St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-01-28

that some spirit Ol Tue ueatl, dlioWcu Tic
night before to burst its ceremcnts and
wander forth in the darkness, had been
belated in returning, and was now per
picked to find its coffin house again.
Curious to know what was the
woman's employment, Iundid the simple
fastenings of the gate, and walked over
the rank, wet grass toward her. AS
came near | recognized her as an old, a
very old inmate of the poorhouse at
Delarer. Stopping moment, while
was yet several yards from her, and be-
fore she saw me, | tried to call to recol-
lection certain particulars of her history,
which | had heard a great while pa.
She was native of one of the West
India Islands, and, before !, who gazed
at her, was born, had with her husband
come hither to settle and gain liveli-
hood. They were poor; most miserably
poor. Country people, | have noticed.
seldom like foreigners. So this man and
his wife, in all probability, met much to
discourage them. They kept up their
spirits, however, until at last their for
tunes btcame desperate. Famine and
want laid iron fingers upon them. They
had no acquaintances, and to beg they
were ashamed. Both were taken i'll;
then the charity that had been so slack
came to their destitute abode, but came
too late. Delarer died, the victim of
poverty. The woman recovered after
awhile, but for many months was quite
an invalid, and was sent to the almshouse,
where she had ever since remained.
This was the story of the aged creature
before me; aged with the weight of sew
enty winters. walked up to her. By
her feet stood large, rude basket, in
which | behold .@avcs and buds. The
two graves which had seen he passing
between so often were covered with flow
ers-the earliest, but sweetest flowers Of
the season. They were fresh and wet and
very fragrant-those delicate soul offer
ings. And this, then, was her employ
ment. Strange! Flowers. frail and pass
ing, grasped by the hand of age, and
scattered upon the tomb! White hairs,
and pale blossoms, and stone tablets OF
death!
"Good morning, madam" said /,
quietly.
The withered female turned her eyes to
mine and acknowledged my greeting IN
the same spirit wherewith it was given.
"May | ask whose graves they are that
you remember so kindly?'
She looked up again, probably catching
from my manner that spoke in no spirit
of rude inquisitiveness, and answered:
"My husband's.h
A manifestation of fanciful taste,
thought |, this tomb ornamenting which
she probably brought with her from
abroad. Of course, but one of the graves
could be her husbands, and one, likely,
was that of a child who had died and
been laid away by its father.
"Whose ejsc?" asked.
MY husbands" replied the aged
widow.
Poor creature! her faculties were be-
coming dim. No doubt her sorrows apa
her length in life had worn both MINI
and body nearly to the parting.
eyes, | know continued |, mildly,
"but there are two graves. One is your
husbands and the other isl
Ipaused for her to ill the blank.
She looked at me minute, as if in
wonder at my pervcrseness, and then
answered as before: ''My husbands.
None but my Gilbert's.'
'And is Gilbert buried in both?' said I.
She appeared as if going to answer,
bat stopped again and did not. Though
ny curiosity was now somewhat excited,
forebore 10 question her further, feel
ng that it might be to her painful sub
ect. ] was Srong, however. She had
)ecn rather agitatcd at my intrusion, and
Ter powers tiickcrcd for moment They
we're soon steady again, and perhaps
gratiticd with my interest in her affairs,
he gave me in a few brief sentences the
olution of the mystery. When her hus-
,and's death occurred she was herself
onfned to a sick bed which she did not
cave for q long while after he was buried.
till longer days passed before she had
remission, or even strength, to go into |
he open air. When she did, her first !
forts were cssayed to reach Gilbert's |
When she rod panng sunk to her heart |
nut to her! With the carefttase I Rented
nee which is shown to the corpses Of |
utcasts, poor DeIarcr had been thrown
nto hastily dug hole, without anyone
oting, or noticing it, Or remembering
which it was.
Subsequently, several other paupers
'ere buried in the same spot, and the
exton could only show two graves to
he disconsolate woman and tell her that
er husband was positively one of the
vain. During the latter stage of her
ecovery she had looked forward to the
onsolation of coming to his tomb as to
shrine, and wiping her tears there; and
was bitter that such could not be. The
liserable widow even attempted to OBJ
lin the consent of the proper function
ries that the graves mi ght be opened.
nd her anxieties put at rest, When
Did that this could not be done, she de-
in her soul that at least the
of her hopes and intentions
1ould not be given up.
Every Sunday morning, in the mild
ason, she went forth early and gathered
esh flowers and dressed both the graves.
, She knew that the fight one was |
red for even if another shared that
re. And lest she should possibly be- {
ow the most Of their testimony of love
! him she knew not, but whose spirit a
light be looking down invisible in the {
and smiling upon her, she was very I
reful to have each tomb adorned in S
exactly similar manner. In a strange
nd and among q strange race, it was
Re communion with her own people to 5
sit that b,1riaI mound I
'lf | -conld only know which to bend !.
er when my heart feels heavy" thus Il
lshed the sorrowing being as she rose g
depart; "then it would be happi- q
IS But nnrhnnc I nm, Hid ID