Litchfield enquirer., 1872-08-29

one on us but ud leave limb behind to save thee, but theer is na time -theer is na-"
 One deep groan and he lay still again quite still God knows what weight of mortal agony and desperate terror crushed him in that dead, helpless pause !. Then his eyes opened as before. , ssTve thowt O deein, he said with 8 queer catch of his breath. s'I've thought o'deein,, and I've wondered how it wor an what it felt like. I never thowt O deein like this here" Another pause and then ,s.s ss sss...z < s.s.s.-, .'1s. 4..s-s.
 (Which O 70 lads Il tell my missns2"
 ssAy! poor chap, poor chapl" walled the women. "Who on 'em wiII?e' sFa
 s.Howd tha noise, wenches," he said hoarsely. To daze me- Theer is ma time to bring her here. I'd ha' liked to ha' said word to her. I'd ha' liked to ha' said one word; Jem Coulter" raising his voice etcanst tha say it fur me?' Aye, cried the man, choking as he spoke, 'ssurely, surely" And he knelt down. z
 ssTell her at fit wor bad enow-this here-it wor not so bad as 1t thought ha' been-fur me. I thought ha fun 1t wors- CT. Tell her I'd like to ha' said 8 word ii Il her say one word as happen she would ha' said if she'd been here. an tell her at if she had ha' said it tn tide mought ha' comm an welcome-hut she didna, an theer it stands" And the sob that burst | from his breast was like the sob of g death stricken child. "Happen"-he said next-'' ''happen one O 70 women foak say 1 bit O prayer-yo're not so fur fro safe sand but 70 can reach it-happen one O yo ha' word or two as yo could say l such like as yo teach yo're babbies. Among these was one who had-thank God, thank God!-and so, amid walls and weeping, rough men and little children alike knelt with uncovered heads and hid den eyes while this one woman faltered the prayer that was a prayer for dying man; and when 1t was ended, and all rose glancing fearfully at the white line ol creeping foam, this dying man for whom they had prayed lay upon his death-bed of sand the quietest of them all-quiet with strange calm.
 "Bring me my jacket" he said, Gan lay it OCT my face. Theer's bit O a posie in tn button-hole. I getten it out O tn missus's garden when conn away. I'd like to hold 1t | my hand if it's theel yet"
 And as the long line of white came creeping onward they hurriedly did as he told them-laid the rough garment ovel his face and gave him the humble dying flowers to hold, and having done this and fingered to the last moment, one after the other dropped away with awe-strickeI souls until the last was gone. And under the arch of sunny sky the little shining waves ran up the beach, chasing eacl over the gittering sand, catching at shells and sea-weed, toying with them for a mo- ment and then leaving them, ripping and curling and whispering, but creeping creeping-creeping.
 l They gave his message to the woman he had loved with all the desperate strength o1 his dull yet unchanging nature; and when the man who gave 1t to her saw her wild, white face and hard-set lips, he bluHdered upon some dim guess as to what that single word might have been but the sharpest of them never knew the stubborn anguish that, following and grow ing day by day, crushed her fierce vii and shook her heart She had said sht would never forgive him, and perhaps her very strength made it long before shs did; but surely some subtle chord was touched by those heavy last words, fol when, months later, her first love came back, faithful and tender, with his ole tale to tell, she would not listen.
 May, lad," she said, '1 anna a feather to blow wi tn wind. I've had my share O trouble wi men foak, an ha' no minG to try again. Him as lies f tn, church yard loved me f his way-men foak's way is apt to be poor un-an' I'm wore out wi life. Dunnot come here courtin'- tok' better woman"