Middletown transcript., 1900-05-26

| " JOU, HGID HtSI OOH'G hGCU TIE HGTG ITl
this 10orld any longer!"
| laxed, 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 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 q
large roll of bills to be used for the
family, then went out again.
That ride in the cold gray of the de-
clining winter afternoon was 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 gleam 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 unnerved at the funeral
and had felt remorse more keenly than
he had once thought possible. As he
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. II
was dark, but husband and wife sat
by the light Of the open fire and talked
together until nearly 6 o'clock. Mr..
Hardy had just said something about
Clara, and Mrs. Hardy replied, "Isnt it |
about time they were 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
exclamations 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 o'clock way train between
Baldwin and here, and Burns has teIe-
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. I can bear it with
you"
He telephoned that the train was
derailed and dozen people killed and
rs many injured. must go down the
road at once. Oh, my God, spare our
dear onesr'
Mr.. Hardy was almost overwhelmed
by this last stroke, and yet he asked
how many accidents had oc-
cured this last year on the road, and
ne had never given much thought TO
he suffering of those families afflicted.
Now perhaps it had come to him. and.
bidding his wife pray and hope. he
'ushed out of the house and down to
he station with the energy and rapidi
y of the youth who In college days
lad taken prizes for athletic superi.
,rity.
AT the yard he found special train
ust ready to go to the scene of the ae-
ident. 1t consisted Of a wrecking car.
! caboose and one coach with tender
md engine. lie mounted the engine
With feeling that it was a little near.
r the fatal spot and would reach there
Irst. At the last minute no more def.
lite news concerning the particular
ersons killed and injured had been re-
eived.
Mr.. Hardy felt almost glad of the un-
artainty as the engine pulled out and
tarted on its run of 10 miles, soon at
lining speed Of 80 miles an hour,
he snow was failing in large, moist
axes. II was growing warmer and
'ould rain before morning. He gazed