The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-20
Stories of an inland State.

barn and when he sauntered around 10 the
front door to discover the progress OF the
affair he found that a large number Of peo-
pie had already arrived. that the female
portion Of the attendants had dropped in
side the house and the male portion was
stationed in the front yard holding forth on
the most practical and cheerful subjects.
in the most subdued tones Of funereal awe
Inside little darkened room the women
Of the neighborhood had imprisoned John
Wright. John Wright had dressed himself
carefully. HIS collar was high and tor
tured him and by this sign he knew he was
! dressed up He had been placed under the
| direct supervision Of Miss Madge Barrett
and he had felt little warmth and kindness
| toward her when she brushed a speck OF
dust from his coat-collar. Now she had
slipped out for a moment and left him In
the darkened room alone With guilty sly
ness ne pulled the curtain slightly back and
looked out upon his nsghbors convers.ng
| in front OF the house. He wished himself
with them, but knew at once that the de-
sire was freakish and unusual. He was
the widower. All eyes would be turned 70
| him. And 1t was with anger that he found
F. his eyes dry. He could not weep. He
/ had not wept HIS neighbors would charge
/ him with heartlessness. Some of them, he
vas sure. would secretly charge him with
poisoning his wifei Still some naQ had IN
vented the belief that the deepest grief was
! invisible for just such hypocrites as him
self and turning face about on The whim ne
| felt that the neghborS. seeing the beautiful
coffin, would put him down as a model
| husband. He looked out the window again
and wished TO be among the men talking
crops and weather. In a week he would
be doing 1t. Why not now? II he could
! sincerely show the want Of grief a week
hence, why should L show as a crime now.
But he remembered that the world viewed
him as one Just stricken by a crushing blow
He felt the necessity of showing a tear or
two He contracted his eyebrows with a
feeling of sheepishness. but the act. as an
lachrymal inducement, failed.
Then Madge came back and sat down
and stared at him N way which made
him warm and uncomfortable.
Amt they nearly ready?" asked old John
Wright drily
Not yet" answered Madge. They're
waiting for her"
''Who?" he asked blankly.
Some girl who IS to sing today"
Some girl he questioned.
That's all could find out" said Madge
Except that she is old Mrs. Matkn's
daughter from the city and that she can
sing"
Just then the wheezy old cabinet organ
which his wife had played ind.ferently gave
a musical snort. With an expression OF
utter resignation old John Wright arose.
He knew the hour had come. He stood
erect beside Madge and together they walk
ed out into the parlor. II was crowded TO
f-g-.
circled closely about. In front stood the
fine casket with few flowers at the top.
In spite Of him his eyes riveted themselves
on the silver-bright handles. Then with
a dry eye he glanced from face to face and
then back and down at Madge resting his
eyes upon her with relief. A quartet sang
a hymn which he didn't hear plainly, and
the preacher said a few words about the
departed Still he looked down upon Madge.
who Gisregarding him had her eyes fixed
Oh joey, the hired man, squeezed up in a
corner. And she was st;l watching joey
when the minister concluded, and then she
saw a strange bright light come into Joey's
eyes and simultaneously her heart s:ckened
and she turned in the direction of his glance
She gave little start and touched Old
John Wright and he ooked UP just an
seraphic stranger standing near the organ
Nearer My God to Thee"
DozZlir.g as she appeared to him then
the sound Of Ter voice drowned his sense OF
sight. for as she continued in her clear,
sweet voice his eyes were blinded by tears
and he could see no longer. He reached
for Madge's arm. and took It. But she az
not feel the sympathy-begg!ng pressure for
she was watching Joey's ilumed face
Old John Wright wiped his eyes and looked
around upon his neighbors. They hal |
ceased to look upon him and now that he |
had tears to show. failed to see them. He |
ture who was singing.
He was still listening to the echos which |
ring in the mind when the music has ceased. |
The mir ister was saying prayer. Martin. |
The undertaken. Respondent in a pair OF |
white cotton gloves now became numerous. |
Several Martins appeared loose in the room. |
so quickly did tie single individual hustle |
about. And finally ne formed a Little pro- |
cesson Of the attendants who filed past the |
great casket and took the last look.
The beautiful woman whose appearance |
had so engrossed the neighbors did not view /
the remains. but glded out the door. She /
was followed closely by Joey, the hirel |
with old Mrs. Maxim on her arm. and down
the road. Then the pall-bearers took
charge OF the coffin and carried 1t to the /
front yard and slid it into the hearse-an
unusual vehicle IN the neighborhood. Into
a buggy climbed old John Wright and |
Nadse Barrett crept in beside him and |
presently they wound slowly away after the
hearse.
And after a long period of silence he
found his voice and said TO Madge:
Count EN-
Madge's 1.-THE form twisted in the seat
and standing on her knees she looked
through the small glass opening in the cur
tain of the vehicle and counted the vehicles
behind lsboriously.
Thirty she answered when she had
finished.
do you think ne said slowly but dis
tinctly. tina, she would have been
plessed?''
~ am sure she would said Madee.
81 an glad Of that" he answered with a
sigh.
When they stood at the open grave and
the casket was lowered John Wright motto
ed that the silver handles were still at
tached Another song was given and then
John Wright feeling tina; he ought 20 as
s.st in making an opportunity for Under
tsk.r Martin 10 recover his silver o-aa-
ments. climbed quickly back into the buggy
". n Nadgs and they drove of.
Oid John Wright took the re-ns and cid
rot return home by a direct route. He
drove Maige across IRE prairie and up by
the great bed Of sand which was az inter
walls river. The sands OF its bed are
powdered ard when lis waters begin 70
Use or are fast falling. these sands ar.
dangerous For then they are red with
moisture and unstable.