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jTTcirf' : AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER: 7 J"1
"Vol. .VIII. - Now Bloomfield, Pa., Tuesday, Marcii lO, .1874. ' . IVo. lO.
IB PUBLISHED EVERT TUESDAY MORNtNO, DT
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THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND
A Story of Old Virginia
CONTINUED.
T)OOR Morgiana Chester ! She had in
JL deed come back to life, but she had
been awakened only to find all reason
gone. The soft light of her mild eye, the
heavenly purity ofber passive countenance,
and the gentle dew-drops of her soul's sor
row were gone all gone 1 She was mad 1
The frail throne of her mind that had been
toppling for years upon its foundation, had
now fallen, and beneath its weight the soul
fell crashing to utter chaos I
A moment Chiron gazed tcarlcssly upon
the scene then he took the young hunter
gently by the arm and led him unresisting'
ly from the spot.
A week had passed away since the mol
ancholy development recorded above.
In a quiet, handsomely furnished cham-
ber in the mansion of Sir Oliver Wim
ple, reposed, upon a bed of downy softness,
the form of the poor maniao mother. A
raging fever had set in, caused by her ex
posure in the forest, and, at the earnest re
quest of the baronet, sustained by the per
mission of an excellent physician, she had
been removed to her present quarters. The
gentle Ada had nursed ber with a fond
daughter's care Elpsey never left her side,
while Lady Wimple left nothing undone
for ber comfort.
Morgiana had raved exceedingly some
times for ber husband, sometimes for ber
son, and anon ber mind would turn upon
the secret of the old oaken chest Her rav
ings were wild and incoherent, but they
lasted only an hour or so at a time, her
physical strength soon giving way beneath
tbom. She recognized no one, not even
her son, for her mind seemed utterly up
rooted. It was towards the close of the day that
the physician called in bis daily visit, and
M he entered his patient's chamber a smile
of satisfaction lit upon his features. Mor
giana had just sunk into an easy, grateful
slumber, and a profuse perspiration was
upon ber brow and temples. Her skin was
moist and soft, and her pulse that index
to the beating heart was steadier than it
bad been for a week. Those hard, painful
lines that bad marked the maniac's fair
countenance, bad softened to a more pen
sive look, and the blue veins, which bad
been so long swollen almost to bursting,
left now only their azure tracings beneath
the transparent skin. The right hand was
thrown over ber bead, and the left arm
was outstretched, as if to give more room
for the heart.
Orlando stood at the foot of the bed, and
by bis side leaned Ada. Upon the count
enance of the youth there was a broad ray
of hope, which seemed a reflection of the
physician's own smile, and yet he watch
ed the lattor'i movements with nervous
anxiety. As the doctor turned to leave
the room, he beckoned for Orlando to fol
low him. . .
"Mr, Chester," said the physiuian, as
soon as tby bad; reached the ' hall, 'your
mortber Is past all present danger." '. ,
" Groat God, I thank you I" ejaculated
the youth, as be clasped his bands together.
" Let her not be disturbed to-night,"
continued the physician, "for if I am not
greatly mistaken she will sleep quietly till
morning. ' , Yet, . she must be narrowly
patched and properly cared for."
At this moment Chiron entered the ball,
and a joyous look overspread bis face as be
beard the result of ' the doctor's inveatiga
tiOn. .;'' , .' ,',1"' ' ; i i ',
"Doctor," said be, as that individual
was upon the point of turning to depart,
" you have not lisped a word of Mrs. Ches
ter's whereabouts, have you?"
" Not a word."
" Nor of her son's ?"
"No, not a syllable, nor docs any one in
tho town seem to mistrust that the youth
has returned."
" I am glad of that," returned Chiron,
and then turning to Orlando, he said, in an
Under tone :
' " Berkley mistrusts not the rotributlon
I have in store for him."
