Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-03

TOT next season. ransom, bringing up the rear, railed Johnson unmercifully regarding a letter the comedian had discovered him reading on the train. From Frohman?" he inquired, with mock interest.
 'No," responded Johnson, who ap- peared to be in unusually good spir- it's, '.it isn't from girl, either" Un- consciously Ransom's hand sought the inner pocket of his coat and at the others quizzical laugh he began to study the landscape with very red face.
 The road-a mere cart track swerved suddenly, and, without warn ing, the party found themselves enter ing country graveyard, primitive inclosure of struggling stones and a few huge pine trees. Under one of the latter was a small open grave-by the side of it, somber blot on the bright sunshine, tiny coffin.
 Against it, her slender body shak- ing with sobs, lay a woman striv- ing seemingly to clasp it :n her arms, while about her stood perhaps score of people, their uneasy glances and shifting movements showing plainly that the situation was beyond them.
 Let's get out of here," whispered Parker, turning hurriedly. "I don't care for any funerals in mine. I'm going back" Before he could carry out his intention. man left his place among the mourners and hesitating- ly approached. Wont you wait a minute, mister,'' he said. awkwardly. 'sAIebbe there's some of your folks kin say prayer, and I'd take it mighty kind if they would. Y see," with a sudden choke, "my little boy is laying over there, and his moth CT is nigh distracted 'cos there ain't anybody to kinder ask God to look after him before we have to go and leave him all alone. We're just plain folks, without much book learning, and the minister couldn't get here; city folks, take it?"
 Miss Marvelle's troubled eyes veered swiftly from the speakers anxious face to the pathetic group under the trees, and then back to her compan- ions; and it came home to her with sudden force how completely the homely appeal had sounded the shall lowness of their natures. Ransom, with an abstracted air, was making little holes in the ground with his cane, and Parker's countenance bore an expression of lofty boredom-she wondered, with swift half-scorn, why she had ever mistaken i. for the sign manual of high breeding; the idol was nothing but clay, after all.
 ''For shame" she said, indignant Iy, after a silence. Can't any of you men say something anything to comfort that poor mother; haven't you any feeling?" Parker turned away his head and Ransom shook his vigorously. The leading lady''s eyes caught Johnson's and held them. Something in the mute question in them turned his face suddenly white: tsI'll try" he said, simply, and walking over he dropped his hand on the little coffin.
 My friends he said, quietly, and somehow the dignity he had always lacked seemed to fall on him all at once like mantle. sI'm not church. man, but, believe me, the little one lying here needs no minister to speak for him to the one who said: Suffer little children to come unto me- I doubt not the one you love is looking down on us to-day, we'll and happy, from that land where there is no sorrow nor crying-wait- ing until that better day when, in the fullness of time, where he is, there you shall be also." Then, reverently, and in voice that betrayed none of the hesitation of the footlights, John son repeated the Lords prayer.
 That iiighV as Johnson was dress ing for the first act Ransom came into his room. "Old man. he said. in a curiously shaky voice, forgive me for the nasty things I've said to you; you are a better man than L. than any of us-an1 I honor you.''
 ''No, mo-" cried Johnson, grasping the proffered hand with a beaming face, don't say a better one; besides, l knew you were only chaffing me and I don't blame you for it. know well enough that can't act like you or Parker, and I'm going home to- morrow. That letter you saw me reading was from my father; he's found out that he made a mistake about something that happehed years ago, and he wrote asking me to for get and forgive. I shan't have to be the square peg in the round hole any more; and, by the way, Ransom, want you to be the first to congratu- late me- Miss Marvelle is going, too she promised to marry me on the way back from the funeral this aft ernoon."