The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-18

man. 'sFnolsl mrrderersi stand backr'
cried Paul Elchari, and he caught the
dropping form and laid it back upon tho
pillow.
SOpen that window!'' he shouted. "Lct
| IN the air! Now leave the room! You've
done your worst: you've killed himr'
The men fell bacs aghast on all sides.
Trean was lying in faint at the edge of the
bed, with an arm reached out about her
fathers body, and Mrs. Smoot came hasten
ing in from the orchard, where. as with
Elchard, who had paused to talk with his
man at the gate, Trcan's screams of con-
sternation had reached her.
ssThe brandy from the cupboard, please.
Mrs. Smoot.- said Elchard. quickly. as the
lady appeared at the door snow. You men
no. will not call you men, he cried. in
his hot ire: but the brandy was put in his
hand as he spoke and he returned to the
bed. "Please take charge of Miss Hart
man, Mrs. Smoot, she has tainted. Twill
see If your father can be revived and he
worked swiftly. wetting the ashen lips and
the pulseless temples and wrists with the
LIQUOR Then he laid his hand over the
man s heart: the spirit was still family f1ut-
tering it. and he lifted the helpless head a
little with pillows and began chatting the
cold hands again. But moment afterward
he sought the heart again. and it was still.
The breath Of life. with PRAYER, or song, or
bearing words Of love or anger. had ceased
its journeyings over Burl Hartman's lips
for ever.
Elchard looked Of the men clustering
with frightened faces about the door. but he
said nothing: be was in the presence of
death. irean was lying with her dropping
head in her sisters lap, and he turned to
her. A moment later. responding to the
sharp liquor. the blood came bounding into
the girls white checks and gray lips. aud her
eyes opened. Those orbs. which to Elchard
were sweeter than the stars, had come to
shine of late with clear violet light. but
now they were sonber and misty with ser-
row. she did not seem to sec ElchaTd. but
rose with wavering movement and turned
her face toward her father. She did not
cry out. but her face flashed white again,
and she staggered back at the sight. Then
she turned toward the men about the door,
and the love and pity and fright died out Of
her face. Through few brcaths she stood
looking at them like queen frozen with
rage, then she walked out through the
rooms and, opening the street door wide,
stood b. it silent and impcrious.
One by one the poor fools who had prayed
so fatally skunk by her and passed out into
the sunshine. Some of them paused before
her with stam,nered apology az they went,
but she did not move her lips to answer,
only stood still and looked straight before
her with bitter contempt. When they were
gone she closed the door. and then sank
down upon a chair and seemed to break her
heart with sorrow. Elchard came and put
hon har and ch a ND
weakly into the dead mans room. and fall
ing upon her knees, laid her head down on
his breast and Inoaned and sobbed in desc
lation. The elder sister was lZnccling there.
too. in fearful homage. and Elchard softly
passed out and closed the door in silence.
leaving them with their dead. The hour
was theirs; he felt it sacred, and that no
one could share it.
When a week had gone, Trcan locked the
door and passed out through the gate by her
sister 8 side. Her father had been borne
through throng by this same path to the
little burying- ground upon the mountain
bench four days previous, and Elchard had
gone to the Grey Peak mines at sunset
the day before, promising to meet his
betrothed at Mrs. Shoots in Salt Lake City,
the third evening af;erward. Then. if the
way seemed open, they had planned to leave
these slavish valleys for the freedom of the
East. But dragons. lying in wait. were all
about them in human gUisc. Elchard felt
this now: but in Trcan the sense of dread
and insecurity had been for the time all but
obliteratcd by sorrow.
She had chung to Richards companion
ship and aid through all the heavy heart
breaking week that had gone by. seemingly
oblivious in her grief and need of some one
she trusted to lean upon. that their dam
gers might be augmented by his presence.
And Elchard. unable to break away from
the woman he loved in her sore bereavement,
had remained directing and aiding in all
things unweariedly.
Many bitter looks had been gwen him by
the El6ership of Mooseneck Stake. but he
had affected no concern. Smoot had come
from lions capital on the day of the funer-
al, with an important city-air about his per-
son. and, contrary to his intentions, had re-
turned the same day. He could not bring
himself TO affiliate with 4 hated Gentle
in such close relationship: besides.
the hated Gentle. and even his own
wife paid him little heed. 50 why
should nc remain! The lack of atten-
ton a, this point. however. should seeming
" have caused him little concern. as three
other women, celestiaily sealed 20 him for
time and eternity, awaited his return,
and his great heart was even now sweet
cncd by the contemplation of scaling TO him
self a fifth. But he had aimed a. remaining
long enough to have himself appointed ad-
nlinistrater of the little estate, yet that
could be seen to farther on: In the mean
time he would see the Prophet about this
young interloper in Zion.
l,,2l ofN
save as an onlooher at the cemetery. This
fac: occasionei comment indeed, but it was
exactly as he wished: it gave him la,i-
tude of action in another direction which
deep down in his black heart he vas hun
all should know why he did not attend upon
the dead as seemed his duty. They should
hear, as he had already stated to some. that
the apos;ate daughter of Burl Hartman had
ordered him OF the premises when he had
called to counsel her in regard to her waver-
ing faith. They should hear that she had fall
en- indeed. fallen into shame, as well as IN
belief, from love of an unbeievi2g scoffcr,
and that By the reQues. of her sainted faith
or, the injunction of the Prophet, and the
commands Of duty, she had been saved
by the shedding Of her own blood. This,
and more, should be known TO his people
should the deadly thing he contemplated
ever reach the general light
But Trean Hartman rode away in the car
rage with her sister that dag with no
thought of the dangers that were thicken-
ing about her young life. She hoped to
come back TO this rude but dear old home
once more before she parted from il forever,
but it might be that she coald not. and
her heart bled with the parting.
So they r,oic on in silence and when they