As the physician departed, the youth
gazed long and earnestly into t tho face of
tho old huntor, and at length, laying his
hand upon his mysteriouB friend, he said :
' " Chiron, I would ask you a question.
Since I have known you I have troubled
you with but few questions. I once
promised you that I would not seek to rend
the veil from your secret have 1 not kept
that promise?"
" Most faithfully," returned Chiron.
" Then I would now be absolved from its
further claims." u
"I grant jou the absolution," Chiron re
joined, with a smile.
" Now, Chiron, toll me who and what
you are. You say the crisis is near at
band, and before it comes, I would at least
know you for what you really arc."
" Then know mo for your friend."
" No, no not that, Chiron. That I have
long known."
"Orlando," said the strange man, while a
peculiar shade of mingled hope and anxiety
passed over bis features, " if you do not
receive what you ask from other lips than
mine on the morrow, I will myself open
the seal and hold it up to your view. The
mission of years is soon to be accomplished,
and when the veil is lifted up you shall
know wherefore I am your friend. Sleep
quietly to-night, and on the morrow your
soul shall be moved by things of which
you never dared even to dream. Part of
the ere w of the brig will be here, and
Rosewell Berkley is also summoned. The
villain knows not yet that we are domiciled
here, and at the request of Sir Oliver he
will come most unhesitatingly. Let your
dreams be happy to-night, and let your
hope range to lioavou if it can."
CHAPTER XI.
Bright ar.d joyous danced tho beams of
the morning sun over the forests and
streams, and gaily sung the lark as it dip
ped its light plumage in the golden flood.
At an early hour Orlando approached the
apartment where lay bis mother. His
heart beat with a hushed motion as he
stood by his parent's beside. Elpsey was
drowsing in ber chair, and as the youth
entered he gave ber permission to slip out
and take the fresh air.
The ncgress was gone, and the sou was
alone with bis mother t He bent low over
the bed and kissed the white brow. That
simplo kiss so sweet, so gentle, so pure,and
so loving 1
Morgiana opened her eyes and gazed for
a moment about her-rtben she closed thorn
and placed ber hands hard upon ber brow.
Again she opened them and murmured :
" Where am I ?"
"Here, bore, dear, mother," cried Or
lando, as he took her band in bis own.
"Orlando," uttered she iu a tone so
strange that the youth was startled.
" Yes, yes, dear mother your own Or
landoyour own loving son. Do you not
know me ?" :
Long and steadily did that mother gaze
into the face of ber boy. Shade after shade,
and light after light, passed over her feat
ures, but ber eyes varied not their light
was deep, intense, and a thousand souls
seemed struggling in their lustrous depths.
At length her lips parted and she murmur
ed :
" If this is not real, then what a dream
has been mine."
" It must be like a dream to you, moth
er,"; said the youth, still moved most
strangely by the peouliar manner of bis
parent, " for during the past week you
have been low, very low; but you are better
now."
" A week 1" uttered Morgiana. " Raise
me up,Orlaudo,and let me look upon you."
Tremblingly the youth obeyod, and as
the mother reclined upon the arm of ber
child, she continued :
" A week I No, no, it must have been
years,long, long years 1 1 remember I bad a
child a laughing babe an infant boy
and I called it Orlando I And I remember
too, that my boy once bad a father; but,
alas, that father "
Big tears gathered in the poor woman's
eyes, and for moment she hesitated, but
at length she wiped ber tears away, and i
while yet a fearful shudder ran through
hor framo she continued :
" I seo it all 1 ' My husband went out
on that pleasant marning be kissed me
boforehe went,and his hand trembled as he
loft mo. I was frigbtoned nt bis looks, but
he promised me be would soon return. My
husband I never saw again I"
"And ho deserted you!" uttered Orlando,
in accents of fearful suspense. '
Dcterted me ! Who ever told you that ?"
exclaimed Morgiana, with sudden energy.
Orlando hesitated for a moment bow to
answer, but soon he resolved to spoak the
truth, and in a kind, soft tone, he said :
" You told me so, mother. Evor since I
can remember and that is sixteen yean
you have given me to understand that my
father deserted you."
