The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-24
1T FLOATS.


|
rare as it was noble, she cared for her
tenderly until the end came.
But one there was, who lived in the
house adjacent, who could neither for
give nor forget; her wrongs were too
recent. She sat by her window watch
ing the gathering crowd. An evil light
1 shone in her beautiful red-brown eyes
as she muttered between her closed
teeth Fools! hypocrites. they're just
as glad as l be that she's dead; they
wouldn't ketch me goin' to her fun'ral.
l amt afraid to say that I'm glad she's
dead, and 1 hope the fire'll be good and
hot where she's gone, too"
AS the procession was about to start
a disturbance arose which delayed mat
| tiers somewhat. Across the street was
a low, log house which was nearly con-
| cealed by an immense sign, on which
was inscribed in flaming letters Palace
! Restaurant. This was kept by wild
ow of Amazonian proportions, who had
the well-earned reputation of being
exceedingly strong and athletic, as well
as very fiery in temper. OF course she
came to the funeral dressed in her best
costume, which included hat
| trimmed WITH Dlue rlDDO1lS ana adorned
| with a white feather Now this feath-
: er was too much for Jack Conways
| ideas of propriety; and as she was
about to step into the mourner's coach
he forcibly objected, at the same time
expostulating, with a voley of oaths,
on the utter unsuitableness of her APP
parel Without word the widow
/ turned, gave him one expressive look,
and Jack Conway, knowing her pugil-
istic accomplishments, concluded to
let her ride where and how she pleased.
That funeral is impressed on my
memory as the saddest sight my eyes
ever beheld Devoid of all the solemn
trappings with which death is associa-
ted with us in the east; with no reli-
gious services, not even a prayer for
the poor departed soul, and with no
fearful sorrowing friends it was SIM
ply business arrangement. AS if it
were but yesterday, I see that strange
funeral cortege vending its way
through the narrow village street,
Again | watch the swift oncoming of
the sudden storm; the low-lying clouds
clothe the heavens as with a pail,
pierced at frequent intervals by blind
ing flashes of lurd lightning, which
heraIds the loud booming thunders.
How it echoes and reverberates be-
tween the high mountains that tower
up, sentinel like, on either side! Stand
ing out with startling distinctness in
the dark, foreboding atmosphere, is the
white sheeted coffin which is carried in
an open wagon.
That was a fearful ride and one long
to be remembered. The road, which 7
was the only means of travel, was a !
marvel of engineering skill, and was |
constructed after years of labor. at an
immense cost. Cut as it was into the
solid mountain sides, following its bold .
projections; skirting precipices a thou .
sand feet deep on the one hand, with .
high, overhanging cliffs on the other,
from whose cracked and irregular sur
face huge rocks, seemingly liable to |
fall at any moment, hung suspended;
crossing deep gulches through which
rushed swollen rivers, it was not pleas
ant to ride over at the best Of times,
and under the most favorable condi-
tons. Indeed the unaccustomed trav-
eler would shudder and grow pale, as
from his carriage seat he turned his
fascinated gaze to the green waters at
the precpice's base. The more timd
would close his eyes to the danger, and
the journey over, start from his restless
pillow at night and cry aloud in his
fright.
Slowly, and without unseemly haste,
the procession moved. They had not
gone far, however, before the storm
burst upon them in all it's wild fau
AS if from a cloud-burst the rain de-
scended in a flood. Great hail-stones
and bounded on the coffin as
if in sportive play; they fell with heavy
thud on the defenceless heads of the
attendants. In the road there flowed a
torrent, and the horses
slipped and slid in its waters. Huge
stones, loosened from their places,
rolled down the mountain side. Even
he hardy villagers, Injured to danger
is they were, and accustomed to the
Jury of the elements, held their breath
'or very fear.
Blinded by the vivid lightning, or
frightened by the sliding rocks or the
heavy, crashing thunder, a spirited
iorse ridden by a young woman,
cared and fell. BY miraculous prov
dence his rider escaped serious injury :
Had the accident occurred few feet
urther on, two little, white-faced girls
Who were tremblingly crouched in one
if the large open wagons, would have
ried in vain for their mother.
The tempest passed as suddenly as it
anne, and the sun was pouring his hot