Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-14
CHAPTER xIv.-(Continued. !,

poor Anna learned to tremble at the
sound of his footsteps; for he daily grew
more and more violent and unmanage-
able, defying every one save Mr.. Wat
son, who possessed over him a singular
power. Thus the spring and summer
passed away, and when the autumn came
few would have recognized the oEce
handsome Herbert Langley in the crea-
ture who, weak and feeble, lay all day
long il bed, begging for "brandy-more
brandy" to fan the fame which was
feeding upon his vitals. Sometimes in
his fits of frenzy he would spring upon
the floor, and shrek for us to save him
from the crawling serpents, which, with
forked tongues and little green Eyes,
Missed at him from all parts Of the room.
Again he would say that the spirit OF the
murdered maiden was before him, whis-
pering to him unutterable things concern
ing the drunkard's home beyond 'he
grave, while COLLINS of every conceiv-
able form beckoned him to come and join
their hideous dance. They said he could
not live; and though it was painful
task, Anna wrote to his mother appris-
ing her of his danger, and bidding her
hasten. if she would see him again.
During the few remaining weeks of has
life he was subject TO strange fancies.
For a time a prayer book beneath his
pillow had the effect of keeping him COM
paratively quiet; but, anon, it lost its
power, and one day he awoke with fear
full Shrek. The imps. as he called them,
had again returned, and We're mockinsly
haunting him with the victory he vainly
imagined he had obtained.
About noon one day he awoke and in
quired for me. With some trepidation
approached him, for his eyes were those
of a mailman; but he meditated no ha-m,
and only asked if l supposed that the
prayer book laid upon the outside OF his
pillow, where the imps could see IT,
would have the effect of keeping them
away.
Perhaps So" said, at the same time
placing it so that his heavy brown halr
fell partially on it.
"'Twon't do-'twon't do" he sobbed.
"All the hymns DIR. Watts ever wrote
can't help me, for they come nearer and
nearer, as wolves hover round their prey
Is there no help, no escapeT he ciaed,
with the energy of despair, adding, rs a
sudden look of joy lighted up his ghast-
ly features. Yes, the Bible! Strange
have not thought of that before. The
Anna, quick; for they are almost here.
She obeyed, and grasping the word of
God eagerly in his hands, he laughed
aloud, saying, Now do your worst, ye
fiends incarnate. The Bible will save
me-"
There was q moment of perfect ST.
lence, and then, with groan so full of
anguish that / involuntarily stopped my
ears to shut out the fearful sound, the
Bible was loosed from the clammy hands,
which for brief instant fought hercely
in the empty air, and then dropped life
less at his side. Herbert was dead!
At the foot of the garden, near the
long avenue where the shadow of the
maple trees would fall upon his grave,
ard me moan of Nthe lake be always
heard, we buried him; and then, the
broken hearted Anna, widowed thus
early, went back to her accustomed du-
ties, performing each one quietly and
gently, but without a smile upon her
white, stony face, or tear in her large,
mournful eyes. Aunt Charlotte, utterly
crushed and wretched, went back 20 her
city home. And then we were left alone
with our great sorrow, wholly dependent,
as it were, upon Mr.. Watson for support
and counsel.
There had always been about him a
mystery / could not fathom, and greatly
was l surprised when one evening,
week after HerbeTt's death, he asked
me to go with him to his room, as there
was something he wished TO tell me.
Drawing a seat to my side, he said, tka-
ing my hand in his, Rosa, what do you
think | am going to tell your
l tried to wrest my hand from his
grasp, for the unwonted liberty angered
ne. But he held il fast smiling at my
fruitless endeavors, and after moment,
continued: why do you try to remove
your hand from mine? l have held 1t
many a time, and have a right to do so
"a cousins right. Look at me, Rosa;
don't you know meT'
Involuntarily l started to my feet, gaz-
ing earnestly upon him, then with cry
of ioy | threw my arms around his neck,
exclaiming, Cousin viii! Cousin Will.'
Ii was indeed he, come back to us
when we had thought of him as dead. A
few words will suffice to tell his story.
Perfectly Disguised with sea life, he had
deserted AT Calcutta. where he kept him
self secreted until the vessel sailed. But
il was not his wish TO remain there long,
and the first time an English ship was in
mort he offered to work his passage to
Liverpool. The offer was accepted, and
while we We're mourning over his sup
posed DEATH he was threading the smoky
streets of London, doing sometimes enc
thing and sometimes another, but always
earning an honest livelihood.
Never for a moment said he, did l
forget your family. When at last l re-
turned again TO New York. ! went one
day 10 reading room, where l accident
ally came across Mr. Langley's adver-
tisement for hired man. and something
prompted me to answer il in person. If
l had ever heard of him before, l had
forgotten il; consequently / neither ice
oynized him nor his wife: but when l ac-
cidentally heard them speak of Rosa and
Sunny Bank. my curiosity was reused.
and | became aware of the relationship
existing between usJ Why | have kept
il a secret so long | can hardly tell ex-
cept that there was about il a kind Of
pleasing excitement. and then, too | fan
cied that Mr.. Langley would not so wen
bear restraint and direction from me if
he supposed me an interested party"
Near the middle of September. we one
dav received a letter from Charlie.
which. owing to some delay, had been on
the road two whole weeks. In il he
wrote that our father had failed rapidly
within few days and we must come
Quickly If we would again see him alive.
adding that he talked almost constantly
of Rosa. asking if they thought she
would come. II was impossible for Anna
to accompany me. and as William would
not leave her. l started alone. my heart
filled with many dark forebodings.
Loosely and deSel3te was the homo At
which / arrived one day too late, for
they had buried him. and there was
naught left TO me of my father save the
lock of hair which they severed from his
head as he lay in the coffin. Yes. he was
gone; but so long as life and being en-
dure so long shall fond remem brances
Of him hnger in my memory.