Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-01-17
Fiction

centuries OF Old, and dI.n dream
seen IS flashed and faded along The
valley. The garruIous pjues had long
ceased their loud music and had
been whispering among themselves OF
secrets forbidden to waking man.
Now a gentle wind came among them,
and they renewed their chant, alter
nately elevating and depressing their
tones in melodious cadences.
The moonlight, the song of the
pines, and the depth Of his reverie,
combined to elevate Sedman's mind
into an ecstacy of contemplation His
introspection increased, until the very
intensity Of his mental powers
swelled beyond his control, and over
flowed the boundaries of the flesh
which encompassed them. The blood
left his face. and his limbs grew
stiff and cramped Red Veins started
out in his eyes, and the pupils slowly
contracted and rolled upward out OF
sight Then the intense expression
faded. while the body grew rigid and
chill 70 all appearance, the spirit
of Frederick Sedman had taken flight
leaving behind it the stark, upright
casing wherein it had been bound
Down in the valley the summer
visitors lounged and coquetted on the
veranda of the old hotel or wandered
along the brookside and grew senu-
mental beneath the pines. The night
lamp was burning in Sedman's room,
and, if any one noticed his absence it
was to suppose him to be buried in
his books AS the moon mounted
overhead, the low talk and light laugh
ter in the valley became silent anu
deserted. Meantime the inanimate
body of the minister sat out among
the rocks, while the pines sang to it
unheeded and the wild things of the
hills came and went through the
uncertain shadows
The lower rim of the moon rested
upon a western mountain, and the
sharp chill of dawn was in the air,
before Sedman began to revive. ia Il
mis- body grew warm, the blood return
ed to his cheeks, and his limbs relax
ed their rigidity. His eyes still re-
NAMED in an unnatural contOrtiOn,
however; though mis- lips opened, and
he emitted a deep sigh. A few
mumbled words broke from him in
deep gutturals, which bore no re-
semblance to his waking voice, and a
hand TREMENDOUSLY went to his head.
"Caedwulf," he said, "Caedwulf; ic
slaepan bufan deadh. Deadhl" he
repeated. Then he covered his face
with his hands and cried: "Drihten,
gyf thu wylt, thu mich me gerclaen-
sian!"
A strong shudder ran through him,
and his hands fell. His eyes had re-
sumed their normal state, and the
swollen pupils unseeingly glared down
the valley, He sprang up and stared
about him.
"Drihten," he murmured, "gyf thu
wylt-Lord, if thou wilt thou canst
make me clean! Oh, my soul is black
with dreams!"
The words rang in his ears harshly
and recalled him to his surroundings
Almighty God!" he cried loudly
so that the Mills across the valley
echoed his shout. The horror of it!
That murder-that Saxon brute was
-
When he again uncovered his face
he was quieter, and intelligently look
ed upon the scene before him. He
smiled and shivered, while his head
shook in selfcondemnation
How foolish of me-" he thought
wonder if l haven't caught my death
from the dew Come, come; must
go to bed and try to get into a less
strenuous dreamland. 1t was start
ingly vivid. Is that life?-the world?
Then, indeed, l have never lived"
He turned and started down the
valley, murmuring half-thoughts to
himself as he went along. When he
reached the MOTEL, he stopped and
struck is hands to gether
THAT is life," he cried "Go love-to
do-to be part of the world for good
for evil"
The dim light of the disappearing
moon fell upon his face. 1t was no
longer the countenance of the Rev
Frederick Sedman, esthetic and mys-
teal, but the ASKING, angry reflection
Of a soul, SCARED and warped by the
fires of passion.
In the bedroom the night-lamp stiH
burned low and Sedman blew it out
before he threw himself dressed as
he was, upon the bed. He did not
sleep; his mind was too full of the
dream-lille experiences of the night;
and he felt his blood lifting through
the veins with what was almost an
unnatural vigor. He could be perfect
~ still and stare into the broadening
dawn. yet he wanted to laugh, TO
shout, to dance upon the ground in
a pure ecstacy of living.
With the sun ne arose. The limit
ed facilities of the hotel had hereto
fore prevented him from taking his
usual morning bath, but now he un-
dressed and poured the ice-cold water
about him in a primitive manner that
made him laugh gleefully.
Gods world he thought, standing
by the open window and inhahg the
sharp air; Gods hills and trees AMI
eternal snoWl" dove few mast