The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-07


him are quite distinct and mature.
was orphaned In my infancy an
from my earliest recollection m.
grandfather had made me his con
slant companion. He was an timer
ant preacher OF western England-hi
circuit calling him from walled Ches
ter on the west to the novels OF tn,
charcoal burners In mid-England
and during the years OF his itinerancy
/ followed him In the pursuance o.
his duties through sun and rain anc
winter gale.
repeat this In order TO explain
tust how / regarded my grandfather
IN the light of a certain hereditament
he left TO me. his diary. but which
he expressly forbade me opening
until | had passed my twenty fifth
birthday.
There were many things / witnessed
and heard in my boyhood for which
] could find no explanation until
broke the seal OF this book wherein
very soul stands revealed. The first
entry in the diary is as follows:
My beloved grandson. in this
diary are recorded events writ down
Tor thy especial edifcation. Without
comment leave II with thee to judge
whether ! have been the victim OF a
terrible mind disorder. or whether
am gifted with perceptions beyond
the usual ken OF man.
II was in the first years OF my
study of the occult. long before thou
hadst come TO gladden. thy grand.
sire's heart. that | was journeying 10
Blore Health. When night came down
fate led me TO the door OF a desolate
inn slowly dropping TO ruin in the
perpetual shadow OF a grove Of oak.
The aged host greeted me most
cordially, for at his inn guests were
not frequent and therefore the more
welcome. In the parlor back OF the
denuded bar | found his old wife and
bis daughter. the only other persons
about the place. moving silently here
and there preparing the evening meal
The daughter was young and tall and
straight and strong and her hands
We're coarsened with outdoor work
for II appeared, she was now the
burden-bearer of the family.
After the supper was cleared away.
the aged parents entertained me with
"reminiscences Of a past glory, OF
when the inn was new and the great
tide OF travel used to pass its door.
Then in saddened tones they told OF
how the opening OF "a new thorough /
fare had diverted custom to other hos /
telries So when the daughter was 4
married to a well-to-do young farmer 4
they closed the inn. perforce. and
went and made their home with her.
But one Inflated day the newly
welded husband rode away to a
neighboring market town and never
returned
After due time the farm and tene-
ments passed into the possession OF
the next heirat-law. a cousin OF the
and the old couple with
their dowerless daughter returned to
me deserted inn. now racked and
wrecked with storm and long neglect
Thou canst see the gables OF the
arm over yon above the trees" said
ne mother and we might be living
mere now mid comfort and plenty II
Asoeth would only hearken to us and
we'd with Carver ballard. the cousin
'ho succeeded to the estate.
Then Lisbeth. lifting her sorrow.
iden eyes to a portrait Of her hus-
ana on the wall. said Mother.
hnn need 81 not grieve for the rich
wing al the farm beyond Whitsun.
.de That day | promise to give my !
ana TO Carver Hallard an he still de
Tres IT,"
Then gloomy silence fell Ike a
neral pail over us. and we sat about
le ire absorbed in our own thoughts
htl there came the sound OF a quick ,
.en up the pathway and an i'm. !
iailVe knock at the door. and Gar. !
RI ballard entered. He was a dark
irateatured, harsh poken man =
nom any tender young woman might /,
el have stunned.
'""l not understand II then but <
lhini'lvely felt that he was a man
lIh guilty conscience. And in tho :
-Nl OF the recent narration. | feu =
comparing his features with those !,
'he picture hanging above his head i
my gaze wandered from one ~
e other there came to me a sense ~
plesence In the room. a conviction !
Nu neither define nor evade. and =
XIV strove 10 analyze critically !.
NJ Impression a strange metamor. :,
,s seemed to come over my senses :,
y ielt myself drifting. as II wore -
" state Of double consciousnass a.
9nll with that sense of divided -
* WIN the voices about me echoinp i,
u.ly through my brain. | thought .,
seH riding along a country road
''N'h ana Scared deep with old ~
'u's road | had never travelled !,
''e Under the influence OF this -
Iorce, | appeared TO come IN :,
'IR ne crgmbling shell OF an an. !
.ah SPAWNED the path. / reached ii
'ne hollow trunk and drew forth \,
'' corroded with rust, and roll.
'e loH away | began 10 dig into Ia,