The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-30

o God, help me! DON'T keep me here tn
this aUorld any longer!"
Taxed, and he breathed more easily,
but as soon as possible he arose and
went out and stood silent there until
the body was brought out and placed
in the hearse. Then he went in and
spoke a few words to his wife and
told Mr.. Jones that he could take four
or five to the cemetery if they wished
to go. Mrs. Hardy would stay with
the suffering widow until he came
back. Mr.. Hardy also whispered some
thing to his minister and gave him a
large roll of bills to be used for the
family, then went out again.
That ride in the cold gray of the de-
Ginning winter afternoon was a bitter
experience to Robert. He reused him
self at the grave as he heard the
words, Raise us from the death of
sin unto the resurrection Of righteous
ness," and something like a CLEAN of
hope shot through his heart at the
words. Surely there was mercy with
him who had conquered death for the
sake of the human race.
He drove back with more peace of
soul than he had thought possible. BY
the time he had reached the shop tene-
ments it was growing dark. He drove
home with his wife and thought with
something of feeling of pleasure of
the evening before him with his fam
lily. This second day had been more
agitating in some ways than his first.
He had been unuerved at the funeral
and had felt remorse more keenly than
he had once thought possible AS lie
reviewed the events Of the day with
his wife he felt dissatisfied. And vet
he had truly tried to do his duty in the
light of eternity. What more could he
do?
He felt anxious about George and
told his wife of the conversation he
had with him. ! Mrs. Hardy felt the
same anxiety with her husband. After
the horses were put up and the father
and mother had gone into the house
they continued the conversation. Alice
was up stairs with George, and the
other children had not come back. 1t
was dark, but husband and wife sa,
by the light of the open fire and talked
together unuil nearly O'clock. Mr..
Hardy had just said something about
Clara and Mrs. Hardy replied, Isn't it
about time they We're here?" when the
telephone bell rang in the little office
adjoining the hallway. where Mr..
Hardy did some of the business of
the company, being connected by wire
with the shops. He went in and an
swered the call, and a series Of sharp
EXPLANATIONS and questions was soon
followed by his coming back into the
room where his wife sat. By the light
of the open fire she could see that he
was very pale. His overcoat was lying
on the couch where he had thrown it
as he came in. He hastily put it on
and then said to his wife:
Mary, there has been an accident
to the 6 O'Clock way train between
Baldwin and here. and Burns has tele-
phoned me to come down. Don't be
alarmed. We will hope for the best"
Mrs. Hardy started up.
"Why, VIII and Bess and Clara were
coming home on that train!'
"Mary"-Mr. Hardy's voice trem-
bled, but he tried to speak calmly and
in comfort-"let us hope for the best"
what did Mr.. Burns telephone?
Tell me all, Robert. can bear it with
you"
"He telephoned that the train was
derailed and dozen people killed and
as many injured. l must go down the
road at once. Oh, my God. spare our
dear onesw
FRO BE Continued