Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-01

neglect was visible. SOmetlmeS NJ ngHt
were overheard, by chance passer-by,
cries and sobs from that ill-omened dwell
ling. Tom Chuff was now often drunk,
and not very often at home, except when
he came in to sweep away his poor wife's
earnings.
Tom had long lost sight of the honest
old parson. There was shame mixed with
his degradation He had grace enough left
when he saw the thin figure of 1t sir !"
walking along the road to turn out of his
way and avoid meeting him. The clergy
man shook his head, and sometimes groan-
ed, when his name was mentioned. dis
horror and regret were more for the poor
wife than for the relapsed sinner, for her
case was pitiable indeed.
Her brother Jack Everton, came over
from Hexley, having heard stories OF all
this, determined to beat Tom, FOR ms III.
iireatmeat of his sister, within an inch of
his life. Luckily, perhaps, for all concern.
ed, Tom happened to be away on one OF
his long excursions, and poor Nell be-
| sought her brother, in extremity OF terror,
not to interpose between them. SO he
| took his leave and went home muttering
and sulky.
Now it happened few months later
that Nelly Chuff fell sick. She has been
ailing, as heart broken people do, for a
good while. But now the end had come.
There was a coroner's inquest when she
died, for the doctor had doubts as to
whether blow had not, at least, fastened
her DEATH Nothing certain, however,
| came of the inquiry. Tenn Chuff had left
his home more than two days before his
| wife's DEATH He was absent upon his law
| less business still when the coroner had
held his quest.
Jack Everton came over from Hexley to
| attend the dismal obsequies OF his sister.
He was more incensed than ever with the
| wicked husband, who, one way or other,
had fastened Nelly's death. The inquest
had closed early in the day. The husband
had not appeared.
An occasional ompanion-perhaps /
ought to say accomplice-Of Chuff's hap
pened to turn ND. He had left him on the
borders of Westmoreland, and said he
would probably be home next day. But
Everton affected not to believe it. Per
haps it was to Tom Chuff, he suggested,
secret satisfaction to crown the history OF
bis bad married life with the scandal OF his
absence from the funeral Of his neglected
and abused wife.
Everton had taken on himself the direc-
ton of the melancholy preparations he
had ordered grave to be opened for his
sister beside her mothers, in Shackleton
churchyard, at the other side Of the moor.
For the purpose, as have said, OF marking
the callous neglect of her husband, he de-
termined that the funeral should take place
that night His brother Dick had accom-
panied him, and they and his sister, with
Mary and the children, and couple OF
the neighbors, formed the humble cortege.
Jack Everton said he would wait be-
hind, on the chance Of Tom Chuff's COM
ing in time, that he might tell him what
had happened, and make him cross the
moor with him to the funeral. His real
object, think, was to infict upon the vii
lain the drubbing he had so long wished
to give him. Any how, he was resolved,
| by crossing the moor, to reach the church
| yard in time to anticipate the arrival OF the
| funeral, and have few words with the
vicar, clerk, and sexton, all old friends OF
his, for the parish of Shackleton was the
place of his birth and early recollections.
But Tom Chuff did not appear at his
house that night. In surly mood, and with
out shilling in his pocket, he was making
his way homeward His bottle OF gin, his
last investment, half emptied, was, with its
HtCh USUAL oh SuSh iS'oh',
in his coat pocket.
His way home lay across the Moor of
Catstean, and the point at which he best
knew the passage was from the ehHfehyard
Of ShackietOn. He vaulted the low wall
that forms its boundary, and strobe across
the graves, and over many a flat, halfburied
tombstone, toward the side OF the church
yard next Catstean Moor.
The old church of Shackleton and its
tower rose, close at his right, like black
shadow against the sky. 1t was a moonless
night but clear. BY this time he had
reached the low boundary wall, at the other
side, that overlooks the wide expanse of
Catstean Moor. He stood by one of the
huge old beech trees, and leaned his back
TO It's smooth trunk. Had he ever seen the
sky look so black, and the stars shine out
and blink so wildly There was a death
like silence over the scene like the hush
that precedes thunder in sultry weather
The expanse before him was lost in utter
blackness. A strange quaking unnerved
his heart. 1t was the sky and scenery OF
his vision! The same horror and misgiv-
ing! The same invincible fear of ven
| turing from the spot where he stood. lie
would have prayed if he dared. His
sinking heart demanded a restorative of
sOHlc SoTt anu TIC gIdspcu tho Dotic III hIo
coat pocket. Turning to his left, as he did
so, he saw the piled up mould of an open
grave, that gaped with its head close to the
base of the great tree against which he was
| leaning
He stood aghast. His dream was re-
| turning and slowly enveloping him.
| Everything he saw was weaving itself into
| the texture of his vision. The chill of
| horror stole over him.
A faint whistle came shrill and clear
| over the moor, and he saw figure APP
preaching at swinging trot, with a zig
gag course, hopping now here and now
there, as men do over a surface where one
has need to choose his steps. Through the
jungle of reeds and bulrushes in the fore
ground this figure advanced; and with
the same unaccountable impulse that had
coerced him i'm his dream, he answered the
whistle of the advancing figure.
On that signal it directed its course
straight toward him. 1t mounted the low
wall, and, standing there, looked into the
graveyard.
"Who med answers" challenged the