Year: 1875

ually towards Reynolds, as though she was
intensely regarding him. He, on the other
hand, seemed totally oblivious of her presence
No, am mistaken; he turned once and Gu
riously scanned her, and then I saw, or imag-
ined saw, her withdraw further into the cor
ner, and avoid his gaze. There was certainly
some mysterious connection between those two,
but what could it be? was obliged to await
such developments as would afford an expla-
nation.


The coach was now rattling along at the
rate of about eight or ten miles an hour.
For the first ten miles not more than twenty
words were spoken, and those were dry and
commonplace enough. The young lady, whom
for convenience we will call Miss Castle, had
not uttered a syllable Surely not very
communicative party. This irksome quiet
drove me for relief to the surrounding scene
ry. The day was beautiful, the brightness Of
the sun was cheering of those September
days when the foliage is of that pale, uncer-
tain green, which produces the brilliant hues
of the full autumn. The landscape was pleas
ingly varied by hill and valley, forest and
plain.


The road was one of those fine turnpikes
for which Kentucky is justly celebrated, un.
dulating with the natural formation of the
country generally wide, but sometimes much
contracted by hillside aud water-course. At
length a gratifying break occurred in the mo-
notony which had thus far prevailed in our
party. Some circumstances, | forget now OF
what nature, led to a conversation on the ev'
er.fruitful topic of religion. The farmer, ev.
identity staunch churchman, expressed his
views at some length, and after manner
strictly orthodox. While listening to him my
attention was attracted by Reynolds manner.


Before halfdozen words had been spoken,
that rowing, restless movement Of the eye, to
which have already alluded, partly disap'
peared, and his large eyes expanded as he al
most fastened them on the farmer. AS the
latter progressed, Reynolds attention became
fixed. He was evidently intensely interested,
and labored under repressed excitement. The
massive grandeur of his frame seemed to ex'
paud under the effort to restrain his feelings.
He seemed to desire to say something, and to
be waiting eagerly for an opportunity. None
coming, bis impatience finally overcame him,
and he spoke, in voice trembling with emo
ton


"Gentlemen, it is my solemn duty to cor
rect the errors of your faith Your religion
is on false foundation. The new must sup
plant the old. I tell you have studied reli.
gion for twenty years; studied it day and
night, without rest. Hear my judgment :
Your Church is an oppression to the land.
The poor have been robbed to enrich her.
She must be stripped Of her wealth for the
benefit of the abjec and needy Of the land.
l am called to preach the new Gospel. The
church must be leveled, and her ministers
driven from the land. All who do not accept
the new gospel must be destroyed"


These words we're uttered with an earnest
ness truly majestic The speaker seemed to
feel that he was indeed sent to carry out the
reform be referred to-.


During the delivery of this TRADE the yelled
lady had not escaped my notice.


Not for an instant had she turned her head
from the direction of the speaker, whom she
was evidently watching intently, and, as his
enthusiasm increased, I fancied she showed
signs of alarm. Here recurred the perplex-
ing question as to what mysterious relations
existed between them. Revolving this ques.
ton in my mind, was thoroughly on the qui
vive, and anxiously awaiting some denouemert
when suddenly, and to my disgust, we stopped
for dinner.


Dinner was finished, and about two o'clock
in the afternoon we resumed our places. l
say vel am mistaken-there we're three OF
US only. Reynolds place was vacant. l at
once supposed that he was riding on the box,
and was confirmed in this supposition by hear
ing his deep voice in conversation with the
driver. There was now marked change in
Miss Castles conduct The cause l instantly
attributed to the absence of Reynolds, and yet
could not imagine how his presence should act
as a restraint on her. She had removed her
veil, and disclosed one of the most attractive,
winsome faces had ever looked upon. My
youthful instincts we're correct. She was in
deed young and beautiful. Do l not express
it when say she was most charming young
lady?


1t was not long before one of those pleasant
conversations which commence in nothing,
and often end in nothing. and yet beguile the
tediousness of travel, had sprung up between
US. She was we'll informed, fluent and enter
tanning, and 1 soon became much interested.


At this stage of our journey we had reached
billy, almost mountainous part of the coun.
try. The road had become very narrow and
contracted, bounded on the one hand by a
line of steep, rugged hills, on the other BY a
deep ravine, with preci pitous sides. Many
feet below might be heard the rush of water.
could not repress shudder as looked down
into the abyss and thought what an ugly
place this part of the road would be during
dark, stormy night. =,


We we're now moving at rate OF speed
which seemed rather unsafe, considering the
nature of The country. l felt no great uneas
mess, however, relying as | did upon the ex'
perience of our driver. / had occasionally
caught fragments of the conversation going on
between him and the eccentric stranger
Their voices became so loud that we could dis
tinctly hear Reynolds insisting, in an angry
tone, on driving, and then the firm refusal OF
the driver. This produced decided effect on
Miss Castle. Here again was directly tracea-
BILE the influence which Reynolds exerted on
her. The dominant feeling seemed to be a
sort of dread.


Determined to solve the problem, ELECTED
from Miss Castle, by few well-timed ques-
tions, the following disclosures, which you
may easily imagine were not, under the cir
cumstances, either gratifying or soothing.


Reynolds, it appeared, was well-known to
Miss Castle. In bis youth he had studied for
the ministry. Possessed of wealth, his educs-
ton had been of superior character, and he
had early given promise of useful, distin-
guished career. Deep, continued study, how
ever, united with religious enthusiasm, unset:
tied his reason. He had at first appeared
harmless, but in time the nature of his mala'
DIV so changed that he at intervals became vi.