Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-14

then, shivering q VIVA % agues Re iei'
| the room.
"Tsll me what this means, Mrs. Dorriss'
Amos asked.
1T means that poor old Reuben Ellis.
| ton Is TO be executed tomorrow"
| Mercy Elllston, 10 spite Of her hysteri-
cal entreaties to be allowed TO 90 TO Reu-
ben, was taken upstairs by Mrs. Doris;
not, however. TO know the blessing Of for
getfulness, but to lay IN half conscious
state upon the widows bed and moan
away the night. The judge and Amos
sat In the parlor, the latter frequently sob
bing like child, in spite OF the landlady's
reassuring bulletins.
'sOh, how can 1t be true!" sobbed
Mercy; show can one so gentle as he who
saved me from the snowdrift have done
murder! You do not know him rs l do,
or you would not hear them say ?"
"Hushl" said her companion; 1--WE do
not believe 1t, dear"
'sBut the grave-the grave 7" she cried,
''and the beautiful flowers he has always
grown for it, and the dark shadow on his
heart that have so long seen but never
understood"
Presently, however, Mercy slept and
Mrs. Doris stepped downstairs with
words Of comfort for Amos, in whom she
had begun to take warm interest.
Giles Raven crept from 1.-THE little room
over the tap" and entered the chamber.
Making sure that the young woman was
asleep he pressed kiss upon her forehead
and then, with wildly beating heart, as
silently left the room.
TS &. Ear he la III
of the weeping forest that stretches al
most to the princely Hudson glows the
cold light Of new day, while west and
south and north, from Overlook to the
Black Dome, a galaxy Of granite monarchs
have already put on their crowns of mol
ten gold. In the dawn's increasing glory
the somber night clouds that move upon
the lower hills seem like strange monsters
from some vaster and still more gloomy
world. The robin wakes and chirps his
greeting to the morning; the trees shake
off their repletion Of moisture; overhead q
silver star tells of a clearer heaven. The
face of nature wears smile once more as
the radiant sun kisses away her tears.
But il is easier to charm harvest from
the earth than to put gladness in con-
science stricken heart. Over the heavy
road, in the early light, tolls care-bent.
aged man. He is bound on an errand so
strange that he half doubts his own iden-
tity, and looks behind him now and again,
as though expecting his true self to over
take him and drag him back.
On his left lays the Stone House farm:
here is the turnstile-unchanged in half
century. A hundred PAGES from the
mountain road there is small raised bit
of earth; it is covered with dead flowers.
II have laid no blossoms here!" he says,
and he kneels upon the wet grass and lays
his face upon them.
A well trodden path, terminating at the
grave, leads toward the rear Of the house.
Giles takes this path. There is no bar
upon the door, yet for moment he feels
unable to enter He must not turn away
To kneel at the feet of the man whose life
has been passed in penitence, to confess
his own misdrected life and obtain Reu-
ben's blessing is to give him strength to
ask forgiveness of one to whom alone ven
geance belongs.
The gorgeous hills throw ray of light
in the gloomy place. The dreamer knows
now that no guest but sorrow has sat at
this board for decades. Giles turns the
handle of the parlor door. An aged figure
kneels at the easement. Upon his weary,
upturned face is cast the first CLEAN OF the
morning. Perhaps it is given to these
dim eyes to see the orb Of light once more,
for on the gentle lips there rests a smile OF
wonder and yet of ineffable peace.
"Reuben. Reuben"
Slowly tue eyelids droop and slowly the
head falls upon the breast.
1t is broad day.