The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-12
the while his mind was In q whirl Of

remorse.
"Yes; up to the last moment"
Mr. Hardy went up to the door and
knocked. A woman, one Of the neigh.
bors, opened II and he went In. The
sight stunned him. The dead man had
been removed to a rear room. but his
wife lay upon the very same ragged
lounge Mr.. Hardy had seen In his
dream. The surgeon was bending over
her. The room was full Of neighbors.
The surgeon suddenly arose and.
turning about, spoke in quiet but de-
cided tone:
"Now. then, good people, just &C
home. will you, for awhile! And sup
pose some of you take these children
along with you. You can't do anything
more now and your presence disturbs
the woman! All, Mr.. Hardy" he ex.
claimed. seeing the manager. "You
here? This Is a sad business. Come,
now, ladies', I must ask you to retire"
Everybody went out except the sur.
geon. the poor woman's sister and Mr..
Hardy. He drew the surgeon over to
the window and inquired concerning
the particulars. Mr.. Hardy had receiv.
ed a shock at the very first. and he
trembled violently.
"Well, you sep." explained the sur
geon. "Scoville was dead man from
the minute Of the accident Nothing
could have saved him. When the acci-
dent happened. was down at Bayville
attending the men who were injured In
the wreck last Saturday. telegraphed
that would come at once. But there
was delay on the road, and did not
get here until 8 o'clock in the morning.
Meanwhile everything had been done
that was possible. But nothing could
save the poor fellow. This shock will
kill his wife. doubt II she lives
through the day"
what will be done with the chill
dren" Mr.. Hardy asked the question
mechanically. again feeling the need Of
time to think out what was best to be
done. The surgeon shrugged his shoul-
ders. He was accustomed to scenes 0f
suffering and distress continually.
"Orphans' home. I suppose" he re-
piled laconically.
A movement and a moan from the
woman called him to her side. and. Mr..
Hardy. left alone, he thought a mo-
ment, then stepped over to the surgeon
and asked him II he could 60 into the
other room and see the dead man. The
surgeon nodded a surprised assent and
Mr. Hardy stepped into the rear room
and closed the door. He drew back the
sheet from the face Of the man and
looked down upon It Nothing in all
his experience had ever moved him %
deeply. The features Of the dead man
were fixed, 1t seemed to him, In an ex-
preston of despair. Mr.. Hardy gasel
steadily upon It for half q minute;
then. replacing the sheet he kneeleA
down by the side Of the rude bed and
prayed God for mercy.
20 Lord" he groaned In his rsmorss.
''lay not the death Of this man to my
charger Yet, even - hs prayed, -
could not drive back the thought which
chased across the prayer: II am this
mans murderer. l issued the order
compelling the Sunday work. refused
Q week ago to inspect the retorts which
were declared unsafe, on the ground
that 1t was not my business. com
PEELED this man to work under the fear
Of losing his place II he refused to
work. l compelled him to work on the
one day in which God has commanded
all men to rest. l, a Christian by pro-
fession, a member Of the church. ma1
Of means-l put this man In deadly
peril upon a Sunday In order that more
money might be made and more hu.
man selfishness might be gratihed. l
did It And this man once saved my
life. l am his murderer. and no muir.
derer shall inherit the kingdom d
God"
So the wretched man prayed there BY
the side of that cold body. Yet the
world today goes on with men In high
places who have 1t In their power b
change the conditions that exact Sun.
day labor from thousands Of weary
men and drive the commerce Of the
world across the continent at the cost
of that priceless thing. the soul OF
man, in order that the owners OF rail.
road stock and the men who get their
salaried living from 1t may have more
money. What! Is 1t not true that every
Sunday In this land Of Christian homes
and hearts many and many we'll fed,
sleek, self satisfied. we'll dressed man,
with high salary and well established
social position. with a luxurious home
and money in the bank. goes to church
and sits down In a softly cushioned
pew to listen to the preaching Of the
gospel. while within hearing distance
Of the services an express train or q
freight thunders by upon the road
which declares the dividends that
make that mans wealth possible?
On those trains are groups Of coal be.
grimed human beings who never 60 In
side q church. who never speak the
name Of God or Christ except In an