Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-20

| needed not the pOnu. But the man
watched thom wonderingly. And
no saw laborer approach along the
pathway, returning from his work
The pipe no smoked glowed warm
ly, and the man shivered But at
the stile he spoke to the laborer, and
his voice was hoarse, as one that is
seldom used.
What children arc those?" he
asked.
Tho workman stopped abruptly
and looked at tho man in surprise.
He wondered at the questioner, l
doubt not, and maybe he wondered
at the question.
"Them?" he said at last in a
strong, broad accent. "Them's the
squire's BARNS.
But l thought that the squire
was an old MANI"
''T'owd squire? Why, bless your
life, 'e's been dead this ten year"
There was IL pause. And then the
man said:
80 these are children of bis cid
est SOM"
"Noa," said tho workman, lit
Wilma DO the eldest. E wanted is
brothers gal, and cos she would a
nowt to say to i'm . went away j.
sulks. And Q never como back no
moro. Aye, that was 20 year ago!"
And what became of him?"
Aye, bless your life, 'ow should
1 know? Els dead, they say"
And the brother married the
LADY,"
Aye; that . did"
There was silence, for the man
was gazing at tho turrots. Tho Ia
borer was about to move away. But
the man stopped him with another
question.
And are they happy, those two?"
Appy?" Again the workman
seemed amazed at the question.
why, it's beautiful to see EN-.
Aye, often and often when they
passes i the road wi the BARNS,
a-goiug to church mebbe, or mebbe
not the missis she says to me, Jim,
it's picture, she says, and says
to 'er, 1t is, says 1. 'Appy?" And
the workman smiled.
But the man at the stile was silent.
From the heavens there shot a jag
ged streak of light. For moment
it lit up the faces of the two mon;
then the darkness had fallen like a
pail. And the workman laid his
hand upon the shoulder of the tray-
eler.
Look ere, stranger, he said, Il
don't know 90 you be, or where yer
come from, or what yer doing ere
but you seem civil sort, and I'll
tell you this: We're going to ave
such night as not many i these
parts IL remember the likes On, and
If ye'v' got a pl"co to 90 TO don t
you wait no longer, but make tracks,
and If you 'aven't, why come yer
ways along O. me-"
The stranger seemed moved, but
he replied: II thank you. You are
very kind. have shelter from the
storm. AS he spoke his eyes were
trained across the stile. So the la
borer passed on his way. And the
storm gathered. Thunderous clouds
doomed densely overhead. The air
was thick and pressed upon the
brow. a great bird rose from the
PUSHES at the ponds verge and
shrieked to n surer refuge. The
wind dropped.
But the man fingered. And over
in the meadow, on the pathway,
there appeared a light. 1t drew
nearer and swung gently to and fro.
The traveller saw it was carried in
the hand of man walking. He was
clad in coat that was lined with
fur, and his face was soft and white.
AT the stile he saw the man. He
frowned and would have passed,
but the stranger stopped him.
Mr.. Dalrymple, he said.
The other raised his lantern till 1t
shone in the face of the man. He
shuddered slightly and again would
have passed on his way. But the
Traveller stood before him, 80 that
the path was closed.
Mr.. Dalrymple, he repeated.
] by what right do you bar my
way?' The tones were quiet, but
imperative, as Of man accustomed
to receive Difference. And why do
you call me by name?"
Il have news Of your brother, ~
said the man.
He is alive?" The words were
said gladly, but there was a gulp at
his throat when he spoke. The man
saw the gulp.
He will never return" he re-
piled.
by what means, said the squire,
"can l tell that you speak with au-
thority?"
The man put his hand beneath his
rags and drew forth the faded pho
toEraph CT n woman. On the back
there was n name written. He passed
1T to- the squire.
And the squire looked at it. And
he turned over and read what was
written on the back. Then he raised
his hand and uncovered his head.
And he said to the man, May
keep this memento?" And the man
nodded.
What you tell me-" no said
quietly, lis only that which neces
sarily I have always understood
Nevertheless, the confirmation
grieves me deeply" There was real