"And thus my dream passes before my
eyes," murmured she, as she again placed
hor hand upon hor brow. " No, no, my son
for such I know you are my husband
loved me truly, faithfully. He promised
me to come back, but he never came. In
an hour after he left me some men brought
a body into the house. I lifted tho pall
from tho face, and beheld tho features of
my husband 1 He was cold and stiff, and
his cloak was all bloody I They told me
he bad fallen in a duel t I fell upon that
lifeless clay, and there my soul sunk into a
slumber of memory's oblivio n ! No, I feel
that I am awakened from my life-dream ;
yet the dream has some pictures which my
memory still clings to. Your image is
graven upon my heart, even as the uncon
scious lake receives the image of the tree
that grows upon its margin. My son, my
son, what a dream has , been mine 1 How
fraught with tears and woe with smiles
and flowers !" ,
As Morgiana spoke she sunk back upon
her pillow and closed her eyes. She was
weak, and she needed repose. At that
moment Elpsey came back, and without a
word the youth slipped from the apart
ment. Iu the ball he met Chiron who bad
just come in from tho garden.
"Orlando," said the old hunter, as he
grasped the youth by the hand with aston
ishmeut, " what is the matter?"
The young man foil upon Chiron's bos
om, and bursting into tears, be murmur
ed:
" My mother I my mother 1" '
" What has happened ? Speak 1 speak !"
uttered Chiron, in breathless anxiety,
"Morgiana is not more illshe is not
dead !"
"Dead! Ah, no," returned the youth,
while the sun of a refulgent joy beamed
soltly from bis every feature. " Chiron,
the sun of reason has risen upon her the
dark clouds of ber mental night have roll
ed away, and, in all its pristine strength
and purity, her mind has assumed its
throne ! She spoke to me she called me
Orlando ber son I She told me of that
fearful, torrible morning, when, upon the
cold corpse of my father, she sank into the
chaos of her mental world !"
A moment that powerful man gazed into
the face of the youth, and then, with
his bands clasped above his bead, he sunk
upon his knees. No sound broke from his
lips, but yet the prayer of thanksgiving
that went forth from bis heart was such a
one as angels love to receive upon their
celestial tablets and boar to the throne of
the Father! ' ,
As Chiron arose to bis feet the physician
entered the ball, and having been informed
of what had transpired, he proceeded at
once to his patient's chamber. Ada cane
down from her apartment, and drawing her
arm within bis own, Orlando led her forth
into the garden, there to pour into ber ears
the joyful intelligence of bis mother's re
turn to reason, while Chiron went to bis
own room to prepare his morning's toilet,
and when be returned to the ball he look
ed almost like another being. The long
beard was shaven from his face, so that the
kind, benevolent look which had before
been confined about his mouth and eyes
now spread its beams over his whole faco.
His rough suit of furs and deer-skins bad
been replaced by a neat citizon's dress, and
when Orlando saw hira again it was some
moments before be could realize that in
the noble form before bim he really beheld
his mysterious friend. Ada was delighted
with the transformation, and so was Lady
Wimple. ...
When the doctor returned from bis visit
to the invalid, his countenance was ill
smiles and joy, and be assured the assem
bled household that Morgiana was beyond
all danger. Chiron drew him to one side,
and conversed earnestly with bim for some
minutes, after which the transformed hunt
er took Orluudo by the band, remarking as
he did so :
" Tho doctor says I may see hor. Come,
my boy, let us to Morgiana's chamber."
When Orlando entered his mother's room
she was Bitting up in ber bed, with the
pillows so arranged as to give a comfort
able support for her back, wbilo hor eyes
wore dwelling upon Ada's flower-garden,
which opened its fragrant bods in front of
her window. With reason once more
Bonding its beams of intelligence athwart
hor features slio looked more beautiful than
ever, and, almost transported, Orlando
stood and gazed upon her ere be stopped
forward. , .
