The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-02-01

when her sister was gene poor Lucy
was alone. She had hard struggle,
as sou know well enough, doctor. 1t
would have been harder but for you.
But they managed somehow to live,
and Jack was such a comfort! But
when night came and Lucy put her
work away, he would cuddle down in
her lap every single evening and say,
Tell me about my father And what
could she do?
"Could she say Your father was a
thief? No. She said she tried at first
to put him of, but 1t was no use, and
at last she just yielded-she says she
knows it was weak-and told OF every
good or kind thing she could think of
Amos loved the praise of men, you
know that, doctor, and he did give his
fruit and flowers to the sick, and sent
his carriage for the old ladies TO ride in,
and gave money to the poor. On yes,
Tll give the devil his due! Cheap kind
nesses that did not hurt him and that
brought applause were delightful to
him.
perhaps, Sarah began DIR. Mar
low, charitably, Eve do not do him
justice. Possibly if We knew all"
Don't, doctorr' she interrupted, al
most fiereely. IL can't hear you ex-
cuse Kim. Swindling wasn't his worst
sin. He was bad ali through. His evil
deeds rose up wherever his foot step
ped. Norwood people weren't the only
sufferers. But there! you know it as
well as / do.
"But Lucy never told Jack word of
all that And VIXEN he would say,
Where is my father now p she would
tell him he had lost his money aud was
somewhere out West earning more.
And that dear child would say:
"'When I'm a man III go and help
himg
Little he realized how his father
cared nothing for his own child, wheth-
er be lived or died.
''And then Amos was kiiled-stab-
bed in a quarrel over cards among des-
peradoes in Mexico. 1t was natural
enough ending for him. Lucy wanted
him baried there, of course. There
was no reason why his body should be
brought here. never understood why
it was brought myself"
''I had it brought, " said the minis
ter. sternIy. at was not fitting that
the man whom had married to Mary
whose child / had named, should lie
like dog in the sand where he died.
Mary would not have wished it. She
forgave him, poor child I ought to
know, for was there when she died.
Lucy can not forgive. She feels that
he killed her sister and impoverished
Jack; but Mary-Msry forgave."
"Well, anyhow, he was buried npon
the hin, continued Miss Caldwell,
''and no one knew when but the sexton
and You, doctor. Even the townspeo-
pie did not find out for weeks. It was
cleverly managed, and daresay il was
Just as we'll, for there are some poor
folks IN this place who would not want
him near them, living or dead.
However, Lucy had TO tell Jack his
father was dead. She said she could
not help being relieved to think he
would gradually forget him. Her con-
science had always troubled her for let
ting the little boy believe his father
was a good man. But il was before
Jack got over the shock. You know
how dreadfully sensitive and tender
hearted he is, and he has been so much
with grown people that he isn't bit
like an ordinary child. Suddenly one
day he asked Aunt Lucy, where is my
father buried?'
"And when she said, in Norwood,
by your mother he just fixed those
big eyes Oh her and said, as if he were
man, And why did We not go to the
funeral p
"And she didn't know what to say.
She felt like criminal And ever
since that boy has just mourned and
mourned.
"His dear noble father, so handsome,
so grand, 50 good and kind to every
body! To have no funeral, when even
the poor people in the city have beau
tifuI hearse and carriages And his lit
tie heart is just harj to his aunt, and to
you, and to all the people up here; and
he is grieving himself to death-Mary's
boy-and say its a shane.'
at Is a shame,D said the minister,
hastily. "The child's whole nature
may 5e hopelessly warped. Something
must be done"
That's what / said," replied Miss
Caldwell But nobody must know, or
we may have a scene. / told Lucy /
would talk to you, and I knew you
would speak just as you have spoken;
and so she ia coming up tomorrow
morning with Jack, and I'm TO meet
her, and we will go to the cemetery,
! and meet you there If you say SOL
She pinned her shawl together and
rose to go.
"You're a good woman, Sarah, - said
the minister, laying his hand On her
shoulder.
"Pm not good. Don't you dare to
say so,u she replied, huskily. 81 just
hate Amos Dyer, If he is dead, AID l
can't help it. But he shall have fu-
neral If IT will cure Mary's boy" And
she went out.
From the gate to the Judges lot
path had been dug, and the shining
blocks Of snow were piled high on
either siGe. Amos Dyer's grave was
hidden by green branches aud few
bright geraniums picked from the min
ister's window box. II was ali very
peaceful there in the early morning.
The quiet and purity were in strange
contrast 10 the life Of turmoil whose
tragic ending was 10 be commemorated.
Presently the little funeral party came
up the walk. DIR. NARROW led Jack by
the hand, and the two women followed.
They stood about the grave, and the
minister opened his Bible.
Though I speak with the tongues Of
men and Of angels, and have not char
ity-p the words of the beautiful chap