The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-30


fearful weight, and now, when IL was
lifted by his return, that the resources
Of her life were exhausted. The
change, not yet apparent TO other eyes,
was clear to his vision. So II is that
these silent spirits read each other.
AS tho warm weather advanced, the
strong woman became weak; and as the
June flowers began to bloom, she
ceased 10 move about much, and satthe
most OF each day in chair by The open
door. John managed the house and
talked with his mother. Her mind
changed with the relaxation Of her
physical frame. She no longer stroye
10 hide her tears, but, like q tired in
fant, would weep without restraint or
concealment, as shetold her SON Of the
early loves and romance Of her girlhood
life in q warm valley OF tho West. He
learned more OF his mothers heart in
those June days than he had surmised
from all he hnd known Of her before.
And he heunderstood what this predicted.
he felt that the heart nearest his own
was counting over the treasures Of life
ere 1t surrendered them forever.
There was no great scene when the
woman died. Itwasat evening, Just as
the July feryors were coming on. She
had wept much in the morning. Asthe
day grew warm she became very weak
and faint, and about noon was moved
by her son from her chair to hor bed,
and 30 died as the sun went down.
John was alone in the house when
she died. Since his return from Mon
treal, he had been made to feel that he
had but one friend besides his mother.
Only one neighbor had called upon
him, and that was Pete Searles. .He
had ever proved true. But John did
not like To trouble his one friend, who
lived two miles away, to come and stay
with him during the night. So he
lighted o candle, took down from 0
shelf alittle Bible and hymn-book that
he and his mother had carried on an
average about four times q year to q
school -house used as q church, some six
miles away, and so along with the dead
he spent the hours in reading and tears
and meditation.
In the morning he locked the door oi
his home and walked "oyer 10 Pete's.'
AS he met his friend, he said in clear
voice, but with eyes ayerted, "She has
gone, Pete---if you will just take the
key and 60 over there, I'll go down to
the lake and get the things, and tell
Downer, and wen have the funeral, soy
ION Thursday,
Pete hesitated o moment, then took
the key John offered him, and said,
sYes, John, ] will tell my woman, and
we will go over and fix II, and be there
when you come back" And so Johr
went on his way. "Downer" was the
minister, and the things were Q
coffin and . shroud.
On Thursday was the funeral. Pete
took care TO have all the people ,of the
neighborhood there, although II hardly
seemed as II John desired II. The
popular voice having once decided 1t,
held John as o murderer, and claimed
that he was cleared from the charge
only by the tricks Of his lawyers. John
knew Of this decision. AT the funeral
he was stern, cold, white, and statue
like. While others wept, but few tears
fell from his eyes, and even these Seem
cd wrung from him by IN anguish
for the most part suppressed or con-
cealed.
He chose that his mother should be
buried, not in the burying. ground
atthe settlement, but Upon their own
little farm where she had lived. And
so in o spot below the rocky ridge,
where wild yiolets grew, she was laid
10 rest.
John spent the night following the
funernl at Pete's house, then returned
to his own home, and from that time
his solitary life began. he took his
cattle and his sheep over to Pete's,
made all fast about his home, and re-
sumed his boating upon Lake Cham
plain. he fully realized that he waa
o marked man. he was advised, It
was said even by his own legal counsel,
to leave the country, and TO leave his
name behind him; but no words inau-
enced him. Firm and steady in his
course, strictly temperate and just, he
won respect where lie could cot gain
confidence. 1904
The years rolled by. Captain John
still was o beatman, and still. kept his
homo at the lonely Lighthouse on the
edge Of the great valley. From each
voyage he returned and spent q day and
night alone at the old place !; and Il was
noticed that q strong, high paling was
built around his mothers grave, and o
marble head stone was placed there,
and other flowers grew with the wild
yiolets. Even in winter, when there
was no boating and he boarded down
by the lake, he made many visits TO the
old homestead. His figure, which,
though youthful, was now growing
gaunt and thin as his mothers had
been, was often seen by Pete at night
fall upon the top Of q certain rocky
ridge, standing out clear and sharp
against the cold blue steel OF the winter
akS
John had no companions and sought
none. The young men and women OF
his set had married and settled in life;
he was still the same.
But there came 0 change. Eleven
years had passed sincethe mother died,
and it was June again. John was spend.
ing a day atthe old place once more.
He sat in the door, looking out on the
magnificent landscape, the broad lake,
and the dim line Of mountains away
across the valley. The lovely day
seemed TO cheer this stern. lonely man.
Three persons came upthe road; they
advanced straight to where John was
sitting. One ofthem stepped toryarsa,