The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-09-26

| not yield 10 the temptation Ol RolHs up iiioe
its head via the leg. They walked through
the Hall of Fame at The back of the statue,
But sightseeing did them no moro good than
Franks forced gayety. They were both sad
III heart.
"Wh.re shall we go nowF' asked Frank
rs they came back to the iiacre. rs there
any hing else to see about here" He couched
/ ills question in curious German, AMI adj
dressed the driver The driver sail the
| great south cemetery was not far oil.
IL don't ike cemeteries sal Frank
doubtfully
II do" said Bcatrce. s. thoy drove ac-
cordng 10 her wish.
They passed under the great arched en-
trance to the place Of tombS Beatrice, who
was now deep in sad thoughts, looked
neither to the right nor left-and Frank was
loOling only at Beatrice They walked
straight into tie great open space, and for
awhile, with the bright May sun shining
down on them wandered about the forest
of tombs which, after the manner Of oil
continental memorial stones, looked unfldy
from the withcrcd or tawdry wrcaths VIII en-
had been placed on them last All Souls Day,
and left to decay mt ease. Carruthers was
somewhat disappointed in the cemetery.
Although this was his first visit to Munich
lie fancicd he had read or heard that tins
cemetery was one of the finest in Europe.
He told Beatrice he was disappointed.
'tPcrhaps the finest monuments are under
the p.aZza,' she said.
They walked across to the broad piazza
which runs round the center space. As
Beatrice had 'us IeCted, the finest and most
costly and artistic monuments were AGAINST
the wall Some of them were magnificent
works of art but CarruthcrS paid them
scant attention. Whether 1t was the mel.
anchOly surroundings or the strain which
at Beatrce's wish he had put upon himself
to lie p their conversation away from the
subject ever upp'rmust IN their hearts, ha
could not tell but it seemed TO HIM that at
this moment his sorrow was more unen-
durable. more abiding than ever
9Th 81 he muttered "To this it all
comes. The end Of love, the end Of ambi-
tion, OF wealth, Of poverty, of pain, of JOY.
All come 10 If. and other men and women
walk over cur graves and wonder who We
were Beatrice! EeatricrW he cried, in
voice of exquisite agony, 1--WE can live but
once and our lite is HastedV
Bravely as lie lad borne himself Carruth-
ers had nj last broken down.
Beatrice started These words were the
first which had been wrung from him which
implied the -lghtest reproach. 1t only
wanted this to comp'e,e her misery. She
bent her head aud the tears ran from her
ewes. Then sh' ookad at Frank with pitt
full, appealing ,oze which went straight to
his heart.
II was a foo-a weak fool" he said.
Forgive me-
mo, you are wise. Oh, why was ever
bornY
Let us CO. said Frank. 81 hate this
abode of dead mortality"
So with heavy hearts they walkel along
the broad piazza toward the entrance to the
cemetery. Somehow their hands met, and
they went hand III hand
Neither spoke. Canuthers was telling
himself that he was weaker than he thought,
that he coul | not bear the situation longer.
IIo would see Beatrice safe in England. He
would Sc, this man and insure her future
peace. Then he would-hc must leave her
To see her. hear her voice, touch her hand,
vet know she could not be his was more
than he could ask himself to bear.
SO rs they walked down that piazza they
felt that they were bidding each other
farewell which might well be eternal. No
wonder their hands refused to part.
As they drew near to the entrance they
passed what was to all appearance shop
with plate glass front opening on the paZ-
"a In front of it were two or three men
and women ami several children; the last
named on tp-toe, and hattening their fiat
Tcu,onic noses against the glass Frank
also glanced that way and saw such a curious
sight that in spite OF his preoccupation, he
stopped.
A little way inside the glass was arranged
on banks of evergreens and flowers what
seemed to be dozen dolls of various sizes
but all large for dolls, Each was dressed in
smart long robes with tinsel and other deco
rations, and each doll bore a large number
A curious sight! Carruthers drew near and
then the truth flashed upon him. They were
dead babies There, each in its little nest of
leaves and flowers, they lay awaiting the
day Of burial.
''They are deadr said Frank, turning to
Beatrice.
Yes remember hearing it was the
custom here to let them wait like this; but
forgot all about i. A horrible custom, is
IL notF
Is it n horrible custom' If startling to
n,
lish custom of letting the poor dead thing
lie for days in an upper chamber, lie there
often until the last sight ono carries away
Of the loved one is a sight to be forgotteni
Who has not known those fearful days
which preceie an Eng ish funerali The
fearful room with its boxed up odor of
death striving with those of sweet scented
flowers, eau de Cologne and carbolic acid.
1t may seem harsh to bear away the poor
dead clay at once, but not 80 harsh as the
custom which jeopards health for the sake
of sentiment.
Is IL q horrible custom to think OF loved
ono exposed to the eyes Of the pubici Hor-
riblo at first sight to watch women bring
ing children and lifting them up to see what
lies behind the glass. But why should the
dead fear to face their follow creatures
gaze more than the livingi Why should the
living be taught that the sight Of death is so
to be dreadedi
But II the sight is horrible TO stranger it
Is fascinating. Notes all who visit the
Munich cemetery for the first time. IL they
peep in ut one window Of tho wartSaal they
will peep in at all. Beatrice AM Frank
formed no exception To this rule.
There are several of these windows In
the one next tbs babies they saw the body
Of all old priest he lay on his slanting
| bier Of evergreens dressed III his best
| clothes his cold hands holding the cructix