The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-10-07

that moment. be haStened 10 speak again,
as If the sound Of his own voice were needed
to assure him Of the g~enuineness of the place
and scene.
"But how long has he been deadT' he
asked. "And his daughter; what became of
herr
The grave-digger Strengthened herself
to her full height, brushing back her
~wind-blown hair with one grimy hand, she
raised her face so that her deep-set eyes
were fixed upon the questioner's face.
$50 you knew Della Grimwetf' she said.
'When were you here beforei It'd go hard
for you to make heI' out now,i If it's long
since"
as she here stillf1 Farnsworth persisted,
ignoring her question.
"Yes,n the sexton replied, suddenly sinking
back into the unfinished grave asa frightened
animal might retreat into its den. Eyes; she
lives in the old place"
"Alonef'
'fHer and the boy"
He recoiled a step, as II the mention OF a
child startled or repealed him Yet to a close
observer it might nave seemed as if he were
making an effort to press her with further
questions. II so, his courage did not prove
sufficient, and he watched in silence while
the woman before him went steadily on with
her arduous work. Presently, however, he
advanced again toward the edge of the pit,
which was rapidly approaching com-
pletion under her familiar labor.
'Should l find her at home at this timer
he inquired. 'Or would she DO out at
workr'
.'she's out, most likely was the reply.
"She'l be at home along about shutdown"
Farnsworth fingered irresolutely a moment
OF two, as IL there were many things con-
| corning which he could wish to ask; but, as
the woman gave him no encouragement, he
turned at last and climbed the slippery,
ragged path up to the church, untethered
his horse, and drove slowly down the hill to
the village.
Cap'n Nat Hersey was Just coming out of
the village store, and to him Farnsworth ad-
dressed an inquiry where he might lind
| shelter for himself and horse.
"Well,n the cap'n responded, with the de
liberation Of a man who has very little to
say and his whole life to say it in, "well,
dunno but ye might get a chance with Wild
der Bemis, an 1 dunno as We could; but
there amt no harm trying, as l knows Of"
Further inquiry regarding the where
| abouts of the domicile of the Widow Bemis
led to an offer on the part of Cap'n Hersey to
act as pilot to that haven. He declined, how
ever, to take a seat in the buggy. The capn
had his own opinion of land-vehicles. A
man might with perfect assurance trust him
l SelI IN II DOlI Jul, loI Ills onh baANr bhO
cap'nh had no faith in those dangerous struct-
ures which roam about with nothing better
tllan dry land under them. He walked along
by the side of the carriage, conversing alta
bly, with the stranger under his convoy.
Isn't it a queer notion 70 ave a woman
for a sextonf' Farnsworth asked, as they
wcnded along.
"Well, yes the cap'n returned reflect
lively. Eyes, it is sort of curious Folks
mostly speak of it that comes here. 1t is
curious if ye look at it that way. But it all
come about as natural as a barnacle on a
keel. Old Sexton Grimwet kept getting con-
siderable feeble, and Della she took to help
ing him with his work. She was sort of
cut off from folks, as ye may say,
owing to having a baby and no father
to show for it, and she naturally took
to heaving anchor alone, or leastways along
with the old man. And when the old man
was taken down witt a languishment, she
turned to and did all his work for him
having gradually worked into it, as you may
say.n
The cap'n paused to recov Or from his
astonishment at having been Betrayed into
so long n speech; but as the stranger had the
air Of expecting him to continue, he presently
went on again;
There was them that wanted her turned
out when old Grimwet died. Some said a
woman of that character hadn't ought to
have no connection with the church, even to
digging its graves. But Parson Eaton he
was good for 'em-rve always noticed that
when these pious men get their regular mad
up they most generally have things their
own way; and he preached 'em a sermon
about the Samaritan woman, and Mary
Magdalene, and a lot more of them dis
reputable scripture women-folks, and,
| Ehnr,1h ba payar mnntinnaI nnlia Inv mama
they all knew what he was driving at, and
they wilted. Twas a pitiful sight to see the
girl a-digging her WI fathers grave up there.
Nc and Tom Tobey and lenas Fas ton took
hold and finished it for her.
They moved on in silence a moment or two.
F~arnsworth's gaze was fixed upon the dark
sning bay, and no longer Intercepted his
companion; but tho latter soon again took up
his narratives:
"'Twas well the parson, stood up for Dele,
too; women-folks is so cussed hard on each
other. They wouldn't ha' let the girl live, 1 be
lieve. | ALWAYS were of the notion there warn't
no harm in Dele. Some - city chap got the
better of her. She never was over-smart, but
she was awful pretty; and l never believed
there was any harm in her. At any rate, she
digs a grave as we'll as a man, and l guess
them that's in 'em don't lay awake none
thinking who tucked 'em in"
The house of the Widow Bemis was by this
time reached, and hat estimable lady, who
in the summer furnished accommodations to
a boarder whenever chat rare blessing was &c
be secured in kempton, readily UNDERTOOK
the charge OF Mr.. Farnsworth and his horse
for the night, Tn latter was gwen into the
care of her daughter, Tor the frequent ao-
sences OF the men had accustomed the damsels
of KemPton to those abors which IN iniand
villageslare more freq uently ieit 10 tneli