Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-13

why had be been rified of the goldP Something resembling n human foot print was discovered in the soft and messy soil at the streams 8 edge, but if it were that, the foot had evidently been unbooted. Then old Jade, look ing narrowly among the trees, found 8 strange circling abrasion in the bark of one of them; these were the only traces, the baffling hints, that rewarded the scrutiny of a score of curious, earnest eyes. Then the horse was brought, but this one dumb witness reared and trembled and refused to pass the place of mysterious horror. With wide eyes and nostrils dis tended, the fine beast that bore John Earling to his death, when urged upon the fatal spot, snorted and plunged with terror and dragged his attendant from the wood. Many at this shook their heads with dark and ominous looks, for the rein too had been found in the dead mans grasp torn clean from the bridle bit. So the day passed and ended in fruitless rum- region babbled with the mystery. But neither the whispering wood, plashed with the summers blood. nor the sol- emn river tlanked by the quiet mead ows, nor yet the unpolluted Till that came across the place of death as clear as stream of sounding air, gave up the dreadful secret. When the sur hung midway between noon and night, they buried John Earling under the three oaks upon the grassy ridge, look ing downward to the dwelling, and away over the billowing hills, the riv- CT and the rolling meads- This was the wife's request; and it SC med in some degree fitting, si-ce as old Jade growled in home ly phrase, with something like gathering rain beneath his shaggy eye brows, ''He lived above 'em all; he wus white, sur, plumb to the heart. Up there's where he belongs!" True, too, and surprising indeed, it was, with what celerlty and energy his virtues were exhumed by the whole communi- ty directly upon the event of his own interment. Perhaps the pitiful man. ner of his taking off in some sense eff fected this unusual flow of charity-as in truth it seems upon second consider ation, the reputation of every man is largely corrected and purified through the same channel-yet, being fairly scrutinized his honor seemed without a flaw, and the manner of his life emi- nently upright and decent, virtues in- deed impossible to overrate in the commendation of mortal graces.
 That Elizabeth Earling should notice human visage among all the faces that crowded the hillside, or that she should hear aught of the burial service, save the falling earth upon her hus- bands coffin, or even that she should feel the kind hands that led her homeward was not strange, so grief benumbed were all her faculties. Her fine life seemed wholly wrecked, with such shock had this measureless sor- row fallen among its tender cords. The heart, so sweet 8 harp, and that infinitely delicate instrument, her mind, seemed jared from their exquis- ite poise by this awful stroke, and rem | dered incapable of their old-time har- monies. Next morn she lay among her pillows too weak to rise, and wan as marsh vapor. When they brought the leaping child faint flame lit up her face. much as the gray light of the sky, falling through a cloud-rift, fleets across the world but does not move it. Some inward impulse it seemed thai surged into the pale face, but was all too weak to ripple it with smile; ol mayhap, a memory, seeming old tc her and long forgotten, but which 1T truth was of the child face but three days previous, such an eternity hao sorrow pressed into this narrow gull of time. Through a score of day. she lay quite motionless and spent the physician came and went, old Jade and Grandam Erric watched, the quicl feet of Hettie went to and fro, and ou under the apple-trees the perspiring Alb salon in perpetual hush played har lequin to the growing babe. Then ol morning in the mellow Octobe ins were calling about the fields, ant the wind came out of the wood like bath of some ethereal liquor, sh opened her eyes with glimmerin: look of reason in them, and the, brought the child. At sight of him
 filmy smile went over her face, and sh essayed to stretch out her hands, bu her strength was insufficient. What it?" she whispered. And the docto said very gently: ''You have been ill do not mind" and laid the child be side her, cheek to cheek. She turne, her head little and kissed the child and feebly lifted her eyes and whis
 uered again: "Where is John9"
 "He has gone away" said the doctor
 Twill he come soonp" she queried.
 "Not soon," answered he.
 "Then can not go to himP''
 "Yes. tomorrow, perhaps" and h
 turned his face away. Then the thi
 blue eyelids closed and she murmured
 contentedly: ''Yes, will go to-mol
 row. I know he will want me-" An
 when the morrow came, the spirit ths
 made her beautiful had gone softly or
 the gateway of this vast schooling
 place, and John Earrings history ha
 begun.
 CHAPTER III.
 A great and sincere pity stirred th neighborhood with this second sad vi