" Orlando, my son," uttered Morgiana,
as her eyes rested upon the foim of ber
boy, "come to my side and lot me look
upon you. Kiss mo. There,' now toll
me of the past. I've dreamed of forests
and ruins, of flowery gardons and riinnin
brooks. Upon my mind thore is pictured
a sylvan paradise a . wood-embowered
homo in the sweet wilderness. I would
know "
She did not speak further, for at that
moment her cyos rested upon the powerful
form of Chiron. Blio did not gaze upon
him wildly, nor did sho start with sudden
excitement, but calmly, steadily she gazed,
and then placiug ber hand upon her brow,
she murmured :
"Orlando."
"Well, mother," softly returned tho
youth.
" I fear me I am going back again to my
dreamland borne. I dwell again in the
realms of phantasy," and as the woman
spoke, she pressed her hand over her eyes.
" How what of whom do you dream ?"
asked Orlando, placing his hand upon his
mother's brow, and bending over ber with
earnest solicitude. ,
" Did you not see that form that stood
but now by my bedside ? that airy phan
tom ?" , .
"Tis no phantom, mother," urged Or
lando. " Look up again. Ho is still here,
and he has been our best friend." ,
" Here 1 here !" murmured .Morgiana.
" No, no, my son that may not be. It
cannot be."
" Morgiana," said Chiron, while he stop
ped forward and took ono of ber bands in
his own.
Slowly Morgiana gazed up into tho pow
erful man's face. For a full minute she
looked, and then, while an expression made
all of earnest, hopeful prayer, rested upon
bor features, she said : ,
" Speak to me again. Call me Morgiana.
Call me no, no O, God, that cannot be."
"Morgiana,1 it can be " said Chiron,
and while he spoke, a loving smile shone
upon his broad, kind face.
" Then speak to me again. Call me "
" my icift " cried the old huntor ; and
as he stooped further forward, Morgiana
fell upon his bosom and was clasped with
in bis arms. :
"Has kind Heaven played me false in
this, or do I see my father?" ejaculated
Orlando, in trembling, fearful accents, as
be drew nearer to bis strange friend.
"My son, my son," murmured Chiron,
as he drew one arm about the form of the
youth, "you do indeed see in me your
father. My wife my son !"
As the stout man spoke be drew bis
priceless burdens more closely to bis bo
som, and then wept like a child. In a few
moments, however, be laid Morgiana's
head back upon ber pillow, and wiping the
tears from his checks, be gazod upon her
face.
" Lot no doubt cloud your joy, my own
dear wife," be said, while yet both the
mother and son were regarding bim with
speechless wonder. " I am your own hus
bandI am the man to whom you pledged
your heart's early love the father of your
boy, and the fond worshipper of your good
ness and truth. Look up, sweet wife, and
be happy, for ore this sun shall sink again
to its rest, there shall not be a oloud to
darken the horizon of your peace. You
now have a husband and a son to live for
you have other hopes to realize, and
many scenes yet to come shall be blessed
with the sunlight of your smiles. Look
up, my wife, and smile." 1
Morgiana did smile, so happily and so
sweetly, that heaven itself seemed reflected
upon her countenance. Again she placed
ber arm about her husband's peck, and
murmured her thanksgiving with an over
flowing heart. ' ' "
" But tell me, my husband," said Mor
giana, as soon as she could bring her mind
down to a cool reflection, " how is it that
you live ? I saw your bloody form, all stiff
and cold, and they told me you were dead.
Why have we thus been separated ?"
At tbat moment Orlando east his eyes
out at the window, and an exclamation of
some sudden emotion escaped from his lips
as he noticed Roswell Berkley coming up
from tho river. Chiron's eyes wandered iu
tho same direction, and pulling his son by
the slcove, he bado bim seek Sir Oliver and
inform him of the arrival, at the same timo
promising that ho Boon would follow.
