The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-19

was hurrying along the path that led
down to her back gate and the
meadows beyond. Once in the
fields she began running, little fut-
teriDg figure, all gray and childlike
out in the warm spring sun. At last
she stopped, painting. She could see
one chimney of her house through
the tall-stemmed trees; a mass of
swaying white further down pro-
claimed her lilac bushes. She went
on again, her breath coming in gasps.
Past the meadows and beyond the
lane, that lay, winding strip of red
colored earth just in sight, the church
steeple thrust up out of the April
boughs.
Once more Mrs. Holt looked back.
She had left the houses behind
her now; stretch :of solitary
land lay before. She reached the
fence that divided it from Church
Lane. The graves drew closer and
closer. Soon she was among them
and at the church door. 1t was half
open; she made a sudden plunge
into the dim, cool, dark raftered place
and sank down upon one of the
cushioned seats. This was sane
tuary, indeed. Outside lay Josiha in
his last slumber. The recollection of
this made her feel safer still. God
and the dead would take care of her.
She settled herself more comfortably
in the dusk, and leaned her head
against the carved back of the pew.
She seemed to bein an upper chamber.
barred away from the fret and noise
of the outer life. The shadows and
furniture began to melt together and
fade away; she sighed once or twice;
her lids dropped; she was fast asleep.
1t was long past noon when she
awoke. The windows were blazing
in scarlet and gold. She sat there in
world of light. Down the lumi-
nous aisle sounded cautious foot.
Old Mr.. Barton was coming toward
her.
"She's gone, Mis- Holt" he whis-
pered.
She stared at him, the sleep not
yet out of her eyes.
WAS she real mad9" she whis-
pered back to him.
He nodded.
Mrs. Holt rose up and moved for
ward. Bareheaded, quivering little,
her hair falling loosened and gray
about her shoulders, she stood be-
fore him.
"I-I wasn't afraid of her." she
said, in the same tone; "I-I was
afraid of myself"
He waited until they were both out
of church, and then broke forth, gar
rulously:
81 saw Mis- Trench coming this
morning, and l saw you leave the
house; and watched, and you come
here. Mis- Trench sat and sat. and
at last she saw me round there, and
she told me to tell you she was too
proud to burst in your door, tho she
felt's if she ought to, and carry you
off anyhow; and she was going home,
and she guessed she'd never come
back any more"
"She didn't-she didn't cut down
them lilac bushes, did she?" quaked
Mrs. Holt. He shook his head. "Sa-
billa'll keep her word," said she.
"Well, I'll have to do all the visit
ing" A few feet away mass of
dogtooth violets was blossoming. A
light leaped up in her eyes. She
pointed toward them. "Just look!"
she said, almost reverently.
"They are pretty" said Mr.. Barton.
eliza used to think good deal of
them, too. She's been gone year."
"And Josiah's been gone just six
months"
The two old people gazed at each
other with sudden sense of kind
ship.
"We won't be long after them"
said he; "and l think folks might
let us live in peace. I'm glad Mis-
Trench is going to leave you alone.
Shs says she'll send you every stick
of your furniture to morrow"
They went away together between
the graves, like two children. The
wind was making certain soft but
distinct sound all about them. Some
where, perhaps in Heaven, thrush
was singing.-Independent.
A SLEEPY VILLAGE OUT IN THE
OCEAN