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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton New Era, 1892-09-16, Page 34 IN TEE HEART LI' the STORM BY MAXWNLI. CIRET. VOINTTINITgO. . . ' They drove blit 40)035 for the snow was deep, and drifted in places; the horWa feet balled from time to time; alter all 1e might almost as well have walked and so warmed his blood in the pure keen air. What a charm the dazzling white country with its blue shadows, its peeping roofs and trees, had for one .fresh from India! how truly English it was! He had ahnost f orgotten the deep ineradicable dear- ness of England to a true Englishman in the fascination of India, and almost forgotten in another more: powerful fascination the 'strength of family ties. But now he remembered that Jessie was all he had in the world—father and mother, home and country. duty and domestic affection, all met and were symbolized in Jessie. Hitherto • he had thought of her as depending on, and needing him, but now in the strong and sudden inrush of long dor- mant feelings, caused by the sight of home and country, he realized his own dependence on and need. of Jessie. She was to know nothing of his rea- sons forthrowing up his appointment and coming . home so suddenly, she would doubtless be pleased that he should come for her rather than have her sent out to him; it, would appear in the light of a chivalrous deference that could not fail to charm a girl. The snowy fields were stained in pure hues of rose and crimson, orange and amber, as the sun dropped down in the west; then they paled to violet and dead white; a ghostly gleam was reflected upward on the cold dusk air. There is nothing so desolate as the white gleam of snow after sunset, be- fore the stars sparkle out and the darkness broods over the corpse -like pallor. Body and mind alike yield to the gray and lonely chill of the mo- ment. Philip's heart sank with an in- describable foreboding, and he was glad to see the red gleam of cottage Windows as they reached the village and saw the boys sliding_ and snow- balling on the green. He jumped down and ' walked swiftly on, telling the flyman to follow to the farm, the chimne3 s of which were now visible in the distance. The woman of the vil- lage shop and post office looked after the tall -grown, foreign -looking man and wondered who he was. "Somebody for the Court, I reckon," she said, turning away to sell hulls - eyes to a ruddy lad, as she had often servedtheinto Philip, who had passed many a week at Redwoods. Here was the great elm to the top of which he had once dared Roger to climb, and from a limb of which Roger had fallen with an appalling thud, but quite unharmed, to the ground. He hastened on, thinking that this rough, bluff Roger was after all a strange houqernate for so dainty a creature as Jes. h. His pace quickened to a run, hurrah! There was the red light of the sitting -room fire, suddenly leaping up and streaming over the shining snow -laden evergreens without, like a beacon light to guide him home; Jes- sie'shands pex haps had stirred the fire to that leaping blaze. His hand was on the wicket and he was about to open it, when the red glow vanished, strangely daunting him, a hand closed the shutters, he felt himself shut out in the chill gray snow -light, and instead of entering by the front door went round through the farm -yard, where the cows were pulling hay from racks, and so in by the kitchen. "Hullo!". sang out Abraham, who was stumping heavily in with a pitch- fork in his hand, on feeling Philip's strong grasp on his shoulder, "who be you? What be ye up to?" They were just in the red glow of the outer kitchen doorway. Sarah was busy at the hearth, breaking and piling up faggots of furze to boil a _ winging kettle, the dark smoke - browned walls were lit up by the dancing blaze. "Lord a mercy!" Abraham cried, recognizing Philip on turning, 'here's Master Philip! What- ever be us to do, Stir.wv" "Master Philip!" cried Sarah, drop- ping the billhook with which she was chopping her faggots and coming for- ward. "Why ever couldn't you bide out in India? Whatever be ye come here for?" "For Jessie, to be sure," he replied, giving her a hearty kiss. "How are they all? You look as sound as a bell, Sarah." "There, sit down by the fire, do," she replied, hysterically, at the same time pushing him into a wooden chair. "I 'lows you be pretty nigh shrammed with the coold. Shet the door, ye girt zote, do," she added, falling foul of the unlucky Abraham, who had i emained in the doorway as if transfixed, with the fork held trident -wise in one hand and his mouth and eyes wide open. "And Missus '11 be that mad," she added. Just then Roger came in by another