The herald., 1896-10-04

BY HEZEKfAH BUTTERWORTH.
Copyright, 1896; by Bachelor Syndicate)
SYNOPSIS.
The story is related by DR.. Brown an old
physician, who when a young man was
journeying to his new field of labor at War
ren, r. I. He is overtaken by the village
undertaken who is going to attend the fun
eral Of Louis Placide Placide when a boy,
had accidentally set fire to barn while cell
ebrating the Fourth Of July; but his COM
panions, among whom was Brayton Grant,
promised never to betray him. Grant and
Placide are fast friends and business asso-
clateS and In after years became rival can
didates for Congress. The chances are In
favor Of Placide's election when Grant an
onymously circulated the story Of the
Fourth Of July fire. laid other crimes at his
door and branded him as an incendiary. In
doing this he used the undertaken as tool
and the latter alone knows the source Of
the slander. Placide was defeated, never re-
covered from the disgrace and now, has just
died. The undertaken who has, for the first
time, divulged Grants treachery, presses
the Doctor to attend the funeral, as he wish
es him to see Grant who. he says, is con-
science-stricken and sees mysterious things
nights"
PART II.
had not long to wait.I had no sooner come
to the great open lawn of the old house,
which seemed to stand sideways to the sea,
after the manner Of many houses on the
coast, than was recognized by an acquaint-
ance, who said to me, "You have just arriv-
ed. This is sad day. Let me introduce you
to my friend Congressman Grant. He has
come down from Providence. Mr.. Grant,
DR.. Brown. our new physician"
A tall man, with restless eyes and a
nervous palor, bowed. saw at a glance that
the face was not a happy one; I saw also
that the man was suffering from want Of
sleep.
''well," said he, "our friend Placide has
gone and left u.s.
analyzed this cheap, make-shift, provin-
cial sentence. Placide had not been my
friend, ncr had Grant been a true friend to
Placide.
"Our friend Placide! The words, 1 fan
cied, somehow pictured his soul, and they
struck me unfavorably.
Il am not feeling well to-day" he contin-
ued. II have not slept well Of late. 60 to
bed and close my eyes. but my thoughts
90 on. l wish that could get one nights
sleep. I must. l cannot live in this way.
Can you help me, Doctor?"
Here was a patient at once, my first pa
tient, and he Congressman. glanced at
his face-there was settled shadow on it;
it recalled the mysterious words of Luther,
the undertaken, "And it was night"
Il am studying to be specialist in nerv-
Gus troubles" answered, "and have new
remedies that l think might help you. I
will speak to you about it later If you wish,
l."
solemn voice rose on the dreamy. sun
ny air:
"a man that Is born of woman is of
Nv days and full OF trouble"
1t was the minister. The old clock had
struck one in the still. crowded rooms. The
Clergyman, tall man with white hair and
a well nigh celestial face had moved to the
open door. and was speaking so that the
congregation within and without might hear.
Like clear bell the voice rose again, af-
ter solemn pause:
Lord. thou hast been our dwelling place
in all generations. OF old thou hast laid
the foundations of the earth, and the heav-
ems are the work of thy hands. They shall
perish, but thou shalt endure"
There was the same reverent silence dur
Ing the slow utterance Of these majestic
words OF the Hebrew poets. The wind from
the bay scarce stirred the leaves of the
trees, o. the flowers in the open windows.
There followed long pause, when suddenly
an incident changed the scene.
The undertaken had arrived, and had
brought before the view of the audience,
Placide's horse. and he said 'Whoa!
To me the exclamation following the lof-
ty strains Of Hebrew poetry, was comical.
But it had not SO impressed the audience.
The rooms suddenly became white with
handlerchefs. The horse stamped his feet.
Men, strong men, bowed down and cried I
xnew not how it was, but found tears
coming into my eyes. The horse stopped.
Stopped! there was a parable in it. Stop
ped!
The old minister cleared his throat to
speak again
Il have seen the flower blooming on its
stalk, but
There was tremendous sound of weeping
In the still air of the rooms. He paused.
The crushed balm beds under the windows
filled the place with fragrance. The wings
OF the purple swifts in the ancient chimney
brought to mind the family association of
happy summers in vanished years.
Il cannot preach funeral sermon to-
day." said the old pastor, "a mans life is
his true funeral sermon, and words to that
are ,as empty as air. My friends, you all
knew the heart IL Placide. To die is to be
blest. Let US pray"
Every one was weeping. was never in
such an atmosphere of simple and unaffect-
ed grief. I turned to study the face of
Congressman Grant,
1t was not that Of a mourner 1t was that
OF stone, save that his eyes seemed moving
like shuttles. The spirit of the simple af-
fecting scene was In my view gnawing at
his heart and burning into his brain. / said
to myself that that man one day would be-
come insane, and that his insanity would
take some strange form OF revelation as is
usually the case when the conscience I'M
settles the brain through the Imagination.
The prayer ended, but no one moved.
could feel the deathless atmosphere of the
re!uctant-to part fondness and love: the
unwilingness to break away from that en-
deared and enthralling association of a van
ished life.
The bell began to toll. Still no one NOV
ed. At last the undertaken lifted the
reins and there was sound of wheels The
horse stood before the door, waiting for
Placide for the last time
shall never cease to see that strange ride
to the grave. l was asked to go In the car
riage with Congressman Grant. but I as
cended to the Seat with the undertaken, ana
promised to return to the town with Mr..