Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-04-08

HERR STEINHARDT'S NEMESIS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
INTRODUCTION.
BY !. MACLAREN COBBAN.

INTRODUCTION.
NV name is Unwin-Gerald Unwin.
"Rev. Gerald Unwin, B. A. L am
usually styled on the backs of envel-
opes; for, though have laid aside cler-
ical duties, for the present at least,
am still in orders. Now that l enjoy
leisure and the absence of those petty
worries which prey upon the subordln-
ate cleric more than the lay mind can
conceive, set myself to write out the
strange narrative of event and expert
ence which, in the Providence of God,
have worked such change in my con-
dition. 1 promised myself and my
friends some months ago that would
do this, but until now could not bind
myself to my desk; have had too
much other occupation, desultnry, per-
haps, but agreeable: in short, like the
man in the parable, / have married
wife. Yet that is the very reason why
my friends in town have pestered me,
and now grow clamorous to know all
about it. They have been good enough
to remind me that, though it is proven
bal clergymen get handsome wives, yet
it is quite out of the common for so Or
dinary looking priest as myself to
win a lady so beautiful and dis
tinguished as (they are pleased to say)
my wife is; and, further, that though
it has been whispered fine looking cler-
ical tutors have had the audacity to as
pire to ladies OF very high rank indeed,
their aspirations have usually been
overwhelmed with contumely; and,
lastly, they are consumed with wonder
that [ should have lighted upon re-
fined and delicate Frenchwoman in the
wilds of Lancashire of all conceivable
places. Perhaps, they add, with
touch of sarcasm which l can COM
placently endure, I was the only Great
ure like a gentleman she had ever seen.
But my story is all too terrible and
serious to be introduced with persiage
CHAPTER I.
About two years ago accepted cur
acy in the village OF Timperley, within
a few miles of large Lancashire town.
If had had much choice l would not
have chosen a cure of souls among mill
hands and miners. | would have pre-.
ferred to perform my duties under
clear sky, rather than under canopy
of smoke; within call of fields and
woods, rather than in forest of tall
chimneys and black heads of coal pits.
But since l was disappointed in my
hope of cure in certain pleasant viii
lage of Sussex, resolved to go to Tim
perley in Lancashire. So when one
dark afternoon of February l alighted
at the nearest station on branch rail-
way, and asked fellow passenger, who
looked like a native, and who was hurry
ing away, whether he could direct me
to Timperley-when l was answered
with a curt "Noa," I was not discon-
certed. 1 received somewhat unin-
telligible direction from a station por-
ter, and leaving orders concerning my
luggage, I went out into the dark and
the drizzle to walk to Timperley.
1 tramped for half mile or 50 along
a we'll paved road, and then (according
to direction, thought) turned down
a narrow lane between hedge and a
wooden fence. trudged some distance
through deep mud, now stumbling upon
Jumps on the firm edge of the cart~ay,
and now plunging into holes, when the
lane seemed to lose itself in a field.
hesitated little and then resolved to
return to the road. My eyes were now
used to the dark, and l perceived a
foot path across the field inclining
back toward the road. I struck into
this, thinking it would save me some
distance. But l soon found to my
vexation that "the shortest way arcoss
is the longest way round" I perse-
times somthing else besides grass, and
presently began to scent somewhat OF
the pleasant odors of rusticity, and my
spirits rose degree or two. | passed
a low black wooden building, and
guessed it was COW house; [ heard
the animals pulling at their chains and
munching their food. By-and-by
found myself again on tolerably good
road, came upon some houses of the
suburban semi-detached villa descrip.
ton Cat one of which 1 knocked anG
and splashing through exasperatins
mud and cinders, came out upon the
edge of the valley in which Timperley
lay.
l stood and gazed around me. Sucl
a spectacle had never seen before.
listened to and felt the feverish rush o
the life of Lancashire industry. TIL.
birr and buzz Of thousands of spindles
the swift click and thud of shuttle anC
loom, and the regular sob and respira
tion of mighty engines mingled will
the rush of water and the plaintiv,
painting of some machine as of an en-
shaved geni of the Arabian Nights.
could not at first apportion the sound
to the various groups of buildings be
meath me. On my right was man!
storied mill. whose bright window
were reflected in the CLASSY surface of :
pond, on the banks of which ther,
grew, pensive and forlorn. few scrubb.
trees. On my left an aggregation o
long low buildings with glass roofs
that looked with their shining back
like monstrous, crouching dragons o
antediluvian days. Farther up the val
D-aS onnfhor Of hni Ia IN