The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-22
WHITE EARTH AGENCY, SATURDAY JUNE r. 1889

dissatisfied with myself as these refiection1
proceeded, and tried to excuse my c0nduc4
by the plea that the news had come HpOh
me SO suddenly that I had no time for tle
calm reflection necessary to q change a
plan. My conscience was q stern monitor;
and would not excuse me SO easily. 81 e
would never have acted thus toward you,ss'
was its comment upon my apologies.
tossed about uneasily; proposed in my
mind that / would get off at. Cleveland and
return home; resolved the next me
ment that would do nothing Of tbs
kind, but would send long tel.
egram to the widow, explaining tie
necessity of my absence and rendering my
sympathy; decided next that this would II
an absurd thing L do-and at last fell a
sleep with nothing settled u. hen Ii yokf
/ WAS three hundred miles from home, IND
Cleveland was an hour behind me- I tried
to put away ali thoughts of Sparkling, anl
fix my mind on business.
1t would not do. The man who attempts
to fight battle with his conscience is al.
ways in the wrong, always sure of defeat.
Moreover, that kind of contest will ex.
clude every thing else from his mind till it
is settled. w hen the train reached Cincin.
natl / was conquered. Letting my baggage
go on left the car, and.in q fever of i'm.
patience walked the station until I could
take a return train. sss
From the probabilities of such occasions /
mad settled it i'll my mind that Sparling
would be buried on the afternoon Of the
third, day from that of his death. Time-ta-
bles were studied, conductors Intercepted,
and 1T was .n.lde certain that / ought in due
course to reach home at three O'clock in the
afternoon Of that day.
That would be a very close thing, I reflect
ed. There would be, probably, only time
for me to take carriage and join, the pro-
cession to the cemetery. Much distressed
in mind, I resolved to do this, if circum.
stances admitted Of nothing more
But even this poor privilege was denied
me. There were lnadlcnlng delays and
;detentloGs; it was not until midnight of the
third day that I left the train ut the home
station
My state of mind admits of no descrip-
tlon feared to learn the truth; I would
not inquire if the funeral had yet taken
place. There were no carriages there at
that hour and walked alone through the
deserted streets
There was u full moon and the gas lamps
were not lighted. But the time was july,
and the foliage often vailed the moonbeams
The force of habit led me through the
street where Sparkling had lived. would
not think Of chilling at that nntimely hour
Unjust learn the particulars Of the funeral
at home, but in my rctnorseful condition OF
mind itscemcl to me the correct thing to
do to walk slowly past the house of the
mourning, and abase my soul before it..
AS nearcd the gate Isaw tall figure
leaning on it. Tho form and the attitude
were SO familiar to me as to strike me
through with terror. i halted abruptly
The face was slowly turned toward me.
It looked white in the vague moonlight; pale
and very sorrowful It was Sparling's
/ grew cold from head to foot. With what
little strength was left me tried to cross
the street.
A timorous glance back over my shoulder
showed me that it was following me. Swift
~, straight it came after me.
could have prayed for wings to fly with
me away from the terrors Of that place.
It-what name could give that thing?-
overlook me. The pale countenance still
looked reproachful, rebukeful.
:. For Gods sake, Ezra, / cried, g don't
| come back and hannt5me! was wrong, but
you know have tried - 81 ss}
A smile broke over the sad face; so like
his smile. In the sudden revulsion Of my
feelings I tainted.
500
Somebody famed me with a hat. / opened
ny eyes; it was leaning over me.
= Now what the matter, Joe p, q familiar
voice cheerfully inquired. g l thought you
| were off for the South three days ago. And
what dye mean by. lodging away from me
IN this fashion!'
I sat up.
/" Ere, said, grasping his hands in SOL.
emn 10y, you have come back to me as one
from the grave"
I" Ho! You heard the false alarm, did
youa Nothing but ridiculous newspaper
mistake, founded on the death of poo. old
Bunting, next door, who's been dying for
two or three years. couldn't sleep this
hot night, sol came out here to get some
air. Now you're back and find me alive,
hadn't you better put off YOU, trip till the
weather cools!'- james Fra,4kli,s Fits, IN N
ter 0tcGn. rs