Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

HHYS LEWIS. 395
perspiration, I felt a sort of chuckle at the knowledge that he
■would torment me no more. Whatever might be the other
troubles in store, one half of the Ephialtic burden had been
lifted from off me. I hurried away from ih& scene. On find-
ing myself without the walls of the Old Bailey, I took a long,
deep breath and, as if unconsciously, murmured, " O blessed
liberty !"
In that part of the town the streets were quiet and still, and
I saw no living creature during the whole of the time I was
walking back and fore, like a soldier doing sentry duty, wait-
ing "Will Bryan. I walked and walked, my mind running upon
Bala, where I longed to be. Little did "Williams, whom I
fancied snug in bed, know where I was at that moment, or the
thoughts that were hovering around my heart. Had he known,
he would not have slept a wink. It had ceased raining now
for some time, and the moon shone forth. I was glad to see
her. I knew her, and believed she knew me, ever since I was
a child, and when I used to think we, Welsh people, owned her.
Will was such a long while in coming that, at times, I feared
something had happened to him, and that he would never come
at all. Occasionally I felt ready to faint with hunger ; but I
would speedily forget all that, and my musings would traverse a
considerable portion of my life. Looking back I saw God's hand
bringing me safe through many a distress. What purpose had
He in leading me hither ? My thoughts were tangled, but was
the dawn about to break ? Will was a long time coming ; but I
remembered mother used to say that every wait was a long one.
I fancied, in the distance, hearing the rumble of approaching
wheels, and set to listening intently. Were they Will's ? No,
for they went another way. A church clock near by struck
twelve. Presently I fancied hearing footsteps on the pave-
ment beyond, and bent my ear to catch the sound. Yes, some
one was approaching. He walked swiftly along, and whistled
as he went. To prevent suspicion I walked to meet him, in-
tending to return after he had passed. When within forty
yards or so of him the man broke out into song — part of a duet
entitled, if I remember rightly, "All's Well," in which the
questions and answers occur : "Who goes there ?" "A friend."
" The word?" " Good Night," &c. The singer was Will, whose
well-known voice brought my spirit healing.