Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-08-17
bedroom and tumbled as he was upon

bedroom and tumbled as he was upol
the bed.
Sally Lavender lay ON the grass wher
she had fallen, too tired to pick hersel
up, too wretohed to know that she wa
tired. 1t was under the thick leavet
shade of the apple tree where no dew
fell. Before she could gather what hat
happened she was asleep.
She woke with start when she hat
slept perhaps an hour, full of terror OF
something unknown, which resolved it.
self almost instantly into something toe
we'll known. She was icy cold for hall
q moment, and then she was burning
IN glow of indignation from head to
foot. But as she wrung her hands the
touch of her wedding ring controlled
her like talisman. sit isn't him. il
ism t himr' she sobbed. .He'd never
do 1T III the world. It's the strings all
Jangling whichways. And, oh, it does
seem so cruel But mustn I, mustn't
and he so good and gentle and lovin w en-
he's all there And I've said it-though
he Stay me yet will trust in him--and
| perhaps it's my trial-oh, dear Lord,
help me to bear the burden, and Lord,
Lord, be merciful to himp'
She rose after awhile and went tip
toeing round the house. The lamplight
streamed from the bedroom window,
| and, climbing on the trellis, she looked
In. Her heart gave great plunge of
| Joy-there he was on the bed in deem
sleep. She longed to get in, to loosen
his necktie, to get his clothes off and
make him comfortable. But the win
dew was fast, and even if she could it
would waken him, and the sleep was
too precious. He might wake at last,
as he had done before, all right even if
weak to extremity. Her heart yearned
over him as mothers heart yearns
over suffering child. She crept round
to the doorstep and sat there keeping
guard. Ponto had gone off on a sheep
raid with Prince Mather. The cat came
and curled upon corner of her gown.
While she sat there the moon went
down, red as burning brand quenched
in the river. The shadow folded about
her like garment. All the little house
was still as death. The cool and dewy
air was soft with the fragrance of the
flowers that came to her in faint and
honeyed watts. A drowsy mist of stars
hardly disturbed the darkness of the
night. There was no sound but the
tapping of the river and now and then
the village clock that tolled the hour
or the quick wrangle of some neighbo
clock through the open windows. Every
once in awhile she went round and
looked in and saw Humphrey still
sleeping. A light wind came futtering
about her-the dawn had stirred in the
night. AS she sat upon the low step,
not conscious of being tired or sleepy,
only conscious of listening, it was all
SO sweet aud still and solemn, it seemed
as II the night itself were communion
with unknown force. Its peace entered
into her soul. She felt as though she
leaned her head on the breast of her
Heavenly Father. A little bird piped
beside his nest A trill answered it. All
the unseen world was awake with wild
music. Through the clear dark across
the water came the rhythmical rowing
of oars. She stole round again in tender
fright, but Humphrey was still Sleep
ing. A dream of light rather than light
itself had interfused the dusk. 1t grew
with slow pulse and yelling till gray
was gold and gold was rose and rose
was silver blue, swelling like the pre-
lude to great music, as if day had never
been before. Everything was dripping
and shaking and sparkling with dew.
The bright light breeze went rioting in
the leaves. No one stirred. She had the
day as the night alone to herself. "The
Lords been good to me,' said Sally
Lavender. Hes give me real season
of peace.
She waited till Tom Brier came
along whistling to his job. She had |
never talked of her trouble, but she
had sometimes asked help of Tom, and |
he brought ladder round to the back |
of the house and held it and looked the
other way while she found her way in
at an upper window. Then she slipped
down the stairs and closed the bedroom
door and noiselessly lighted her fire
and set the meat to simmer for his
strong rich broth and washed and re-
freshed herself and allowed herself q
long, sweet slumber on the lounge. She
crept by and by into the bedroom where
Humphrey still slept, although stirring
now and then, and held cup of broth
to his lips, her arm under his pillow,
and he drank it without Enclosing his
eyes. She gave it to him SO twice or
thrice during the day, and piece by
piece. slowly, and at long intervals, she
removed his clothes, and with cautious
lifting and tugging of all her poor lit
tie strength had him decently in bed,
and she took her own morsel of food
and lay down outside and waited.
There was peace in her heart. There
was even deep, still joy as she thought
Of the grass growing on the little grave
where Polly lay-the child for whom
she had feared the fathers fate, and
whom, while her heart half broke with
love and longing, she had been glad to
lay away before the trouble could come1
upon her.
The day went by like the marching
Of an enemy's army. All the village
Kept quiet about her door, Friends and
1eighbors knew it was Humphrey'sl
time of slumber now. The children
laughs and cries were far away. Even
5he bees and birds made drowsy music.
When faroff in the twilight the whip.
no0ruilIS baoap fo e;,o .bo yo;l Ill