Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-13

might be Interested.
, Il believe So" said the landlord.
: although all / can tell you about
him is that he saw service in the
) American army under Gen. Macomb
in the campaign against Sir George
. Provost. He came here on a strapping
chestnut mare some eight weeks ago,
I and has remained with us ever since,
for the benefit of his health, as he
says; but. for the life of me, ] can
not see that he is any less haggard
and wretched than on the day we
saw him first. What do you think,
my dear?"
The gentleman is evidently in sore
trouble of some kind" said the land
lords wife, with ready sympathy.
THAT is very strange" unused the
lady's companion. "How old is this
singular guest of yours, landlord?"
Il should say about 40, and as fine
a specimen of manhood as | ever laid
eyes on" answered the landlord
Meanwhile the storm had died down
measurably. The thunder rumbed
sullenly further up the chain of hills,
and the lightning was fitful.' Only
the rain fell in a steady but dimin-
ished shower.
Upstairs in the room of the solitary
guest the shade of a lamp threw a
circle of light upon the mahogany table
at which he was accustomed to read,
and TO write also when an interpretive
mood was upon him. Worn out with
the constant strain of self-communing.
he had fallen asleep at the table with
his head upon his arm. As the storm
subsidized his slumber became deeper,
until at last it amounted TO a coma. so
exhausted had he become in mind and
body by his vigils. Before the bowed
head there stood in a silver frame on
the tai bic the picture of young woman
OF surprising loneliness, whose eyes
sparkled with intelligence and the in
nocent joy Of living. She had been
painted in a ballroom dress Of delicate
texture, which showed the perfect col
umn Of her neck and the graceful slope
of her shoulders i'm an their unblem-
ished purity. II was upon this face
that his eyes had rested before they
closed in a leaden slumber; and IL was |
this face upon which the lamp shed the |
fullness of its light, when figure |
doomed in the shadows Of the doorway. |
Three silent steps carried Il 10 the |
table, where it paused, contemplating
the picture Of the woman.
A hand was placed on the shoulder of
the sleeper. The touch was firm enough
to arouse him, and with faculties break
ing from the lethargy Of slumber. he
turned slowly in his chair and looked
whence the pressure came. Then
great cry burst from his breast. and
ne sprang to his feet, overturning the
chair behind him.
My God, am | going mad, tool" he
Exclaimed, recoiling from the figure.
This is no ghost, Olphant,n said the
'ther. 1T is l, Lawrence, in the flesh"
1T must be, ;" he said, his voice broken
md his breath coming with labor. "But
what do not underestimate is ike
he dead coming to life, and cannot be.
ieve my senses. Am / no murdered,
hemp"
NO, Capt. oliphant, thank God.
cure not There is my hand. Take
and let us again be friends"
But that letter Of DR.. ID slaney's?"
olnting TO an open paper on the table.
The other took il, and read:
Dear olyphant: Lawrence's case is
opeless News has been brought to me
ally In my hiding place and the last lust
ONE to hand. is; He cannot live through
he night Fly, or you will be apprehended
need not tell you that the duel made a ,
lost painful sensation. and warrants are
ut for all concerned in the affair. II was
orry business. Good-by.
JOHN DELANEY"
We'll. you see" said the reader.
heerily, Delaney must have been
rong. Here ! am, sound and well;
OF so rugged as before our little az
Iir; but a man doesn't recover from
wound in the groin in day. II was
ne chance in a thousand, and they
d give me up completely. Now, Oil
liant, my dear old friend, are YOU
,nvinced ?"
The two men clasped hands, and Oil e
iant, holding the other by the Shout L
er, said, fervently:
Lawrence, this is the Providence of
cd. II you had not come l should
ave killed myself. How / have suf-
red no man can know, and there
ust have beenan end to it. But Mar
lret-what of her?" And his ewes A
lrned involuntarily to the picture N
She Is here with me. We" And
stopped embarrassed.
She is your wife?"
Yes, my friend. We were united as
lay on what all thought was my death.
ID. When was well enough to travel
lie physicians recommended a car.
age tour in the mountains. where
might get some benefit from the air
he storm compelled US to stop al this
n on our way to Ludlow. The land.
I'd tod me Of mysterious puest
HON he had, and l suspected who il
as"
A stir in the doorway caused them
'th TO turn, still holding each Others