door, and Philip rose to shake hands with him, scarcely noticing that Ro- ger's once ruddy face was pale, and that he walked with a stick. "Clad to see you," Roger said, from habit and courtesy, "but whatever's the good of shutting the door when the steed's stolen!" be added. Philip scarcely heeded this enigmati- cal speech, but followed Roger to the sitting -room, where Cousin Jane was seated by the fire opposite her husband. They looked tranquil enongh; all surely was well, and yet an uneasy foreboding checked the words upon his lips when, his eyes having swift ly and vainly sought the gleain of Jessie's golden hair in the ruddy light, he would fain have asked for her. • "Merciful Powers!" exclaimed Mrs Plummer, lifting her hands in dismay, "if it isn't Philip!" "Philip!" echoed Mr Plummer, ris- ing, "Lord help the boy, whatever bronght you here?" Philip stopped, looking at them sil- ently, with a nightmare dryness in his throat. Mra Plummer's round face had a pinch( d look, the corners of her mouth had a more settled downward tendency thanformerly, her gown was black. lk.Tat Plummer bad a bewilder- ed air, the set of Roper's onee jovial face was tragic., he pushed his tangled curls of his strong white forehead, and his bine eyes gazed at Philip'. boding .ti face with a wistful pity. Old Sebasto- pol, the nia'innl:ca,t, rose a d limped np to the new -comer on her Oree leop, Children 0 r vvv.• . purring awl , rubbing affectionat against him, the only creature w bad a welcome for him Pp sto very squarely in the midst of the his bronzed face growing, Moodie. his heart beating with low hum thrObs. "Where," he said at last, in a trai ed, 'unnatural voice, "where is Jessie "Jessie!" the three echoed in diff ing tones of dismay. "Why, you do m seeQuite right, somehow, Philip cried Mr Plummer. "Trouble hey turned his brain," ad ed Mrs Plummer, dismally. "Can this be a bad,dream?" aske Philip, his eyes dilating. "Where zny sister?" he repeated. "Haven't you heard?" asked Hoge "Why, mother," he added, "Phil don't know. There wasn't time f him to get the letter, come to think "Sure enongii. more there was echoed Mrs Plummer. "You don mean to say, Philip, you've a come a the way home not knowing? Dea heart, what trouble, what trouble!" The walls seemed to be rushin round him, his lips were so dry an stiff; he caught at a chair to stead himself, and stammered: "Is she-- she -dead?" the last word in a raise voice. "Hullo!" cried Roger, stepping fo ward and catching him while he pus ed a chair under him. "Drink, moth er, give him drink." Mrs Plummer bustled quickly to th cupboard by the fire place, whence sh brought a spirit decanter and a tun bier,' and pouring out a good draugh of raw brandy, gave it to Philip. Then the dark -red mist cleared fron his eyes, he looked at Mrs Plummer' black dress, thence to her tearful face and thence to the troubled faces of -Na and Roger. "She was so young," he said, "the were so devoted to her." "She had grown up fine and slim poor maid, added Nat Plummet "you'd scarcely have knownher again Philip." "How was it?" he asked, chokin something down ahd speaking stench ly; "how did it all happen? She wa always so healthy, never ailed that heard of. lell me all." He looked straight before him; they looked at each other mutely. "All's a good deal when all's said," Mrs Plummer replied at last. oracular ly; "you've come of a journey and had a shock, hadn't you better wait till you've taken something?" "No, no," he replied, quickly, "no- thing can matter if she is dead." "There's worse than death Philip-" "Mother!" Roger, starting up. "If you must have the worst, Phi- lip," said Mrs Plummer, "the best we can hope is she's dead." "She is dead,"- muttered Roger throngh his clenched teeth. "There is a doubt? There was an accident?" asked Philip, trembling with he knew not what sickening lior- or and remembering his vision of Jes- sie months back. "She's gone, poor child, and we hope she may be dead," continued Mrs Plummer, "for there's disgrace be- hind." "No, no," cried Roger, "it is talk, Philip, vile talk, and it drove her be- side herself: If any man uses that word nf her," he added, excitedly, "I knock Wm down. As sure as fate I knock Min down." "So do I," echoed. Philip. "Lord save usrexclaimed Mrs Plum- mer. "For pity's sake take Roger away, Plummer." • "Go on out, Roger. and leave it to mother and me," said his father, lay- ing his hand on the young giant's shoulder and pushing him to the door, which he closed and locked upon him, "Tell me all," Philip said when he was gone. "Ta be sure 'tis hard hearing for ye, Philip, and a hard telling for me," Mrs Plumner replied, "and sorry am for her, heaven khows. I acted for the hest, I'm