The Van Buren press., 1896-07-25

There was silence; for the man wac
gazing at the turrets. The laborer was
about to move away. But the man
stopped him with another question.
and are they happy. those two?'
"'Appy?" Again the workman
seemed amazed at the question. why,
it's beautiful to see 'em. Aye, often
and often when they passes i the road
wi the BARNS, agoing to church mebbe,
or mebbe not, the missis she says to
me: Jim, it's pictur',' she says, and
l says to 'er: 1T is, says I. 'Appy?"
And the workman smiled.
But the man at the stile was silent.
From the heavens there shot jagged
streak of light. For a moment it lit
up the faces of the two men; then the
darkness had fallen like a pail. And
the workman laid his hand upon the
shoulder of the traveller.
Look ere, stranger" he said. 81
don't know 90 you be, or where yer
come from, or what yer doing ERE; but
you seem civil sort, and I'll tell you
this: We're going to ave such night
as not many i these parts II remember
the likes on, and if we've got a place
TO go to, don't wait no longer, but make
tracks; and if you 'aven't, why come
yer ways along o me-"
The stranger seemed moved; but he
replied: 81 thank you. You are very
kind. | have shelter from the Storm"
AS he spoke his eyes were trained across
the stile. So the laborer passed ON his
way. And the storm gathered. Thun-
derous clouds doomed densely overhead.
The air was thick, and pressed upon
the brow. A great bird rose from the
rushcs ut the ponds verge and shrielSed
to a surer refuge. The wind dropped.
But the man fingered. And over in
the meadow, on the pathway, there APP
peared light. 1t drew nearer, and
swung gently to and fro. The traveller
walking. He was clad in a coat that
was lined with fur, and his face was
soft and white. At the stile he saw
the man. He frowned and would have
passed. But the stranger stopped him.
'Mr. Dalrymple," he said.
The other raised his lantern till it
shone in the face of the man. He sbud
dered slightly, and again would have
passed on his way. But the Traveller
stood before him, so that the path was
closed.
"Mr. Dalrymple," he repeated.
"By what right do you bar my way? ?"
The tones were quiet but imperative, as
of man accustomed to receive defer
ence. "And why do you call me by
name?"
81 have news of your brother" said
the man.
"Ue is alive?" The words weee said
gladly, but there was a gulp ut his
throat when he spoke. The man saw
the gulp.
''IIe will never return" he replied.
"By what MEANS" said the squire,
"can l tell that you speak with author
ity?"
The man put his hand beneath his
rags and drew forth the faded photo
graph of a woman. On the back there
was a name written. He passed it to
the squire.
The squire looked at it. And he
turned it over and read what was writ
ten on the back. Then he raised his
hand and uncovered his head. And he
said TO the man: MAY l keep this me-
mento?" And the man nodded.
"What you tell me-" he said, quietly,
as only that which, necessarily, have
always understood. Nevertheless, this
confirmation grieves me deeply" There
was real sorrow in his vioce. And that,
too, the man noticed. did my brother
leave no message?'
HE spoke much of a woman" said
the man.
Can you tell me her name?"
at is Marianne"
The squire was silent. Then, softly:
"Poor fellow!" and again: Poor fell
lowl" to himself. "It is my wife of
whom he spoke he said to the man.
81 trust she is we'll, said the man.
"She is very well. | left her but now
with the children"
There was the sound of a rumble OF
wheels on the road, and two lights
shone out through the dimness. The
lights frightened; the sound cleared;
brougham and pair drew up at the
turning.
my carriage meets me here" said
the squire, land | am somewhat pressed
for time. But you have laid me under
a deep obligation. Is there no way in
which l can serve your
There is one" said the man. 81
should like to shake you by the hand!'
The squire hesitated. 1t was o1ly
momentary. But a flush rose to the
hollow cheek of the stranger. ut Is
my hands, he said. 81 will wash then
in the pond"
But the squire had drawn off his seal
skin glove, and he held out his soft
white palm. The other clutched it in
his bony hand, and for a moment the
eyes of the two men met in the light
of the lamp. The squire started, aud
released his grasp. There was lool: IL
his face that held something of fear
When he entered his brougham the look
remained still on his face.
And the man sat again on the stile
In the darkness the lights from the hal
shone brightly, and he gazed at thu
lights. Then he turned his eyes TO thu
trees that were dim round the pond
and again from the pond to the lights
Was there happiness at the lights2 Was
there peace in the pond? So the maj
| crossed the stile. In the hush befor,