Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-01-16
CHAPTER XII.

The more he thought upon this the
more fixed became his determination to
go with Mark. By the time he reached
the mission rooms he was in fever of
anxiety lest anything might happen to
prevent
Mark at first was strenuously against
the suggestion. He had had such high
hopes for Hugh. 1t seemed to him a
good thing and q fitting thing for a
dreamy, disappointed man like himself
to go into exile, but the world needed
men of Hugh's caliber in the thick of
the fight
They talked far into the night. In
vain did Mark picture the terrors of iso-
lation, the eating loneliness of the
plague stricken colony, the loathsome-
ness Of the disease, to which sooner or
later they would in all probability sue
cumb.
Hugh heard him unmoved.
There is another side to it, Mark-a
side that carries healing want to go.
want it more than can tell you. 1t
is going with you or going to perdition.
Now, W.. > IA take me?"
He Lad bis wish.
Itv-aa arranged between them that
whatever ready money Hugh had he
would take with him, close his house
and serd word to his wife to dispose of
it and every thing it contained, and then
roodby 10 Marian, goodby to Macedon
place, to TIE old life, to the work he
had loved and to the world he had lived
in.
The brooding dawn crept wistfully
into the room and surprised them still
talking
A weight of fire was pressing on
Hugh's br' in, making it swim and
throb; his eyes, too, were burning, but
sleep was far away. He felt the need Of
movement. Oh, the restlessness that
tortured him, the terror of silence and
his own thoughts His one desire was
to have the first step irrevocably taken.
The train they were going on left for
the west at IL. There was no time to
waste, and refusing Marks invitation
to share his early breakfast he started
at once for Macedon place.
AS the terryboat crossed the river the
sun came out gloriously. 1t was fine
morning, warm, but with glad breeze
blowing, the sky windy azure. Only
few people were crossing SO early, and
Hugh had the front deck to himself. He
did not pause fer moment in his un
easy walk, keeping all thought at bay
save that he was going away. This even
the paddle wheel seemed to whisper in
husky gushes to the waves, and the wa
ter sobbed it back in rippling minor,
He felt soft content at having de-
cided SO we'll. He knew the change was
to be, yet--how strange it was try as
he would, he could not truly realize that
soon thousands of miles would yawn be-
tween these rushing cities and the is
land that was to be his home hencefor
ward!
This strange disunion Of fact and SEN
sibility gave him q feeling Of wonder,
but that, too, was vague, impersonal.
He could scarcely have felt more indif-
ferent if the projected upheaval was
contemplated by some one else. Accom-
panying this torpidity was foreknowl-
edge that this calm would not continue /;
that the moment must inevitably come
when he would suffer terribly under the
wrench, and d.all the feeling, dulled now,
rush over him in food of binding,
biting strength.
When the boat was exchanged for the
train, he sat with absorbed gaze looking
out at the land, the hills rolling away
empurpled in shadow, the breeze run
ming low through the long, bright grasses.
It was very lovely. Strange that he felt
no regret at the thought of leaving it
all.
But at the first glimpse of Macedon
place tiny shaft of penetrating pain
twisted through him. All, this was SO
endeared by long acquaintance, SO a part
of the busy life that had promised him
success, perhaps fame. Vain dreams
indeed, banished forever now.
He could not look unmoved for the
last time on the old place. How thick
and fresh the grass was behind the iron
palings! Not bough, not branch that
was not nodding, not leaf that was
not joyously fnttering. The dew lay
upon the leaves; the clean sunshine Ca
ressed them; the fretted, shimmering
tree tops whispered their summer songs
to him.
For the last 'timel
He gave one miserable glance at the
other house before entering his own. II
was sliuttered and silent. Marian was
still asleep. That was we'll, for he had
much to do in, a small space of time be.
fore going to her to ask her forgiveness
and say goodby,
Half dozen business letters, few
to friends, one to Jenny, the packing Of
trunk, instructions to the sleepy eyed
servsslt. who splashed with tears the
money he placed in her hand, and all
was done. So soon. He sat in the deeI
study chair, his hands grasping itf
sides as he looked around at each famil
lar thing. How easy it was, after all
to tear up the roots that habit and cir.
cumstances had set
The letters were in his pocket to be
sent when he returned to New York
There was but one thing more.
Marian Oh, my dear, my dearP'
The muscles Of his throat contracted
a film fell over his eyes. All, he loved
her and would while he had lifel But
for that love, forbidden to both, he
must leave her. Strength was his, and
he was glad to go. In the long vigil Of
the preceding night be had learned
many things-how love indulged at the
cost Of honor must fail miserably and
degrade, but how the voice In mans
soul that whispers hope or condemna.
tion can never die, though for awhile il
may be forgotten or stified.