sure, and I never had any hulk to find with her, and never knew but all was right the very day she went off-" "Went off-" echoed Philip, staring blindly before him. thought she._WOR_gone to Miss. Rhishicard's"-added Nat. “We heard nothing of him." ...And all the country talking," con- tinued Mrs Plummer, "and even Ab- ram and Sarah knew it; there wasn't a creature in the place that didn't .know.... I wouldn't ,speak Against her.. and she, poor child, gone, but I must say there was deception in her, such as never was." "Yes, she kept it close, poor lass, pcor lass!" added Mr Plummer, with agitation; "'tis always like that with girls when led away." Philip's head sank into his hands; he thought of Matthew's and Martha's pride in the child, and the care he had taken to fence her from the very knowledge of evil, the thought of his own reverence for her. ,Jessie had been the very symbol of purity to him, and he had to sit still and listen while she was pitied and partially excused, to see her honor trailed in the dust in the sight of all the world, to hear her name in the mouth of drunkards and at the mercy of all evil thoughts and venomous imaginations. . Little Jessie, his own sister! Matthew's innocent child! "Go on, tell me all," he said heavily. And so gradually the whole pitiful story came out, the stolen meetings in the wood, the talk, the secret distress that was wearing the unhappy girl's life out, the supposed visit to the old school mistress and the disappearance discovered so late. Then all the fruit- less efforts to discover Jessie, the in- terview with Sir Arthur, the written disclaimer of Claude Medway, which was shown him, as well as .Tessie's own farewell to her cousin, lastly the dis- covery of the handkerchief, by the river side and Roger's surmises based upon it it. He did not interrupt the narrative, i se n ve and often irrtelevanas it was; he sat still in a kind of stony patience, while the story poured upon tingling ears like molten metal. And when the tale was done he sat on silent in the snow post tire. "I am afraid," he said, "1 ani afraid she is still alive. And yet -if she had died -in her d es pair-" "'Well, there, we can'talter it, what- ever 'tis," said Mr Plummer. "We did all we could to find her. Rut that box staggers me. Whatever went with that box?" "And her paints and things she was so set on," added his wife. Roger he will have it the box was stolen." ''Rut why should she pack it?" asked Philip. "Roger thinks 'twas for a blind. THE CLINToN NEW ERA ely ROger woUld ilaye itaind her dead or ho alive, if anybody could a done it; he'd od a pulled the moon oat of the sky be- na, fore he'd give in, But there he fell off ss, a wagon ioaded with straw and broke ed bis thigh soon after, a,nd I often think it Was 4 ruetCy in disguise, heavy as it come upon me, and my daughter Eliza confined and her husband with no more sense than a addled egg. There we had him on his back for a couple of months as helpless as a babe, else he'd a been all over the country look- ing for her and stirring up talk upon talk." Philip listened as one who hears no- thing, mechanically stroking his old Crimean comrade'who sat purring on his knee the while, until he touched a tender place in her scarred body and made her swear. "Poor Sebastopol," he said, stroking her with more circumspection, "poor old puss!" -Then he but st into tears. 0- er- n, , ) d - is r. ip or of 't 11 is r- h - 11 Pitcher's Caetorlai• CHAPTER VI THE RIVERSIDE ARK. The next afternoon, about the fall- ing of dusk, saw Philip walking through snowy lanes and across fieki- paths toward the river's bank. He had pulled his coat -collar up about his face and crushed his hat over his eyes, and with a burning fear of being re- cognized by" passengers as he strode i swiftly along n the pale snow -gleam. Ashamed of Jessie. That was in- deed a strange experience, and yet it was the strongest, in all the wild med- ley of agonized feelings that surged within him. He pited her much, but he condemned her more. Nothing, he thought, with the stern Pharisaism of male kindred, could palliate, much less excuse conduct such as hers; those se- cret meetings augured deception as well as a frailty that made him shud- der; piteous as the idea of a self -sought death of despair was, it was still the one sign of grace to be hoped for. But he did not think that she had taken her life; the country talk, the cold looks and averted heads of her ac- quaintances would not provide a mo- tive strong enough for so desperate a measure, and no more pressing motive could be argued. He did not know o what Jessie had known too well that, guilty or not guilty, Mi s Plummer would never receive a disgraced girl beneath her