Wichita daily eagle., 1886-04-17
A VILLAGE TRAGEDY.

In thatched hip-snded cottage that stood
end on to the road, directly opposite the
village church two women sat sewing, the
house door open. The cottage was pictur-
esque without and comfortable within II
had Gotbic-headed windows with diamond
loaded panes, and shutters to match The
wall outside and In was ochre-washed, the
woodwork tarred black, ye. there was no
sense of incongruity OF harshness. Perhaps
it was the fower-a forest Of them, nodding
proudly, almos. on the same level, to rarer
kinds inside, pressing against the glass
The sexton's wife looked up from her sew
ing and saw an old man tremulously lifting
the latch of the hand-gste
-Lisamon,' muTmured she to her town
sister on C. visit, this IS an old batchclor;
he's had one housekeepsr fifty years, anu
she was brought up by the old folk
why didn't he marry herr
@What & question to ask. I should think
he never thought OF such thing 1t is So
If two are brough. up together they never
do But l should think she's done so well
by him, he's never married anybody else
because there would have been the telling
her to go, and that lie wouldn't liks doing. "
@Hush" warned Lisamon, he's at the
door
@Co:ne in. Amos" shouted the sexton's
wife. The cordiaiity in her voice was
almost too patent Had she declared that
they had not been discussing him, her voice,
by its tone alone, would have inclined him
to discredit her. Nay, now, don't stop
pottering about TO wipe your feet Pm
sure we're not so point vice" particular.
The old man entered slowly, hat in hand
His hair was thin upon his head, but thore
was no sign OF badness Many man is as
gray at 10. But age revealed itself in the
pinched and puckered face, in the sunken
eyes and fallen mouth. in the bowed figure
and stiffened limbs He stood silent his
eyes downcast 1t seemed protractel time
before he spoke. but at last a sigh escaped
him, and be looked up with trouble in his
eyes and qUiver at his lips
"She's gomez he calculated disconsolately
"Gone!" echoed the sexton's wife; who's
cones"
Her sisters spectacles flashed question
ingIy.
She's dead" corrected hs with an access
Of sadness my housekeepsr, my faithful
friend Of fifty years or more. 'Tis sixty
Six years, come time since first my ewes
rested on her face"
Dear, dear, Amos, and didn't know she
was ailing. I'm sure I'd have come up IL
I'd known
There was no reason TO doubt the woman,
the sympathy and concern in her voice were
only too manifes.
1t has been swift Last Sabbath for
eught saw she was in her usual health
he paused a moment, then his voice ross
slightly, fervid and flute like-~but the hand
Of the Lord was upon her. / remember the
day first saw her. J could not I've more
than 10 years old She came to US q waif,
father dead, mother worse than dead We
were poor, it was a hard struggle to keep
body and soul together Ii was war time
and there was aimos. famine; now it seems
incredible how folk lived. There was a
question whether We should keep hsr,
whether it could be expected of US to keep
her My father wasn't harsh man, but he
considered there WIS the house Nv
mother wep:. The child came to me, and
child-lil>e sne put her hand in mine 1 was
shy, awkward lad, | was shame-facei, 1
mt know what to do with if, | let it
op. But my father had seen the action,
and it decided him She had claimed me as
brother and protector. My parents never
had reason TO regret their compassion |
It home and she became their stay Twas
say some few years; toiled and was
ugal, and laid by a few pounds Then
came to me a message from her NY father
was past work, the strain had been too
much for him, his mind was going, the Land
was being neglected. ! seemed to have a
prospect before me, but | could not SCI tnat
L could sIpporb them unless / returned
home
Together Hannah and | toiled. no day
too long for either of us We had reel to
work, the soil was poor and unremuner-
ative, but we were resolved to pay our way
and sickness in n house is costly When
my parents were dead. each one a handful
In turn, for some time did not know how
it would be. As now, the seasons were
agains: US, and the outlook gloomy. But
when everything was paid, we breathed
freer The years passed on, until it struck
me that Hannah was overworkeL in
sisted upon girl For long time shs re
sisted, but at last gave in to me, only she
thought il unjust that she should have help
and l should still labor single handed At
last found that you may burn candle at
both ends, and court illness All. she has
been my other self"
And you never marriedT murmured
Lisamon hastily, with parted lips There
was regret in her voice
"No, never married, said be. coldly re-
sentful Then he seemed to become dis
turbed, agitated il seemed to always
have something on my mind toto keep
such an idea out of it When might have |
thought of it-have married, was too in
tent struggling to keep the bailiff out Of the |
house, and the wolf from the door"
Lisamon's remark seemed to have come |
Tt in,
it had Jared upon him, given him discom |
fort Lisamon looking through her spec
tacles assumed that his narrative was com
pleted. That she had been interested she |
was only too wishful TO reveal
"Well, master" said she, Il shall 60 back |
home, and think Of you and what you've |
said for many long day
Amos Gee did not answer her He had |
had not spoken for effect He had felt the |
need of n listener, they were OF her Sex, ten
der and sympathetic BY nature He could |
not have so unburthensd himself to any |
You want tho be,lr sad the sexton.
wife.
Yea Every mark OF respect am wish
ful for her 10 have. 1t is all I can do for
her now. I've called az the carpenters,
and thu women have gone to wash her body
and lay it out for decent burial Thsp
must walk over to the town; was with her
when she breathed her last sigh
Il am sorry, Amos The masters gous
10 Owlsford with lead OF kids Ibuadls Of
irewoodl II shall be rung tonight
There was the fretful impatiencs OF
,hild in the old mans face
"Yoa couldn't ring il. could your
Its thing never have don, Amo,-
'Give me the belfry key. | will rim, il
When was boy | rang a bell TN
make no difference. said Amos, lsying |
iown a shilling significantly
Il wasn't thinking cl that, Amos, don't
hink it The key hangs behind the door.
There can be 10 great harm done Rs,nsm-
'er-its eight ior woman, and there's her
Age"
Poor old creature rnurInurei Lisamon.
Why didn't he marry, and have sons and
row He must feel as IL there
vas nobody 20 care FOR him
Ii was hard u say whether Amos Gs.
lad any one - care for him. The re spe
# the village WAS qualified To certain
x:ent his life had bsen self-containei. dis.
aucing Toll. thrift e. parsimoniousness,
lad enabled him 10 he thankful that for him
here was no fear OF the rsu,er's ALLOWANCE.
he paupsr's shelter, o. TIE papers grave.
nut his undertaking line in life had gained
i'm few friends. Yet Amos Tee was with.
u. the irritating sens. that there were
hose eagerly waiting 10 hear the soil rattle
n his co:iin-i'. He was not aware OF
i1gle tie Of blood
The is little - chooss between the day la
orer and the msn with the small holiins,