Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-04-17

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 II they wished
TO 60. Mrs. Hardy would stay with
the suffering widow until he came
back. Mr.. Hardy also whispered some
thing to his minister and gave him n
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 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 n CLEAN Of
hope shot through his heart 1T 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 II 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
agitatlng 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 yet
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. Isn't 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
ordinations 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 1t
as he came In. He hastily put 1t on
and then said to his wife:
"Mary. there has been an accident
to the 9 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. Will and Bess and Clara were
coming home on that trainr'
"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 telephonel
Tell me all. Robert. can bear 1t with
you"
"He telephoned that the train was
derailed and dozen people killed and
as many injured. must 60 down the
road at once. Oh. my God. spare our
dear ones"
Mr.. Hardy was almost overwhelmed
by this last stroke. and yet be asked
himself how many accidents had oc-
Cured this last year on the road. and
he had never given much thought to
the suffering of those families afflicted
Now perhaps It had come to him. and.
bidding his wife pray and hope. he
rushed out Of the house and down to
the station with the energy and rapid.
II of the youth who In college days
had taken prizes for athletic superi.
oFffy