roof. "She might die on the road first," was her expression. In the long watches of the night, as he tossed uneasily upon Mrs Plum- mer's lavender -scented pillows he had thought much of Jessie's disharmony with her surroundings. Redwoods, the scene of pleasant holidays in child- hood, had been taken without criti- cism, but now that he came fresh to it after so long an interval and habitu- al experience of more polished modes of life, it struck him that "Wood ways" could scarcely have been con- genial to Jessie, the more so as she saw home -spun roughness in contrast with the refined elegance, alinost splendor, of Marwell Court. A vague remorse mingled with these thoughts; heasked himself again and again what he could have done better for her, and the answer always was, nothing. The fault seemed to lie in circumstance; she had been trained out of harmony with her position in life, she had no social status, she had risen from one class but not reached another. If he had taken her to India, her isolation would have been frightful; he would have had to leave her while he march- ed to the first Relief of Lucknow, and went through the Rohilcunde cam- paigrk. And if he had married her in England and left her behind, it would have been far worse. Then Jessie's sweet, sorrowful face would rise be- fore him with gentle reproach. No evil could be attributed to that sweet and cpiileless child. But he remember- ed that nearly every wonien has once been innocent. He had passed the morning, not without some feeling of sacrilege, in the small white -draped room that had been hers, looking over her papers and things in search of some clue to her disappearance. His own letters were all there, neatly pack- eted and endorsed; how cold and hard they seemed to be! One had arrived her-disappearanee and had never been since opened; there wassornething inex- pressibly ghastly in opening and read- ing it. Her favorite books were there, a scanty stock; her Thomas a Kempis, the Tennyson he had given her on her fifteenth birthday, well worn and much underlined— . Love took iip the harp of life, and smote on all the chords with might; Smote the chord of Self. which, trembling, passed in music out of sight. This was dated, September, 1858, and doubly scored. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Every testimonial regarding Hood's Si r- saparilla is an honest, unpurchased state- ment of what this medicine has actually done. Chinese control almost the entire shoemaking business in California. "German Syrup Martinsville, N.J., Methodist Par- sonage. "My acquaintance with your remedy, Boschee's German Syrup, was made about fourteen years ago, when I contracted a Cold which resulted in a Hoarseness and a Cough which disabled me from filling my pulpit for a number of Sabbaths. After trying a,Physician, without obtaining relief—I cannot say now what remedy he prescribed —I saw the advertisement of your remedy and obtained a bottle. I received such quick and permanent help from it that whenever we have had Throat or Bronchial troubles since in our family, Boschee's Ger- man Syrup has been our favorite remedy and always with favorable results. I have never hesitated to report my experience of its use to others when I have found them troubled in like manner." RXV. W. H. HAGGARTV, of the Newark, New Jersey, M.E. Confer- ence, April 25, 'go. 99 A Safe Remedy. 4. G. GREEN, Sole liatefr,Woodbury,Nj. I S otember 10, wimainimmaassomareummaiimmeamoseil hat is tiv • Castoria is Dr, Samuel Pitcher's prescription for Infants • and Children. It eontning neither OPIUM, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. It is a harmless substitute for Paregoric, Drops, Soothing Syrups, and Castor 011. % lit is Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years' use by, Millions of 3lothers. Castoria destroys Worms and allays .4 feverishness. Castorla prevents vomiting Sour Curd.' cures Diarrhoea and Wind Co1I. Castoria relieves ( teething troubles, cures constipation and flatulency. Castoria, assimilates the food, regulates the stomach and bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. Case. toria is tho Cldldren's Panacea—the Mother's Friend. • Castoria. "CaStoria is an excellent medicine for chll- then. Mothers have repeatedly told me of its good effect upon their children." Da. O. C. Cartoon, Lowell, Kass. "Castoria Is the best reznedy for children of which I am acquainted. I hope the day is not far distant when mothers will consider the real interest of their children, and lige Castorla in- stead of the various q uack nostrums which are destroying their loved ones, by foraingopium, morphine, soothing syrup and other hurtful agents down their throats, thereby sending