Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-03-29
CHAPTER XIV.


When the first rays of morning light
broke through the forest, which circled
around Sagnauck, the next morning,
they sent dim lines Of light between the
trunks of trees along the water-soaked
ground. Little grass grew in those dark
DEPTHS: only here and there a fringe
about a tree or a cluster midway be-
tween, where the sun shOne. But the
dark earth was rich, and here and there
a sky-tinted flower grew, with deeper
colors and moro delicate tints than those
which bloomed beneath the sun.
The rays of light which were grad
ually penetrating the forest from the
eastward, and casting faint shadows on
each side, were here and there oDstructed
bv fallen trees which broke the light
and cast shapeless shadows in Its path
way. At first, and this was not long
after Dorothca had stranglcd her
babe. the rays of light which were going
straight upward for the sun beneath the
eastern horizon merely made gray the
darkness between and beneath the great
trees. Gradually the light increased and
gray paths grew between the trees, Dor
dered bv shadows on either side. Inc
sun rose higher and the brook was en-
livened by its rays, and danced in morn
ing glee. How gayly the water dashed
over an obtruding stone and now mer-
rily it rushed around an obstructnS
bank. The Birds too, were waking up
and rendering distant chirps through the
woods. For, was not the whole world
merry again? The sun had risen, and
the brook and the birds were free.
The light shining through the WOODS
was broad at the entrance, but gradually
tapercd to point like a great white fin-
ger stretching along the ground. 1t was
like the finger of God pointing from the
line between heaven and earth, through
the woods to Sagnauck.
In Hillary's cabin there was a finger oi
light, too. The baby fingers were still
and stiff, and the cruel hand which had
stjlIed them was at rest in sleep. Egg.
bert, too, was still sleeping in his chair
by the table when the rising sun sent Its
ravs through the forest.
Whose finger was it that was pointing:
Through the cabin window came the
| first faint rays of the morning. a light
the breadth of the window fell upon the
sill and cast faint CLEAN upon the floor
The sleepers slept on. Slowly the light
grew stronger and crept across the floor
Inch by inch it moved, until it had
reached the floor beneath tho bed upon
which Dorothea and the dead babe lay
A pause. Then faint light touched tho
bed. Good God! What does it mean?
Gradually but surely the light grew
stronger, and as it did so the finger rose
inch by inch upon the bed and pointed
across the coarse counterpane to where
| the dead babe lay.
The sun was risen. The day haC
come, and the long white finger of Coo
was pointing directly through the cabil
window to the bed, and the tip of the fin
ger rested on the throat of the murdered
| child.
When Egbcrt awoke, the sun wa
shining brightly in at the cabin window
and the finger had been absorbed int
the broad light of day. He arose ant
glanced around the room, sleepily
Dorothea was lying quietly upon TIL
bed; but the child attracted his attcn
ton. It's neck was stretched out upol
the pillow, long and lank. 1t requires
only a glance for Ingram to understan'
what had been done.