The record-union., 1894-10-27

is again; clearer, loader, more penetrat-
ing than beforei No wonder it beats and
pounds the miserable frame into writh-
ing mass within the age-eaten chair. 1t
is the sound of innocent mirth, ever a
fearsome trumpeting TO bigotry, envy
and greed; ringing Tor the first time in
half century now merry peal OF glad
ness through and through the whitened
skeleton Ot oIden hate-haunted hammock
Mause!
But listen! There is another and more
ominous sound to 'Struther kannock's
heart. Its solemn and vibrant peal is not
half through when the old man lungeS
from his chair, grasps the chimney piece
as II for support, mods piteously toward
the ghostly window panes, and staggers
through the library door into the dark
hallway beyond.
y moment more and wild soughing
OF the blast. as the outer door is closed,
tells that the man ofcoward heart and dark
purpose IS beating tremulously against
the wind and the innumerable phantoms
of the night, drawn by illimitable fear,
rather than by single strand of human
love or reverence, toward the gray old
church beyond the InOss-grown wall.
The light streams out upon him as he
passes the vast old kitchen, half filled
with the merry makers OF genial Hallow-
eeu. II cuts him like flame. The melo-
dlOus murmurS OF the place fill his ears
and he turns his head quickly as if from
a singing blow. What impetuous, sa-
cred, saving yOuthtide memory hands
reach out TO him through light and life
and sound and song from that blessed
OLD kitchen OF other days, no human soul
save his may know; but he plunges and
staggers on.
The wall is gained. The ancient oaken
gate IS turned upon its rustic hinges.
The wind plays mad antics among the
tall grasses and the waving weeds. lie
even feels he hears a Saddened sobbing
and signing from the throats Of the trem-
ulous bells i'll the ponderous tower above
his head. He stumbles and staggers en-.
The graVeStones dance into his eyes and
away, and huddle about him gruesOmely.
With mighty effort and a despairing
groan he leaps fiercely to the side Of the
tall marble shaft standing at the head OF
Anson hannoCkS grave. lie can 90 no
further. He cannot scream out. lie can
neither bound madly away nor even fail
among the crowded graves. For there
before him, rising slowly from the crum-
bling slab above his Iather'S tomb is a
majestic spectral form. Its long, white
arm is slowly lifted. Its ghastly lace
begins to move, and its stern ana
mourntul voice smites the wretched be-
ing's soul with the measured and solemn
words:
"Anstruther Hammock, l knew you dare
not refuse TO GOMEZ"
Whatever the dread mystery enacted,
whatever the meaSureleSs misery TO such
nature as this in the ineXorable ac-
counting which was surely had, and
whatever the blighting judgment passed
by the dead or suppositiipus dead upon
the groveling living, among these lone
and wlnd-SWept graves, the folk of Mill
vale ever after knew only that some
mighty and wondrous change had como
upon the master of Hammock Manse this
night of Halloween change that had
made him an old, old man; man of
blanched looks and face; man of trem-
bling and haIting step and hesitant,
thoughtful speech; and yet man more
III the sunlight than the shadows of
remaining peaceful days into which had
come blessed quickening OF ministra-
ton to the humble, weak and poor.
Two only knew OF his absence from the
manse, and but one Of these ever pos
sessed the secret of what had left him
prone and unconscious upon his 1ather's
crumbllng tomb.
On their way to the manse as hidden
by the distracted miser, Charles Penruth
and his brother, Judge Penruth, bearing
some legal papers in their hands, had
taken the shorter but unfrequented path
LDIOuHn the
churchyard OH the hill.
Here they had stumbled over 'Struther
HAMMOCK as he lay witleSs and almost
Nteless on his fathers grave They took
him between them and without disturb
ing the merry makers at the manse. at
last got hlm safely in his own bed. Ii ere,
as they were vigorously chatting his hands
and limbs, he suddenly sat bolt upright
and calmly said:
Please Driuu tho DaDers and a S,arf,,
This, with the 1irst infection of gentle
ness. the two at MS side had ever heard
escape his lips.
The documents were brought and the
old man read them aloud, still in clear
ana kindly tones. Then, as one brother
held light and the other book upon
which the papers rested, he signed them
decisively without the slightest tremor of
hand or pen.
shall we burn these others now?u the
schoolmaster quietly asked.
mo. on may leave them with me-"
DE took them, cruuched them in his
hand little and placing them carelessly
beneath his pillow, added:
They hold no more harm nor hurt
now, than the vanishing shadows of Kan
mock Mansen'
Amen? ?' came heartily and solemnly
from the other voices in the room: and IN
a moment more, as Charles Penruth and
his brother stole softly out of the door
way, old 'Struther kanDock's head Law
close upon his pillow and his sleep was
dreamless and peaceful as babes.
Was there joy this Halloween nirbt
in the ample old room OF cheer. to which
the two now hurried? No need to ask
the lips and eyes and hearts of mother.
daughter, son; OF pupil Edith, blushing,
demure and sweet, and of master PEN
ruth, grave and grand and tall: nor of all
the assembled company" athrin with
this ecstacy- bringing change and glow.
until the thrilling and the glowing OF it
all broke into such peals of gladness as
Mlllvale hamlet had never known before
And, think you, was there a dance here
this halloween night, where the shadows
had so long gathered and lowered like a
close and sitting pail? Ask the rafters
of oak above them that shivered CEN
tury's splinterS and mold upon the vault
ing heads and heels Of these gIad-hearted
Millvale villagers. And ask the stars
that looked softly down upon this scene
of peace and joy until their shining eyes
went out IN the brighter All Hallows'
dawn which lifted flaming cones upon
the peaks OF fair and far New England
hills
[For the RECoRD-U NIoN.l
UP ON THE RANCH.
[Whitcomb Riley, revised for the use of Cali