The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-09-28
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CHAPTER vL-tCox71NuED.,
When John aw6ke III was day. The
low winter sun, awas, already in the
heavens but his watch had stopped,
and, it was impossible to tell the hour
exactly. Ten, he guessed it, and made
haste to dress dismal reflections crowd
ipg on his mind. But it was less from
terror than from regre. that he now
suffered; and with HIS regret there
were mingled cutting pangs. of peni-
tence. There had fallen upon him a
blow, cruel, indeed. but yet only the
punishment of old misdoing; and he
had rehelled and plunged into fresh sin.
The rod had been used to chasten, and
he had 'bit the Christening fingers, His
father was right; John had justified
him; John was no guest for decent peo-
pies houses, and no fit associate for de-
cent peoples children. And had a
broader hint been needed, there was
the case of his old friend. John was no
drunkard, though he could at times ex-
coed; and the picture Of Houston drink
ing neat spirits at his hall-tablef struck
him with something like disgust. He
hung back from meeting his old friend.
He could have wished he had not come
to him; and yet, even now, where else
was hesto turn? M s5j !. q,
These; musings occupied him while
he dressed, and accompanied him into,
the lobby Of the house. The door stood
open on the garden; doubtless, Alan
had stepped forth; and John did as he,
supposed his friend had done. The
ground was hard as iron, the frost still
rigorous; as he brushed among the hol-
lies, icicles jingled and glittered in
their fall; and wherever he went, VOL
ley Of eager sparrows followed him.
Here were Christmas weather and
Christmas morning duly met, to the de-
light Of children. This was the day of
reunited families, the day to which he
had so long looked forward, thinking to
awake in his own bed in Randolph
Crescent, reconciled with all men and
repeating the footprints of his youth;
and here he was alone, pacing the al
leys ola wintry garden and filled with
penitential thoughts. .,
And that reminded him: why was he
alone? and where was Alan? The
thought of the festal morning and the
due salutations reawakened his desire
for his friend, and he began to call for
him by name. AS the sound of his
voice died away, he was aware of the
greatness Of the silence that environed
him. But for the twittering of the
sparrows and the crunching of his own
feet upon the frozen snow, the whole
MINDLESS world Of air hung over him
entranced, and the stiffness weighed
upon his mind with horror of soli-
tude. $685..
Still calling at intervals, but now with
q moderated voice, he made the hasty
circuit Of the garden, and finding Meth
er man nor trace of man in. all its ever.
green. coverts, turned at last to the.
house. About the house the silence
seemed to deepen strangely. The. door,
indeed, stood open as before; but the
windows were still suffered, the Chin
neys abreathed no stain into the bright
air, there sounded abroad none of that
low stir (perhaps audible rather to the
ear Of the spirit than to the ear of the
flesh) by which house announces and
betrays its human dodgers. And yet
Alan must be there-Alan locked in
drunken slumbers, forgetful of the re-
turn of day, of the holy season, and of
the friend whom he had so coldly re-
ceived and was now so churlishly neg
lecting. Johns disgust redoubled at
the thought; but hunger was beginning
to grow stronger than repulsion, and
as a step to breakfast, if nothing else,
he must find and arouse this sleeper,
He. made the circuit of the bedroom
quarters. All, until he came to Alan's
chamber, were locked from without,
and bore the marks Of a prolonged dis
use. But Alan's was room in commits
sion. filled with clothes, knickknacks,
letters, books, and the conveniences of
a solitary man. The fire had been light
ed; but it had long ago burned out, and
the ashes We're stone cold. The bed had
been made, but it had not been slept in.
Worse and worse, then; Alan must
have fallen where he sat, and now
sprawled brutishly, no doubt, upon the
1ining-room floor.