Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-28
and the room was still as death.

anu lHb rODlu WAS hllIl Us uculD.
"Surc enough, did run; never looked
behind me. l just leaped out of my place
and run. But I'll tell you what mado mo-
whizzing by my arm, and John dropped
by my side Just like this. ~
Tho old man put his trembling hand
down and brought it, with II crash, on tho
table, SO that several women already mado
nervous by the excitement skipped invol-
unfairly out from their seats.
81 heard 'om say back of mo- with
smothcrcd qath-I won't repeat it here
"No, no, - cried Parson Bean sharply.
"And thcy called inc John DunscUmbo
as / was running. presume in the con-
fusion that it was kind of mixed up, and
they couldn't tell whether it was mo run
ming and John that fell, or John running
and mo that fell. l couldn't hardly tell
myself" Tho old man drew his hand
across his forehead, land haln't felt right
about it for years"
ooh, what shamcW cried several
voices. ITO keep it to yourself all these
years." cried another.
"Silcnceln thundcrcd the pnrson, bring
ing his hand down hard upon the table.
The old man wavered and seemed to
sink under the soorn of the faces upturncd
to his.
eco on" said the parson. "Tell all You
know, Mr. Sparks. This is what you
came for, you know"
eyes, yes" said the other fcobly.
"Wcll, when got home it did not seem
to mako much difference to .Iohn--ho was
dead, you know-whcther he run or not.
80 did not try to lot 'cm know tho mis-
take"
as this all, now" asked the parson as
Jason stopped.
yes, p" said tho old man, land HASN'T
never thought of it much till you came for
mo today and said 1t was time for me to
get ready to leave the world in peace, as
have got to now before long, as I'm goin
on nigh 50, and then you said I'd better
como and do 1t tonight. SO hero be-"
Pastor Bean raised his hand again and
said, Lot us pray!" and now all the PEG
pie did listcn, and many were the tears
that fell down on the shawl ends and on
the laps Of the women, while the men
wiped their faces vigorously with their
bandannas and pretended to keep quiet
and composed.
Afterward, when all WAS over and they
went to their different homes, a procession
Of people went around by tho little brown
cottage in tho moonlight.
"Sh-shi" said the sympathetic women.
"Dont let's wake them. Then we'll show
them a good Decoration day Us IA surprised
A good Decoration day indeed 1t was.
| How can l tell of tho flowers that fairly
| flew into the brown cottage! The freshly
| gathered posics were taken by n stream OF
little children, beginning at daybreak, u
be handed in to tho grateful and astonished
widow and Hetty and the children, who
had had an early visit from the old parson,
with his story of contrtion for his care.
lcssncss in delaying all effort to FREQ John
Dunscombo's name from the stigma rest
ing upon 1t.
How can l describe Hctty, her checks
pink with sudden joy, walking between
Reginald and Natalie, whilo Hotty car
ried wreath Of white roscbuds and "a stai
, in the Other hand TO put on the grave that
she had longed all her life to SEQ decorated
Natalie" conlded Rex that evening
when they sat on tho back stops and un
burdcnod their hearts, "I'm glad it is over
because it was 50 good. l should hay,
burst into pieces if it had lasted mucl
longer Why, Two had perfect cyclon,
inside of me all day w Boston Globe