GATHERING CLOUDS
Jasper did not like the idea of leaving such agreeable company and
going with Betty. It was so pleasant to be near Lois, and he was
hoping that they might have a quiet little conversation together. Why
could not David wait? There was surely nothing of great importance
that he wished to see him about. No doubt he wanted to ask him some
questions concerning the progress of the work at the falls. He could
call in on his way home and have a chat with him.
These thoughts ran quickly through his mind as he sat there watching
Betty. But something in the girl's face told him that he had better go
at once, and so he rose from his chair.
"Won't you come back again?" Lois asked. "It is go early that surely
Mr. David will not keep you all the evening."
"I'm afraid not," was the reluctant reply. "I shall go over to my
cabin and get a good sleep. I was up late last night looking after
that raft of poles which we took down river to-day."
Lois had the feeling that something was wrong, and she longed to go to
the Haven and find out what it was. She was almost tempted to leave
the rest and accompany Jasper and Betty. She banished this idea,
however, thinking that after all there was nothing over which she
should worry. But in a twinkling there flashed into her mind the words
Margaret had so lightly spoken over the tea-cup. "I see a big black
cloud, and it entirely surrounds you." Why did those words come to her
now? she asked herself, and why should she have that strange foreboding
of impending trouble? So strong was this impression that she was
inclined to hurry after Jasper and give him warning. She did nothing
of the kind, however, but during the remainder of the evening she was
quieter than usual and took little part in any conversation.
Jasper walked by Betty's side along the road leading to the main
highway.
"How did you know where I was?" he presently asked her.
"We saw you this afternoon out on the river saving Miss Lois and Miss
Margaret."
"Why, where were you?"
"Mr. David and I were up on the hill. We had just come back from a
walk up the brook. Mr. David was tired after his excitement, and so we
sat down to rest. It was then that we saw you."
"What made Mr. David excited?" Jasper enquired. "I suppose it was the
great change he saw at the falls, was it?"
"Oh, no, not that. It was the rolling log which did it. You see, Mr.
David was nearly killed this afternoon."
At these words Jasper stopped short and looked keenly into Betty's face.
"Nearly killed! What do you mean?" he demanded.
"Yes, that was it." Then in a few words the girl told him what had
happened up the brook that afternoon, and of old David's narrow escape.
For a while Jasper walked slowly along the road after Betty had
finished. He was greatly puzzled, for he could not believe that any
log would become loosened at the exact moment when David was directly
in front of it unless there was something to start it on its downward
course.
"Did you see any men working near the logs when you were there?" he at
length asked.
"I didn't see any," was the reply. "But we met several teams on our
way up."
"And you saw no one near the place at all?"
"We didn't see any one near where we were going to have our lunch, but
as we were coming home we saw the artist down by our brook."
"You did? And where was he?"
"Not far from Pyramid Rock. I don't think he saw us, for we hurried by
as fast as we could."
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I'm afraid of him."
"What, did he ever do anything to frighten you?"
"No. But he makes me shiver all over. I can't understand why it is."
Jasper found David crouched in his big easy chair near the open window
facing the falls. His eyes brightened as the young man entered and sat
down by his side.
"It is good of you to come," David began, "for I have been anxious to
speak to you ever since we came back from up the brook. You may go,"
and he motioned Betty to the door. "I wish to be alone for a while
with Mr. Randall."
He waited until the door had closed behind the girl, and then turned
his eyes upon his visitor's face. Jasper noted the worry there, and at
once connected it with his experience up the brook that afternoon.
"Has Betty told you?" and David laid his right hand gently upon
Jasper's arm.
"About the rolling log, and your narrow escape this afternoon?"
David nodded.
"Yes, she told me about it on our way here. I am so thankful that you
were not hurt."
"I might have been killed! It was nothing less than a miracle that I
escaped."
"It has shaken you up a great deal, so I see. But you will be all
right after a good night's sleep. Your nerves are somewhat unstrung
now."
"Perhaps so," the old man mused. "But I feel uneasy. It may be the
shock, as you suggest. But there is something in my heart that I
cannot explain. I never had such a feeling before, and I thought that
perhaps you could help me."
"In what way?" Jasper asked, as David paused as if groping for the
right words.
"It appears as if everything is about to slip away from me. I seem
to-night as if about to start on a long mysterious journey, and that I
shall never return. People call me crazy, and perhaps they have good
reason for doing so. You may think the same, and especially so now as
you listen to my words. But I cannot help this peculiar notion that
possesses me and almost overwhelms me with strange forebodings. It may
be the outcome of a mind diseased, who knows? My great concern,
though, is in connection with the work at the falls. I have the
feeling that in some way I am necessary to its welfare. I do not wish
it to stop, and I want you to promise me to-night that if anything
should happen to me that you will take my place, and be keenly
interested in it."
"I do not see how I can take your place, for that is not in my power.
But take a deep interest in all that goes on up there I certainly
shall, and be as deeply interested in its progress as you have been."
