The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-28

with the curtains Of tho night, and tho
accustomed tone had returned again. I
arose and threw open my window. De-
liciousl 1t was calm, bright Sabbath
morning in May. The dew-drops gilt
tered on the grass; the fragrance Of the
apple-blossoms which covered tho trees
foated up to me, and the notes Of a
hundred birds discoursed music to my
ear. By the rays just shooting up in
the eastern verge knew that the sun
would be risen in moment. I hastily
dressed myself, performed my additions
and sailed forth to take q morning
walk.
Sweet, yet Sleepy scene! No ono
seemed stirring. The placid influence
of the day was even now spread around,
quoting everything and hallowing
everything. I sauntered slowly onward,
with my hands folded behind me. I
passed round the edge of hin, On tho
rising elevation. on top of which was a
battle-ground. On my left, through an
opening in the trees, could 500 at some
distance the ripple of our beautiful bay;
on my right was the large and ancient
field for the dead. stopped and leaned
my back against the fence, with my
face turned toward tho white marble
stones few rods before me. All saw
was far from new to me; and yet pom
dered upon it.
The entrance to that place Of tomhs
was a kind of arch-a rough-hewn, but
no doubt a hardy piece Of archite cture
that had stood winter and summer over
the gate there, for many, many years
o fearful arch! if there were for thee q
voice to utter what has passed beneath
and near thee; If the secrets of tho
earthly dwelling that to thee are known
could be by thee disclosed. whose ear
might listen to the appalling story and
its poescssor not go mad with terrorl
Thus thought I; and strangely
enough, such imagining marred not in
the least the sunny brightness which
spread alike over my mind and over the
landscape. Involuntary. as l unused, my
look was cast to the top Of the hill. I
saw figure moving. Could some one
beside myself be out SO early, and
among the tornbs? What creature odd
enough in fancy to find pleasure there.
and at such tune? Continuing my gaze.
I saw that the figure was woman. She
seemed to move with q slow and
feeble step passing and rerassing
constantly between two and tho
same graves, which were with
in half rod of each other. She would
bend down and appear to busy herself
with the one. and then she would rise
and go to the second. and bend there
and employ herself as at the
first. Then to the former one and
then to the second Occasionally the
figure would pause moment. and
stand back little. and look steadfast-
ly down upon the graves. as if to see
whether her work were done well.
Thrice saw her walk with tottering
gait and stand midway between the
two and look alternately 1t each. The.
she would go to one and arrange seme-
thing and come baok to the midway
place, and gaze first en- tho right and
then on the left, as before. The figure
evidently had some trouble in suitiny
things 30 her mind. Where stood,
could hear no noise OF her footballs; nor
could l see accurately enough to tell
what she was doing. Had supersti-
tious man beheld the spectacle. he
would possibly have thought that some
spirit Of the dead. allowed the night be-
fare to burst iiA aananAni. and Ua.-