Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-06-04

THEY CONSIGNED HIS BODY TO THE DUST
nature around them-nature, who is SO
careless of life.
Men had been "struck down in the
storm of human passions as the. Light
ming strikes the oak when the tempest
RACES" and their life and death were
forgotten.
This death, however, was something
different, and there was a pathos in it
which touched these rude men,
They prepared sandy's body for the
grave which they dug under tall pine
In their primitive cemetery, and on a
bright Sunday afternoon, the day after
his death, they carried the implanted
pine box which held his mortal re-
mains to their last resting place
1t was an impressive scene, the
towering background of mountains and
forest, the struggling town and the
brawny men in flannel shirts and top
boots with pistols on their hips, stand
| ing beside the open grave, at whose
head stood the pale-faced girl in her
uncouth dress, all listening with sol
emn faces while Gaines read chapter
/ from a pocket bible and spoke few
words setting forth the briefness of
life and the lesson which the patiently
endured suffering through which the
dead man had passed contained for
them all. Then they consigned his
body to the dust and quietly dispersed.
Come, dear" said Gaines TO Barb,
who stood still at the head Of the new
made grave, "let us go. You have a
question to answer for me, and your
utter loneliness, forgive me, dear, if [
pain you, makes it imperative that you
should answer it now"
The girl seated herself upon the grave,
with a white, set face, turned away
| from the speaker, but made no answer.
Gaines bent over her as if to assist
her to rise. Come, dear" he said again.
| firmly but gently.
She flung out her arms with gesture
of passionate entreaty
leave me alone with himl" she cried,
"only a little while, or my heart will
break. Come to me tonight" and she
made a gesture in the direction of her
home, IAN III answer you. but not
now. OH not now"
Gaines bowed his head in assent,
awed by the intensity of the girls feel
ings, and left her alone with her dead.
The shadows of evening were falling
when Barb YEARLY and slowly climbed
the slope upon which stood the two
cabins. She saw as she neared Capt.
| GEORGES that the curtain before the
window was rolled up and the door
stood ajar.
at is Sold" she said to herself, and
her sad heart grew yet heavier and her
slow step slower.
When she entered the low door of her
own cabin her heart gave a throb OF
terror, for, in front of the empty fire.
place, in her fathers chair. sat figure.
She sank into a seat, gazing with di-
lated eyes The figure rose and with
outstretched arms approached her.
Little 'un," said a familiar voice,
"Pm sorry for We from my heart
heard about it in the town, my poor
Barb"
It was he, George. the only one in all
the world who could comfort the girl in
her grief
She stared at him as if he were an
apparition-
"Is-can it be-you?" she murmured.
Indeed it is" he said, grasping her
| hand heartily.
But where Is she-your-your wife?"
81 have no wife, Barb; have had
trouble. too, my girl"
"She is not-dead?" gasped Barb,
sinking back into her chair.
George drew his own chair to Barb's
side. He saw that she was suffering
under mental strain that might prove
| disastrous If her mind were allowed to
dwell upon her grief. His resolution
was quickly made: he would tell her