Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-07-08
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.

the remains were those of their own
master! What could I do? Had
broken my promise to Fraulein Haas?
Was helping even now to make pub
lie Steinhardt's crime? Was l not
standing asserting by while a terrible
vengeance was threatened on the for
eigner in the deep, slow Lancashire
speech? / felt helpless in the crisis;
permitted myself to be borne along
whittier it might carry me.
In very few minutes the canvas
packages, dropping almost to pieces,
were out of the ground and laid in
silence on hand barrow. In silence
the improvised bier was taken up be-
tween two men, and as it was carried
away attended by the lanterns the
crowd, as by instinct, formed in process
sion behind. l was surprised to find
myself in front of this strange funeral
procession and close to the bier. Thus
in silence we marched away from the
ruined mill through the tortuors and
treacherous ways which led to the viii
lage.
"He's got an experiment on hand to-
night, they say" remarked one in a
low voice.
cay" said another; "and there's a
night shift on of five or six"
AS we entered upon the paved main
street of the village, the regular clank
of the clogs of our procession was suffi-
cient of itself to attract attention.
But though it was very late, the streets
were alive with people, not noisy, as
might have been expected on a wake
night, but earnest and occupied. 1t
was a novel, but true, "Timperley
Wakes" for the whole population
seemed astir. Our procession created
little or no surprise; it appeared to
have been expected. We were greeted
with no speech or cries. but heard
now and then fearful whispers of "Who
is it?" and "They cannot tell yet"
Many of the crowd fell into the process
sion as it slowly passed up the street.
There was no tavern open at that late
hour to which the bier could be taken
for examination, so it was carried to
soon opened, lit up, and full of people,
as it had been earlier in the evening.
have no clear recollection of what
followed. 1 Iappealed to them not to
open the packages; knew who it was.
But got only the obstinate, but re-
spectful answer, "Yea, parson, but we
num-" The packages were opened; !;
but know only had horrible vision
of a CHASTITY head with black hair and
beard.
"Good Id" 1 heard more than one
exClaim. "It's TIL master!?"
His men had recognized Mr.. Lacroix.
Hurried and fierce consultations were
held, to which was not invited, and
upon which did not force myself. In
few minutes the whole crowd, except
a few who remained to watch over the
CHASTITY remains, marched out of the
hall as if with settled purpose. I ac-
companied them with no purpose at all
of my own; my will seemed absorbed
in that of the crowd. We were on our
way down the. village street, when
was startled by the church bell begin
ming to toll; SOME venturesome spirit
had forced his way into the tower.
To explain what followed 1 must
mention here that for some weeks many
of the work people, the younger folk
especially, had been under the influ-
ence of those hysterical, revivalistic
teachings which have always taken
such hold of the ignorant and the half
educated. A contingent of the Saliva
tion Army had held the village fol
some time, preaching fire and sword,
the terrible justice of God, and the
pains of everlasting torment to the un-
believing. This kind of doctrine accord
ed well with the grim, tenacious Lanca-
shire character, and the army had won
good many recruits among the viii
layers. These were we'll represented in
the crowd 1 accompanied.
Before l quite knew where we were
we had halted at the gates of the chem
ical works. Without word the fore
most of the crowd knocked. There
was, OF course, no answer, and they
knocked again. While we waited lis
tened mechanically to the talk which
those about me began in their slow
fashion to indulge in.
"God Almighty" said one, "is ter
rible to wicked man like him!"
"Yea," said another, "and wicked
he is! You mind what Muster Free
man told US that time; it's the likes
of Steenhardt has made US such sinners
as we are, and has made our place what
it isl An he connot do wi'out muir
dering his partner, poor mani"
"He'll ha' his proper death for :,
sure as Gods true!" said third.
"Yea, 'said the first, ''and Gods
wrath will not wait for terrible sim
ner like him!'
In little while there was the sound
of bolts being drawn, and the watch
man appeared at the side gate. When
he saw the crowd he would have shut
1t again, but he was prevented. Sew
eral entered that way and opened wide
the great gates. The crowd entered
without commotion. and marched ahead
as if it knew its destination. From a
shed filled with glowing vapors, came
half dozen workmen-the night shift,
1 supposed. They met their comrades
and demanded what was to do. They
were answered by the map who had