Year: 1872

where fer some days be lay in a statt


Of feebleness. which seemed u N,


yery strange in one 80 vigorous bu


q little while before. On the aex


morning after his attack, he showed


some uneasiness, and was enabled t,


bid Us take down the painted arm.


over the IRE place and hide then


away; but beyond this, he gave nc


sigas of what be had passed through


and by slow degrees got back again


very nearly his wcnted habits and


mode Of fife.


need scarcely say that 50 strange


an event could hardly take place il
our little household without awaken


ing the curiosity OF two people -
Young and romantic as MAY and /.
Indeed, greatly fear that the little
lady 50 far yielded to the impulses 0i
sex a. even 10 question young VII
low in Z roundabout way; but the lad


was plainly enough schooled to 81
leaee, and YOU hare only 10 look al


his square, strongly built chin to learn
how hopeless it would be to urge him
when once his Iaind was made up.


He only smiled and put the question


by, as man would have done, and


before Us, at least, neither father OF
son spoke Of II again during the next


month.


The pleasant hazy November days
came and went, and one evening on
my return home | learned that Mr..


Willow had suffered from a second
attack Of faintncss, and from my wife


| heard that the lsd had let fall that


his grandfather had called once more,
and that the two men had had anoth-
er brief and bitter meeting The fol
lowing morning, IS l went to ny


work, I saw the stranger walking 10
aud fro on the far side Of the street.
Nothing could be more pitiable than
bis whole look and bearing. because
nothing i sadder 70 see than a man
Of gentle breeding so worn with some
great sorrow a. TO have become shah
bv from mere neglect Of himself He
peered across the street, looked up at
the windows and at the shop, and al
last walked feebly away, with now
and then wishfgl look back again
such look a. | once saw in my life
in the great eyes Of a huge watchdog,
whom we left on the prairie beside
the lonely grave of his master.


From this time onward, al through
i severe winter, be haunted the neigh
borhood, once again, and only once
yenturing 10 speak to the clockmaker,
to whom his constant presence, where
he could hardly fail TO see him at
times, became a torture which was
plainly wearing his life away Twice,
also be spoke to the boy, and once
urged him TO take little package
which he supposed might have been
money. At last my anxiety became
50 great that | spoke 10 him myself.
but was met so eOldiy, yet with 80
much courtesy. that | felt little in
clined TO make the attempt again


! learned with no great trouble
that he lived quietly at one of our
great hotels. that he seemed to be a
man Of means and that his name was
Tressillian. but beyond this | knew
no more. He came, at last, to be
well known figure in our neighbor-
hood, as he wandered sadly about
among porters and drsymen and the
busv-bustle of trade His visits to
our house and his questions about
Mr.. Willow, were added sources Of
annoyance TO the latter, who rarely
failed to look gloomily up and down
the street TO make sure ofhis absence,
before he ventured out of doors.


Under this system of watching and
worrying. Mr.. Willows attacks grew
at last more frequent, and as the
spring came on NV good wife became,
as she said, worked up 20 that degree
that She at last made up her feminine
mind, and so one fine morning sailed
cut, and had her talk with the cause
Of our troubles.


think that the good little woman
had determined TO try if she could
reconcile the father and son. She
came to me in the evening ! good
deal crestfallen, and with very little
1f the blessedness Of the peacemaker
IN her face. While Mr.. Willow was
1ut she had sent his son, who was
keeping guard in the shop, on aa er-
rand. and then she had actually
the stranger into the house.
when, refusing TO SIT down. be had
wandered to and fro. talking half Co
lerently at times. and at last urging
ler 20 induce his son u speak with
Iim once more. As - their cause Of
iuarrel he was silent A lonely,
.ad old man." said nv wife He
aid be would kneei to his boy, if
hat would do good, but to go away,
o 20 away and leave him, that be
.ould not do-that he would uot.
iod would bless her, he was sure
md might he kiss her hand ! and 80
vent away at last, sorrow-stricken,
,ut wiiful to keep his purpose.


Perhaps my wife's talk may have
lad Its effect. because for month or
wo he was absent Then he came
nd asked at the door for Willow, who
vas out: and for while be haunted
he street, until late in the spring,
when We saw him no longer.


Meanwhile Willow had become
BoFe feeble, and a new trouble had
ONE to our own modest door.


MANY wears have since gone By,
nd happier fortunes have been ours (
brave sons and fair daughters, and /
lOre of the worlds gear than per-
APPS Is good for us to leave them
ut this day | remember with diseom-
1rt that luekless evening. | hast
ned home with the news to two
-ustfui young folks who had married
gainst the will of their elder, and |
ad seen. as Yet, no cause TO regret
heir waywardness.


May" said land / can recall
ow full nav throat felt as | spoke
Nav, Ii am thrown out of work.
he company is lessening its staff,
nd | am 10 leave tomorrow


thought the little woman would ,
ave been crushed, bat, ON the contra
:, il was |, who meant to comfort !