Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-03-04
CHAPTER Xxx.

zNSS ExO :&sssuos
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CHAPTER Xxx.
Il was the eve Of harvest. Prices being
low, Farfrae was buying. Henchard had
squared his affairs In q disastrous way,
had got rid of burdcnsome purchases at
monstrous loss. There were three days
Of excellent weather, and then no sooner
had the sickles began to play than the at
0osphere suddenly felt as II the seed Of
crosses would grow In It without other
nourishment. 1t rubbed peoples cheeks
like damp flannel when they wicked
abroad. There was q gusty, high, warm
wind; isolated rain drops starred the win.
dow panes at remote distances; the sun.
light would Zap out like quickly opened
fan, throw the pattern Of the window
upon the floor Of the room In q milky, col.
orless shine and withdraw as suddenly a.
Il had appeared.
From that day and hour II was clear
tAat there was not to be 80 successful an
in.gathcring after all. II Henchard had
only waited long enough, he might at least
have avoided loss, though he had not
made profit. hut the momentum OF his
character knew no patience. At this third
turn Of the scales he remained silent. The
movements Of his mind seemed to tend to
the thought that some power was working
against him.
II wonder" he asked himself with eerie
misgiving-"1 wonder II It can be that
somebody has been roasting a waxen
image Of me, or stirring an unholy brew
to confound me! don't believe In such
power; and yet-what II they should ha'
been doing ity' Even he could not admit
that the perpetrator, II any. might be
Farfrae. These isolated hours Of super.
stition came to Henchard In times OF
moody depression, when all bis practical
Iargencss Of view had ooxed out OF him.
Meanwhile Donald Farfrae prospered.
He had purchased In 10 depressed mar.
ket that the present moderate stiffness OF
prices was sufi,cient to pile for him
large heap Of gold where little one had
been.
"Why, he'll soon be Mayorv said Hen.
chard. II was, indeed, hard that the
speaker should, Of all others, have to fol.
low the triumphal chariot OF this man to
the capitol.
One evening shortly after this Henchard
determined to follow up Lucetta, notwith.
standing her elusiveness, and he knocked
for admission at her doorway.
The answer he received was an expires.
sion Of Miss Templeman's sorrow at be-
ins unable to see him again that evening,
because she had an engagement to 80 out
~ Henchard walked away from the door "a
he opposite side Of the street, and stood
BY wagon load Of hay In lonely reverie'
Though the moon was not bright % yet,
there were no lamps lighted, and he enter
ed the shadow Of one Of the projecting
3ambs which formed the thoroughfare Il
Bull Stake; here he watched Lucetta'a
door.
The clocks struck nine. and almost a
the moment Farfrae came round the op
posite corner and knocked. That she had
been waiting Just inside for him was Ger
tain, for she instantly opened the dooI
herself. They went together by the way
Of All.Saints' lane southwark, avoiding
the front street; guessing at last where
they were going. Henchard determined to
follow.
Reaching the end Of the lane Hcnchard
crossed the shaded avenue on the walls
slid down the green rampant, and stood
among the stubble. The stitches" OF
shocks rose like tents about the yellow
expanse, those In the distance becoming
lost In the m00nlit haSes.
He had entered at point removed from
the scene Of immediate operations; but
two others had entered at that point, and
he could see them winding among thu
shocks. They were paying no regard 4
the direction of their walk, whose vague
serpentining soon began to bear down to
ward Henchard. A meeting promised L
be awkward. and he therefore stepped In
to the hollow Of the nearest shock, ant
sat down.
"You have my leave" Lucetta was say
Ing, gayly. "Spcak what you like"
"Well, them" replied Farfrae, with tn,
unmistakable infection Of the lover pure
which Henchard had never heard In full
resonance on bis lips before, 'you are SUR
to be much sought after for your position
wealth, talents and beauty. But will ,,
resist the temptation to be one Of thos,
ladies with lots Of admirers-ay-and b,
content to have only q homely oner'
"And he the speakerr said she, laugh
Ing. "Very well. cir. what nextf"
"You are convinced, Donald, that Low,
nobody else" she presently said. "Bu
J should wish to have my own way Il
some things"
In everything! What special thing di'
III ] wished not to live always In Ca
teybridge, for instance; on finding that
should not be happy heref''
Henchard did not hear the reply; b
might have done 20 and much more, bu
be did not care to play the eavesdroppeI
They went on toward the scene Of sctiy
ity, where the sheaves were being hand
"a, dozen Q minute, up0u the carts an,
wagons which carried them away.
Lucetta insisted on parting from Far
frae when they drew near the work pee
pie. He had some business with them
and, though he entreated her to wait
few minutes, she was memorable. an
tripped OF homeward alone.
Henchard thtreupon left the field, an
followed her. His state Of mind wa
such that on reaching I.ucetta's door b
did not knock, but opened It and walke
straight up to her sitting room, expectin
to find her there. But the room wa
empty, and he perceived that In bis hast
be had somehow passed her on the wa
hither. He had not to wait many mir
utes, however, for he soon heard her dres
4ustlins In the hall. followed by q sol
closing Of the door. In a moment sh
appeared.
The light was 30 low that she did nc
notice Henchard at 6rst. As soon a. oh
saw him she uttered little cry, almol
Of terror.
"How can you brighten me SOP sh