his tread. But had the best notwith-
standing This room had clinging air
of home about it. Likely it was occupied
year after year by the same summer
boarders The curtains were tied back
with coquettish bows There were vases
and fly blown photographs on the man.
tel, and on the bureau there were crewel
work mats. In a recess were shelves
lined with books, and on the top coil
of stout fishing line which bespoke the
! taking of pickerel Why did I, ordina-
rily Indifferent to my surroundings, no.
tice SO small detail as this latter, yes,
and calculate that its strength must be
great? don't know. do know, how
| ever, that realization of this vagary
made me uneasy, SO turned to the books
as to a refuge.
| Why is it as one grows older one hesi-
tates the more on starting new book?
Does the mind, like the body, crave adj
venture in youth and familiar scenes in
full maturity? Does a renewed reading
crafty through intolerance, or does it act
as spur to exoteric recollections? !
know that, though there were several
works attractive in promise to me, Sc
lected "Jane Eyre" conscious that had
read it years before oblivious, though,
under what circumstances and perhaps
unconsciously curious regarding them.
resumed my seat by the fire, and for
an hour or more I yielded to the charm
of the story-for an hour or more, and
then Of sudden tremor Of terror, alas,
not new, swept over me.
Unsuspecting, l had read on and Oh
until I had reached that scene where
Jane i'll her new position of governess to
Rochesters child is overcome by that
weird, awful scream in the night All,
no wonder l trembled, 10 wonder l re-
membered l had been reading this very
book before going to bed on that very
evening, that never to be forgotten even-
ing 10 years ago.
Oh, why had selected it? If memory
was wanting why had not instinct
warned me from it, rs one sometimes
in lightest slunbers may start and thus
avoid recurring dream of evil? And
now it was too late! had said that L
would not think of those maddenlng
events, and here they were rushing pell-
nell through my brain. l tossed the
book into corner, with curse after it,
1 lighted a cigar, and gazing into the
fire, now gray and half dead, this is
what saw:
Ten years before I had been youth,
Minimum Fortunatus, +" the only son OF
o wealthy man, strong, we'll favored,
-o11 odncatod and above all beloved