"Ah, you can never be interested in it as I am," and David's eyes
glowed with the intensity of his old-time devotion. "Can any one be as
much interested in the growth and progress of a child as its parents?
My child is up there," and he stretched out his arm toward the falls.
"For it I have longed and suffered. It is bone of my bone and flesh of
my flesh. My heart's blood is there."
Jasper now felt certain that the old man's mind was really unbalanced.
He attributed it to the excitement of his narrow escape that afternoon.
A good sleep would refresh him, and he would be all right in the
morning. He rose to his feet and took David's hand in his.
"I must go now," he said. "We both need sleep. I was up late last
night, and so must go home early to get a good rest. You had better do
the same."
"I don't want to sleep," David emphatically replied.
"My mind is too much upset to rest. But if you must go let me walk a
short way with you. Perhaps the cool night air will refresh me. Wait
a moment until I put on my coat and hat. Betty will be angry if I go
without them."
Then he suddenly paused and caught Jasper fiercely by the arm.
"Do you hear them?" he asked. "Listen," and he held up his right hand.
In the old man's eyes had come a peculiar light, and his manner
reminded Jasper of the first night he had met him on the road when he
had rescued him from the speeding auto.
"Do you hear them?" David repeated. "My beautiful falls, my beautiful
falls. What sweeter music than the sound of your rushing water.
People have been deaf to your luring voice. I alone have listened and
understood. They called me a fool and said I was crazy, ha, ha! But
they know better now. They have seen what my beautiful falls can do.
Light and power! Light and power! The world transformed. Burdens
lifted from weary shoulders; homes transformed, and the hearts of all
made glad."
He was standing in the middle of the room as he uttered these words,
and Jasper noted how the fire of excitement was increasing in intensity.
"Come," and he laid his hand upon his companion's arm as he spoke, "let
us go for a walk."
"Hush! Listen!" he cried, unheeding Jasper's words. "There it is
again! Do you hear it? It's coming from the valley; it has winged its
way across the sea. Ha, ha, he will hear it and tremble. But, wait,
he is not there; he is in hell. Yes, that's where he is--in hell!
Where else could he be?"
David's voice had risen to a shriek as he uttered the last words.
Jasper stared at him in amazement. What did he mean by such strange
utterances? Surely the man was out of his mind.
"Come," he again ordered, "let us leave the house and go for a walk.
You will feel better out in the cool air."
Taking him by the arm Jasper led him out upon the verandah and down the
steps. The twilight was deepening fast, and a quiet peace had settled
over the land. Away to the right the trees on the high hills were
clearly silhouetted against the evening sky. At any other time Jasper
would have stood and revelled in the beauty of his surroundings. But
now he was too much concerned about the man at his side to think about
such things. From the time they left the house until they reached the
main highway David talked incessantly. He was greatly excited, and
gesticulated at almost every word.
At length he stopped, placed his right hand to his forehead, and looked
around.
"What have I been saying?" he asked in a calmer voice. "It seems to me
that I have been in a strange country seeing all kinds of things."
"You are all right now," Jasper replied. "You certainly have been
raving at a great rate."
"Have I?" the old man queried, and he lapsed into a momentary silence.
"Peculiar feelings come over me at times. The fresh air of night has
done me much good. I shall walk a short way with you along the road."
David was now a pleasant companion, and Jasper enjoyed talking to him.
He enquired about the progress of the work at the falls and asked
numerous questions. Not once did he refer to the dark forebodings
which had possessed him at the Haven, and Jasper believed that he had
forgotten about them.
"I think I shall return now," he said after they had walked some
distance.
"Shall I go back with you?" Jasper asked.
"Not at all. I shall enjoy the walk alone. You are tired and should
get home at once. So, good night. I hope to see you again soon."
Jasper stood and watched him until the darkness swallowed him up. Then
he made his way along the road to his own lonely house. He was very
tired, but he found it difficult to get to sleep. The strange words
which David had uttered kept running constantly through his mind. When
he did at last fall into a fitful slumber, he was beset by a dreadful
monster, which was slowly crushing him to pieces while he was unable to
do anything to save himself.
He was aroused from this nightmare by a loud pounding upon the door.
At first he imagined it was some one coming to his relief. Half dazed
he groped his way across the room, threw open the door and peered out
into the night.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
"It's only me," came a voice which he recognised at once as Betty's.
"Oh, Mr. Jasper, have you seen Mr. David?" she asked.
"Seen Mr. David!" Jasper exclaimed in surprise. "I haven't seen him
since I left him last night on the road near the Haven. Didn't he go
home?"
"No, he didn't, and that's the reason I'm here. I waited up for him
and when he didn't come back, I started out to find him."
"You stay there a minute," Jasper ordered, as he closed the door and
turned back into the room. Lighting a lamp, he was astonished to find
that it was near midnight. It took him but a few moments to dress, and
then he again threw open the door and stepped out into the night.