Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-09-16

Oe->e-~~e->---.-. . -.-e-,,-,->-.->.- o
ITO Ny cousin. Hercules Fox, sheriff
of PealIauG. Written from the
Shepherds cabin on Lords Tor. nigh
against the cross where, in bygonc
times, stood the chapel of the White
Monk
Sir; Report, doubtless hath that
am driven lunatic by the untimely
death of Lcr whom | loved heart and
soul. ! speak OF my mistress, Euphra-
STA. your daughter and one eve lamb;
of her who seemed the true phoenix
and the star OF womanhood. There is
little need to eXpatiatc on the merits
OF one so kind and so beautiful; let il
suffice that her untimely ending hath
drawn black cloud from east TO west,
from north to south. l have wandered
day after day, night after night, on
these barren moors, craving for the
last pang. But Death will have none Of
me yet awhile, and l must abide and
endure.
Tomorrow, long ere the carrier de
liycrs this epistle-pcrchancc it may
not reach Observation-Disclosures till Fri
day shall have left the hill country
for ever. On Thursday | embark on
my pilgrimage. My own land shall
know me no more; all my future days
must be spent wandering in search OF
peace. Call TO your mind eye the pic
turc Of a tattcred bedgar-l take
uaught with me save the captains fee.
l shall live IS the friars did, pleading
for my bread from door TO door.
My estate | leave with you to use
as YOU will II after this recital your
breast holds one spark of pity, pray
take upon yourself the duties OF mas
Ter. There are servants for whom l
fain would have made provision; and
the roam mare, which was my fathers,
let her feed upon the sweetest grass
in summer. and in winter lie in the
warmcst shed.
1t was ! who destroyed Jervose
Whittingham.
You have not forgotten that on one
day year ago he and I came to YOU.
at separate hours each to ask leave
TO pay court 20 your daughter; and
that to both You made answer that,
having suffered i'm your youth from
Your parents interference, YOU had
vowed that Euphrasia should choose
of herself. To me YOU expressed pref
oreuce; It had long been a desire OF
yours that the divided estates might
be joined again: Notwithstanding. YOU
forbore 10 move In favor Of cithcr. If
Jcryase were The fortunate lover, You
declared you would acquicsco without
unvilliugDcss. So was iain to- he con-
tent with this poor comfort. ON the
following day l pleaded with Euphra-
STA, and received neither aye nor nay.
l babe her tell if her affections were
given elsewhere. She was silent. and
"a sudden gladncss filed me, and
would have embraced her, but she
withdrew from the chamber.
That night could not rest, for my
brain tecmed with rich pictures OF
coniugal happiness. After midnight
| rose and dressed, and went privately
from my house TO taste the fresh air
OF the moorlands and to watch the
breaking OF the day. had not walked
far ere in the moonlight beheld Jer-
vase ON the bank OF the river, beside
the rotten bridge. \ flood had risen
in the uplands and the current swirled
madly in its loamy bed. Jcrvasc was
talking to himself; l could hear him
speaking Of mc-of me who had been
his lifelong fricnd-in words of con
tumely. Amazed, l stole TO his side
and laid my hand on his arm.
what hath distressed you, Jerry?"
l said, all my fondness being yet alive.
"Why speak SO harshly of me?'
He leaped toward me, struck me
with all his might above the heart.
fell, half senselcss, to my knees. When
/ recovered, he was on the further
bank, and the bridge, torn from its
creakng piers, was floating down the
river. / stood trembling with impo-
tent fury on the brink, while he MINI
licked my every gesture. There was
wicked lccr in his eye, and his thin lips
were poutcd as those Of fish
81 have spared you this time" he
cried. "The next, by heaven, If ever
you touch me again, I'll tear you limb
from limb"
As | gazed upon him, still half be-
wildered, the moon cloudcd, and for a
short space it seemed as if great
ribbed wings had sprouted from his
shoulders and horns had buddcd on his
forehead. Yet important issues were