Shelia° premature graves." Ds. J. F, KINCEELOE, Conway, Ai Castoria2 " Castoria is so well adapted to c.hildren that I recommend it as superior to any prescription known to me." H. A. Amman, IL P. 111 So. Oxford St., Brooklyn, N. Y. "Our physicians in the children% depart- ment have spoken highly of their experi- ence In their outside practils with Castoria, and although we only have among our medical supplies what is known as regular products, yet we are free to confess that the merits of Castoria bas won us to look with favor upon it." UNITio Hosrrrai Ann Disramsawr, Boston, Mi, ALLEN C. Stern, Pres., The Centaur Company, 'T7 Murray Street, New York City.. OCTOBER 6 and 7 IS THE DATE OF TH GREAT HURON CENTRAL EXHIBITION. But you need not wait until then to secure the best value to be had in Groceries and Crocker As McalURRAY & WILTSE are always to the front with the very best goods in the market at the lowest prices. �EL Try our special blends of Tea, as good judges say they cannot b equalled for the money. We claim exceptional cup value for oarDal Kola and.1 lb. Cannister Blends. Our Crockery trade has more than doubled this summer; we attribute it to low prices and good goods. Everything sold by us we warrant to be as represented. Give us a cal McMURRAY & WILTS RUMBALL 'SCIRRIVIZ FACTOR Iluron Street, Clinton We have on hand an assortment of splendid BUGGIES. CARRIAGES, & WAGGON Which[we guarantee to be of first—class material and wolkmanship. If you want a good article at the price of a poor one, call and see us. I. flUi1ELAXL4, — CLAXN.TCO=IN Kahn's Perfection Wafers A RAPID AND POSITIVE REMEDY FOR THE ABSOLUTE "CURE OF Nervous Disorders and Debility, Spinal Exhaustion, Bad Complexion, Indigestion, Dyspepsia, Physical Decay and General Weakness. Also KAHN'S PENNYROYAL WAFERS for sale by JA.3VIJOS i. 00M13311 S ILInG• .A. Ft S ALWAYS BUY THE BEST. THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEST 3rd Car Redpath's Pure Granulated and Yellows Now arrived, this summer. Sold as lcw as many so-called pure, but adulterated Sugars now selling in this market. We make special °tits by the cwt. o'r in bbl. lots. J. -W. IRWIN NOTED GROCER, CLINTON SCHOOL BOOKS Collegiate Institute and Public School Supplies. We have a full assortment of all the newest lines of Scrib— blers, Copy Books and everything required by pupils and teachers. W. H. Simpson, Clinton Bookseller and StAtioner . 6 9 T o 7.5 'i PIANO SHERBOURNEST.TORONTO. —FOR-- HEINTMAN -PIANOS ENQUIRE OP G. F. EMERSON. CLINTON BENMILLER FRUIT The sold thing Orders NUESIIY AND ORNAMENTAL TREES NORWAY SPRUCE, SCOTCH AND ASTRACHAN PINE, TIM LATTER 07 WIII011 WE atAIII A SPECIALTE LARGE STOCK ON HAND. aboye ornamental trees and shrubbery will bt at very low pricesand those wanting any. in this connection will save money bs purchasing here. — ay Mail will be promptly attendee tot Address, JOHN STEWART. — Benmillsr. cLuvroN Planing . 0 Mill —AND—. DRY KILN! frIHE SUBSCRIBER HAVING JUST COlf PLET I. nn and furnished his new Planing Mill witl machinery of the latest impreved patterns Is nov prepared to attend to all orders in hie line in th I most prompt and satisfactory wanner and at res sonable rates. He would also return thanks total who patronized the old mill before they were burn gd out, and now being in a better position to exe ute orders exped Mouldy and feels confident he oat ve satisfaction to all. FACTORY -Near the Grand 1 TrunA Railway, Clinton . THommi MeHENZI I a a 7.— .,) Z`)- ' V -7." • - COPP'S a WALL . 'PAPER and Paint Shop Is stocked with a Select Assortment of 1 American and Canadian Wall Papers , WITH BORDERSTO MATCH, from five eeni I rolls to the fin est gilt. Having bought.my Paperi and Paints for Spot Cash, and my practical ea 1 perience justify noe in saying that all wanting to decorate their houses inside or paint them out. side will find it to their advantage to give me a . safShop, shop, ' south Oliver Johnston's blacksmith and directly opposite Mr. J. Chidley1 residence. JOSEPH COPP • /Practical Paper Banger and Painter.' , ROBERT -:- DOWNS, CLINTON, 1 Manufacturer and Proprietor for the best'Swe Mill Dog in use. Agent for the sale and appli• cation of the ga-FifitisR PATENT AUTOnsTio BolLES CLEANER. STEAM FITTINGS furnished and app ed on shlrt notice. Boilers. Enmities. and all kinds et Machinery repaired ea pedItionsla and in a satisfactory manner Farm implements manufacturedend, repaired Steam and furnished it water pumps and put position. Dry Rilus fitted up on applicatim ()barges moderate. . . ... - If you are interested in Advertising Lyou ought to be a subscrib- er to PRINTERS' INK: a journal for advertisers. 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