to
his every word and deed, and to Mrs. Alden, who wrote him such beautiful
and touching letters, reminding him of his duty to God and his
fellow-men, and as he laid each one of her letters aside, it seemed that
a newer strength and some higher motive filled his heart.
And there were other letters whose coming he anxiously awaited. The
small, round handwriting on the envelope sent the glow of happiness into
his eyes; the dear, sweet letters from Lallite, with marginal notes in
every conceivable nook and corner of the page; the dainty tid-bits of
love. When these letters came, Shawn took them and wandered down to the
stream he loved so well. Lallite seemed associated with the murmuring
ripples, the tiny pebbles of the beach, and the shimmering bosom of the
river. As he sat near the drowsy rumbling falls with her letter in his
hand, it seemed that the river flowing past breathed some tender message
from the village above and linked his heart into a closer and fonder
memory of sweeter hours. And these letters laden with love's tender
offerings, with here and there some whisperings of loneliness, some
unlooked-for digression embracing the gossip of the neighborhood, or
some delicious speculation as to his fidelity and love.
One day, just about three weeks before his graduation, as he sat at the
dinner table, a servant came in and placed a telegram beside his plate.
Shawn opened the envelope and read, "Come home at once. Dave Budlong."
Something seemed to almost paralyze his heart-strings; some terrible
apprehension took possession of him. His mother? Mrs. Alden? Lallite?
Through the long, dragging hours which followed until the evening
mail-boat started up the river, he wandered in an agony of suspense.
The river had lost its charm, and the strains of music from the
orchestra on the boat, fell on his ears in saddened tones. He walked the
hurricane deck, and bent his gaze upon the distant river bends, as
counting the dragging miles. At midnight the boat reached Skarrow. Dave
Budlong, the old lawyer, was there to meet Shawn. Shawn grasped his hand
and eagerly asked, "Tell me what is the matter!"
"Doc' Hissong is very low and has been calling for you ever since last
night," said Budlong.
They went up the hill to the office. Old Brad met them at the door,
"Praise Gawd, you've come, Shawn--he gwine mi'ty fas'--he nearin' de
Valley uv de Shadder." Shawn went in, and as he saw the old doctor's
white head on the pillo
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