As Orlando passed out he saw Chiron
take Morgiana's hand again in his own,
and though anxious curiosity ran wild in
his bosom, yet he endeavored to curb it by
the self-assurance that all would cro long
be revealed to him. He had socn his moth
er in the possession of her long-lost reason,
and he had found in tho person of his mys
terious friend a dear father, but yet there
was much more for hira to know. ' Tho
life-lots had not yet all been drawn.
At the same moment that Roswell Berk
ley entered the hall of Sir Oliver Wimplo's
dwelling Dick Nolan and three of his ship
mates came up from tho river, and remain
ed within hailing distance. Berkley was
not without some slight shado of suspicion
as he entorcd tho baronet's dwelling, for
the servants had eyed him with strange
glances as ho passed them ; but, remem
bering that the old baronet was bis friend,
he strove to banish all unpleasant suspi
cions, and in a moment more bo greeted
Sir Oliver with a bland smilo.
" Ah, whom have we here ?" uttered
Berkley, as the remodelled hunter entorcd
the room.
"Let mo introduce you," said tho bar
onet, " Mr. Berkley, my friond, Lord Chi
ron." " Chiron ! Lord Chiron i" repeated
Borkley, starting with a sudden fear, as ho
recognized the noble form of tho old hunter.
"Have you forgotten me?" asked Chi
ron, as bo regarded the dumbfounded man
with a bitter smile, ,
"Sir Oliver, what means this?" cried
Berkley, in a tone which seemed to indi
cate that be still counted upon the baro
net's friendship, but at the same time
evincing a fear that might not be easily
shakon off.
" It simply means that Lord Chiron, and
one or two other frionds, have business to
transact, and your presence was deemed
absolutely necessary. Ah, here comes
another," continued Sir Oliver, "Mr.
Borkley, Orlando Chester."
" Fiends of darkness 1" shrioked the vil
lain, as his eyes rested upon bim whom he
thought either dead, or far away. "Sir
Oliver, let me go hence."
"Easy," said Chiron, as be motioned
Borkley to a seat. " I have business with
yon, and when that is done you can be re
lieved of our presence."
Roswell Berkley gazed first upon ono,
and then upon another of those present,
and, while his gaze seemed waverinc ha.
tween Chiron and Orlando, be sank into a
seat. A deep struggle was apparent upon
his countence, but at length bis native im.
pudence seemed to triumph, and with a
iorceu iook or attended dignity, be said :
" 1 ben go on but be quiok about it."
"You will find the business ouieklv
enough transacted for your own pleasure."
returned Chiron, as he quietly took a seat.
'And who are you that thus &HHnm t.n
dictate ?" asked Borkley, with considera
ble distrust. " If you are Lord Chiron, yon
can be nothing to me."
" I am the Lord of Chiron, and I
something to you ; but it is of your brother
tbat I would now speak."
Roswell Borkley started and turned
palo. '
''I would ask you." continued Clili-m.
"if you remcmbor of vour brother' mut
ing bis will and leaving the colony for
.cngiana f concluded next week.
, ,
X3T The following dialogue was over-
beard the other day in Yicksburg ;
"Say, Jim, I so notiood somofln' in dis
town, is you ?'
" I dunno wheddor I is or no, Si ; what
is it ?"" "
" It's' dis : Is you ' noticed whou a
strange darkey comes here dat 'mounts to
sumfln', de x white folks say, 'who is dat
colored man ?' but de culled people say,
who is dot niggay" Jim, a nlgga ain't
got no sense, no how."
"Dat'l so, Si, sho'i yer born."
tW At a social weddinir Dartv in Sniinff-
ileld, the bridegroom, Mr. Paddy Burke,
arose and announced his ability to lick any
man in the room. Mr. Jimmy Burns tai.l
that the statement seemed to him dovoid of
of strict inherence to faot. . The flcbt bad
not long progressed whon the polioe broke
in and took everybody to the station.