The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-08-15


lhe car to stretch his legs. "Come on,
you people," he called back gayly to
his companions, 1--WE found a little
road out here that's lost and I'm 60
ing to explore it; the conductor says
we shan't start for three hours"
An abrupt turn and the party was
out of sight of the train-the fresh
green country through which the road
wound absolutely devoid of signs of
human life. Parker and Miss Marvelle
walked on ahead discussing chances
for next season. Ransom, bringing up
the rear, rallied Johnson numerically
regarding a letter the comedian had
discovered him reading on the train.
"From Frohman?" he inquired, with
mock interest.
'No," responded Johnson, who APP
peared to be in unusually good spir-
its, sit isn't from girl, either" I'm
consciously Ransom's hand sought
the inner pocket of his coat and at
the others quizzical laugh he began
to study the landscape with a very
red face.
The ROAD mere cart track
swerved suddenly, and, without warn
ing, the party found themselves enter
ing a country graveyard, primitive
Enclosure 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 woman striv-
ing seemingly to clasp it in her arms,
while about her stood perhaps a
score of people, their uneasy glances
and shifting movements showing
plainly that the situation was beyond
them.
"Let's get out of here" whispC red
Parker, turning hurriedly. 81 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-
" approached. "Won't you wait a
minute, mister" he said. awkwardly.
"Mebbe there's some of your folks
kin say a prayer, and I'd take il
mighty kind if they would. " see"
with a sudden choke, "my little boy
is laying over there, and his moth
er is nigh distracted eos there amt
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?"
Mis- Marvellc'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
lowncSS of their natures. Ransom,
with an distracted air, was making
little holes in the ground with his
cane. and Parller's countcnance bore
an expression of lofty boredom-she
wondered, with swift half-scorn, why
she had ever mistaken it for the
sign manual OF high breeding; the
idol was nothing but clay. after
all
"For shame" she said, indignant
ly. after silence. "Can't any of Won
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
"Tll 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 a mantle. I'm not a church
man, but, believe me, the little one
! lying here needs no minister to
| speak for him to tie one who said:
Suffer little children to come unto
me- ! doubt not the one you love
! is looking down on us to-day. wei
and happy, from that land where
there is no sorrow nor crying-wait-
ing until that better day when. in the
! fuiiness of time, where he is, there
YOU shall be also" Then, reyerently.
and in a voice that betrayed none Of
the hesitation of the footlights, John
son repeated HI Lords prayer.
! Thai n;Gh7 as johnson was dress
| ing for the first act Ransom came
! into his room. "Old man." he said
! in curiously Shalty voice, ''foreive
me for the nasty things I've said 10
! YOU; You are a better man than l.
| than any of uS-an1 / honor you."
mo, no." cried johnson, gra ping
the protfered hand with a bealning
face. don't say better one; besides,
| knew you were only chatting me
and ! don't blame you for it, | know
well enough that ! cant 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 happened years
ago, and he wrote asking me to for
get and forgive. ! shan't have to he
the SQUARE NEG in the round bo1n ap,.