Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-03-25
CHAPTER XVIII.


CHAPTER XVIII.
About a month later, while Mr.. and
Mrs. Farfrae were out riding at some
distance from Casterbridse, they saw Q
solitary human form come from under the
clump Of trees and cross ahead Of them.
The person was some laborcr: his gait
was shamblins. his regard fixed In front Of
him as absolutely as II he wore blinkers,
and In bis hand he carried a few sticks.
Having crossed the road. he descended In.
to q ravine, where cottage revealed Il.
self, which he entered.
III II were not NO far away from Cas-.
terbridge I should say that must BIZ poor
Elson. IT'S just like him." observed Ella.
abcth Jane.
And Il may be Elson. for he's never
been to the yard these three weeks, going
away without saying any word at all,
and owing him for two days work, with.
out knowing who to pay II to-"
The possibility led them to alight. and
at lcast make IN inquiry at the cottage.
Farfrae hitched the reins to the eate.post,
and they approached what was Of humble
dwellings surely the humblest. The walls,
built Of kneaded clay originally, faced
with a trowel, had been worn by years
Of rnin.washings to q lumpy, crumbling
surface. channeled and sunken from Ito
plane, It's gray rents held together here
and there by q lcafy strip Of Ivy, which
could scarcely find substance enough for
the purpose. Leaves from the fence had
been blown into the corners Of the door.
way and lay there undisturbed. The door
was ajar; 'Farfrae knocked; md he who
stood before them was Elson, as they had
cOnjectured.
His face showed marks Of deep sadness,
his eyes lighting on them with an info.
cussed gaze: and he still held In his hand
the few sticks he had been out to gather.
As soon ~ he recognized them he started.
''Nhat, Abel Elson; and Ii II that ye
are hcrey" said Farfrae.
"Ay, yes, sir. You sec, he was kind
like to mother when she were here below,
though I was rough to me-"
"WhO are you talking OFT"
"Oh, sir-Mr. Hcnchet! Didn't 80 know
II? He's just gone-about half an hour
ago. by the sun: for I've got no watch to
my name"
"Not--dead?" faltcred Elizabeth Jane.
"Ycs, ma am. he's gone. He was kind
like to mother when she were here below,
sending her the best shlp-cOal. and hardly
any ashes from II at oil: and taties. and
such like, that were very necdful to her.
So seed him go down street on the night
Of your wOrshipful's wedding to the lady
at yer side, and thought he looked low
and faltering. And I followed On over the
road. aud he turned aud saw me, and said:
Won 70 back! But I followed. and he
turned agin aud said: DO you hear. sir?
Go back But I saw that he was low,
| and ! followed on still. Then u said:
'Elson. what do you follow me for, when
I've told ye to 70 back oil these timcsY
And I said: Because. sir. ] nee things be
had with 80. aud ye wer kind like to
mother, II ye wer rough to me. and
would fain to be kind like to YOU Then
he walked on. and followed; and he new
or complained at me any more. We walk.
cd on like that all night; and In the blue q
the morning. when twas hardly day.
looked ahead q mo. and ] seed that he
wablled. and could hardly drag along.
by that time we had got past here, hut
I had seen that this house was empty a.
! went by, and l got him to come buck;
and took down the boards from the win.
dOws, and helped his inside. Then went
on further. and some neighborly wO0dnlen
lent me q bed. and chair, and few 9th
| or traps, and we brought 'em here. and
made him as comfortable as we could. But
he didn't gain strength, for you see,
ma am, he couldn't cat-nO, no appetite at
| ull--and he got weaker; and to-day he
died. One Of the neighbors have gone to
get man to measure him."
Dear me--and IL II SOL" said Farfrae.
As for Elizabeth, she said nothing.
Upon the head OF his bed he pinned a
pieces OF paper, with some writing upon
it," continued Abel Elson. but not being
man of letters can't read writing so
don't know what it is. can get 1t and
| show yOu'
They stood In silence while he ran into
the cottage, returning In q moment with a
crumpled scrap Of paper. On 1t there was
penciled rs follows:
"MICHAEL HENCHARD'S WILL.
THAT Elizabeth Jane Earfrae be- not
told Of my death, or made to gricve on ac-
count of me.
~ that be not bury'd In consecrated
ground.
~ that no sexton DO asked to toll the
bell.
"& that nobody is wished to see my dead
body.
"& that no mourners walk behind mo at
my funeral.
rs that no flowers be planted on Iuy
| grave.
~ No..