The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-16
The Mystery Of
Edwin brood
-=by-
Charles Dickens
W

and that he has-I hope 1 may say-an attach
ment &c me-
dear" said the old lady, quickly; 'and IL he
says there is. think the worse OF him for the
But. my dear Ma, he never said there was
Perhaps not returned the old lady; still,
l don't see that II greatly signifies"
There was no impatience In the pleasant look
with which Mr.. Crisparkle contemplated the
pretty old piece OF china IL knitted; but there
was certainly. a humorous OF its not be-
Ing piece Of china 10 argue with very closely.
be without his sister. You know what an in
huence she has over him; YOU know what
reads With You. he reads with er. Give her her
fair share Of your prSise. and how much do you
At these words Mr.. Crisparkle fell into little
reverie. in which he thought Of several things
and sister together in deep converse over one
of his own old college books; now, in the griny
srimages to Cloisterham Weir; now, in the
s0mbsr evenings when he faced the ,,.TaaS wlnd at
beetling fragment CT monastery ruin; and the
two studious figures passed below him along
the margin of the river, in which the town nres
and lights already shone. making the landscape
bleaker. He thought how the consciousness had
stolen upon him that IN teaching one, he was
teaching two; and how he had almost insensioly
Wtb Which, ns his dsy 20 D0,n ~ ennact ana
thought Of the gossip that had reached him from
the Nuns House. TO the effect that Helena.
whom he had mistrusted so proud and fierce;
submitted herself TO the fairy bride CaS ne called 5
thought OF the picturesque alliance between those
perhaps most of all-could IT be that these things
were Yet but so many weeks old. and had be-
come az integral & part vhna Of his fe sentius fe,
amusing, his good mother took it TO be an in
hano sigd d Ina, aaat ne % 81 iS dinin
room closet, TO produce from ii the support en-
bodied in glass of Constantia and a homemade
biscuit. 1t was most wonderful closet worthy
or Clolsterham and OF Minor Canen Corner.
a
air OF being up TO the contents OF the closet.
its harmones in one delicious fugue. No COM
mon closet with vulgar door on hinges, open
able all at once, and leaving nothing 10 be dis
closed by degrees, this rare closet had lock in
mldalr. where two perpendicular sldes met;
the one falling down, and the other pushing up.
The upper slide, on being pulled down Ceaying
the lower a double mystery. revealed deep
shelves of pickle jars. jam pots. tin canisters.
spice boxes and agreeably outlandsh vessels Of
blue and white, the luscious lodgings OF pre-
lent habtan of this hg retreat had his name in
scribed upon his stomach. The pickles, in uni
form of rich brown doube-breasted buttoned
announced their pcrtly forms. in printed capitals,
as Walnut, Gherkin, Onion. Cabbage, Cauli-
flower, Mixed and other members of that noble
family. The jams, as being of less masculine
temperament, and as wearing curlpapers an
nounced themselves in feminine caligraphy like
a soft whisper to be a Raspberry, Gooseberry,
Apricot Plum, Damson. Apple and Peach. The
scene closing on these charmers. and the lower
side ascending. oranges were revealed. attended
acerbity If unripe Homemade biscuits waited
at the court of these powers accompanied by
slender ladies' fingers. to be dipped into sweet
wine and kissed. Lowest OF all. compact
leaden vault enshrined the sweet wine and a
stock of cordials; whence issued whispers Of
Seville. Orange Lemon. Almond and Caraway
seed There was a crowning air upon this closet
of closets, OF having been for ages hummed
through by the cathedral bell and organ. until
those venerable bees had made sublimated honey
of everything in store and 1t was always OBJ
served that every dipper, among the shelves
head, shoulders and elbows) came forth again
mellow-faced and seeming to have undergone
| Saccharine TRANSPORTATION.
The Reverend septmus yielded himself up
inal herb closet, also presided over by the china
sherpheTdess. as 10 this glorious cupboard. To
GiIiihoNer sage parsley, thyme. rue. rosemary
and dandeliOn did his courageous stomach sub
closing layers of dried leaves, would he swathe
his rosy. and contented face, II his mother sus
oteSe n Would ID sSeTv s Ss
cheek, or forehead, II the dear old lady con-
| this herbaceous penitentiary. situated on an
upper staircase landing; low and narrow white
from rusty hooks in the ceiling. and We're spread
| out upon shelves, in company with portentous
siveiy be led. like the highly popular lamb who
has long and unresistingy been led 70 the
bore nobody but himself Not even doing that
much, so that the old lady were busy and
| pleased. he would quietly swallow what was
! given kim, merely taking a corrective dip of
hands and face into the great bowl of dried
dried lavender. and then would go out, as conf
| dent in the sweetening powers OF Coisterham
| Weir and a wholesome mind. as Lady Macbeth
was hopeless of those of all the that roll.
In the present instance the good Minor Canon
| grace, and so supported to his mothers salts
faction. applied himself TO the remaining duties
| ress they brought round Vesper Service and
twilight. The cathedral being very cold, ne set
end in a charge at his favorite fragment of ruin
which was 10 be carried by storm without a
/ pause for breath.
| He carried it in mastery manner and not
| breathed even then, stood looking down upon
the river The river at Clolsterham is sufficient
| ly near the sea to throw up oftentimes quanti-
| ty of seaweed. An unusual quantity had come
in with the last tide and this, and the confusion
/ CT the water, and the restless dipping and flap
ping of the noisy gulls and an angry light out
were turning black. foreshadowed stormy
night. In his mind he was contrasting the wild
Canon Corner. when Helena and Neville Landiess
bassed SEQ otIOM MN, fiS nau nad tne Two together
down to speak TO them together The footing
was rough In an uncertain ,, light for any tread
Canon a good climber as most men, and
stood beside them before many good climbers
"A wild evening: Miss IS; i Landiess! indie Do you not
posed and cold for the time of year? Or at
all events, when the sun Is down, and the
Helena thought not It was their favorite
1T is very retired" assented Mr.. Crisparkle.
! walking on with them. 1T is a place OF All
others where one can speak without interrllb-
| ton, 1 wish to do. Mr.. Neville. l believe YOU
tell your sister everything that passes between
! us?''
| Everything. sir
| Consequently" said Mr. Crisparkle, 'vo,lr
! sister is that 1 have repeatedly urged
| you to make some kind of apology for that un-
| fortunate occurrence which befell. on the night
| of your arrival here
In saving Ii he looked to her, and not TO him
therefore it she, and not he, who replied
Yes
| Il call il unfortunate. Miss Helena resumed
| Mr. Crigparkle "forasmuch as il certainly has
cngondered a prejudice against Neville There Is
| notion about that he is dangerously passion
| ate fellow, of an uncomfortable and furious
temper. he is really avoided such"
II have doubt he is. poor fellow said
! Helena, with look of proud compassion her
| brother, expressing a deep sense Of his being
| ungenerously treated. 81 should be quite sure
Of ii, from your saying but what YOU tell
me is confirmed by suppressed hints and refer
ences that | meet with every day"
Now" Mr.. Crisparxe again resumed in a
tone of mild though firm persuasion. lis this