The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-04-06

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changed to the HE STOPPED HORROR
dull hue to be STRICKEN.
seen on the side of a dead fish. The
mouth was opened. Its red had changed
to an appalling yellow. Over the gray
skin of the face ran little ants. One
was trundling some sort of bundle
along the upper lip. k. liz. y
The youth gave a shrek as he con-
fronted the thing. He was, for mo-
ments, turned to stone, before it. He
remained staring into the liquid-look-
ing eyes. The dead man and the liv-
ing man exchanged a long look. Then
the youth cautiously put one hand be-
hind him and brought it against a
tree. Leaning upon this, he retreated,
step by step, with his face still toward
the thing. He feared, that if he turned
his back, the body might spring up and
stealthily pursue him. -.-#t' ~.
~ The branches, pushing against him,
threatened to throw him over it. His
unguided feet, too, caught aggravat-
ingly in brambles. And, with it all,
he received a subtle suggestion to touch
the corpse. As he thought of his hand
upon it, he shuddered profoundly.
At last he burst the bounds which
had fastened him to the spot and fled,
unheeding the underbrush. He was
pursued by sight of the black ants
swarming greedily upon the gray face
and venturing near to the eyes.
After time he paused, and, breath
less and painting, listened. He imag-
ined some strange voice would come
from the dead throat and squawl after
him in horrible menaces.
The trees about the portal of the
chapel moved slightly in soft wind.
A sad silence was upon the little guard
ing edifice.
CHAPTER VIII.
The trees began softly to sing a
hymn of twilight. The FURNISHED sun
sank until slan&ed bronze rays struck
the forest. There was a lull in the
noises Of insects as II they had bowed
their beal1s and. were making a de-
-votional pause. There was silence
save for the chanted chorus of the
trees.
Then, upon this stiffness, there sud.
denly broke a tremendous clanuor of
sounds. A crimson roar came from the
distance.
The youth stopped. He was trans
fixed by this terrific medley of all
noises. 1t was as if worlds were being
rended. There was the ripping sound
OF musketry and the creaking crash OF
the artillery.
His mind few in all directions. He
conceived the two armies to be at each
other panther-fashion. He listened
for time. Then he began to run in
the direction of the battle. He saw
that it was an ironical thing for him to
be running thus toward that which
he had been at such pans to avoid.
But he said, in substance, to himself
that if the earth and moon were about
to clash, many persons would doubtless
plan to get upon roofs to witness the
collision.
As he ran, he became aware that the
forest had stopped its music, as If at
last becoming capable of hearing the
foreign sounds. The trees hushed and
stood motionless: Everything seemed
to be listening to the crackle and
clatter and ear-shaking thunder. The
chorus pealed over the still earth.
It suddenly occurred to the youth
that the fight in which he had been,
was, after all, but perfunctory pop
ping. In the hearing of this present
din, he was doubtful # he had seen
real battle-scenes. This uproar ex-
planned a celestial battle; it was
tumbling hordes a-struggle in the air.
He went rapidly on. He wished to
come to the edge Of the forest that he
might peer out. .-,- -s-..
AS he fastened, there passed through
his mind pictures of stupendous con
fiicts. His accumulated thoughts upon
such subjects were used to form scenes.
The noise was as the voice of an elo-
quent being, describing.
Sometimes the brambles formed
chains and tried to hold him back.
Trees, confronting him, stretched out
their arms and forbade him to pass.
After it's previous hostility this new re-
sistence Of the forest filed him with a
fine bitterness. 1t seemed that nature
could not be quite ready to kill him.
But he obstinately took roundabout
ways and presently he was where he
could see long gray walls of vapor,
where lay battle lines. The voices of
cannon shook him. The musketrv
sounded In long irregular surges that
played havoc with his ears. He stood
regardent for moment. His eyes had
an awe-struck expression. He gawked
In the direction of the fight.
Presently he proceeded again on his
forward way. The battle was like the
grinding of an immense and terrible
machine to him. Its complexities and
powers, it's grim processes, fascipated
BIN. He must go close and see It pro-
duce corpses.,
He came finally to a road from which
he could see in the distance dark and
agitated bodies OF troops, smoke