Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-08-04

You Sa1d-he WOuldn' tail me-yOu
wereright-nOt Once-not Once-he stuck
to me-I'm glad he told me-thank
God-for you-you shOwed-me-I'll
see him--and-tell him And Craig,
kneeling beside him so steady-I was
behaving like a fool-smiled down
through his streaming tears into the
dim eyes so brightly till they could see
no more. Thank him for that! He help
ed the old man through, and he helped
me, too, that night, thank Godv'
And Graeme's voice, hard till now,
broke in sob.
beside his passing friend, and all his
self control could not keep back the
flowing tears.
''It was his life for mine," he said
huskily.
The brother and sister were quietly
weeping, but spoke no word, though
knew Graeme was waiting for them.
took up the word and told Of what
I had known of Nelson and his infiu-
ence upon the men of Black Rock.
They listened eagerly enough, but still
without speaking. There seemed moth
ing to say till l suggested to Graeme
that he must get some rest. Then the
girl turned to him and, impulsively put
ting out her hand, said:
ooh, it is all so sad, but how can we
ever thank your"
''Thank me?" gasped Graeme. "Can
you forgive me? l brought him to his
DEATH"
"No, MOI You must not say so!' she
answered hurriedly. You would have
done the same for him."
"God knows | would" said Graeme
earnestly, "and God bless you for your
wordsv'
And l was thankful to see the tears
start in his dry, burning eyes.
We carried him to the old home in
the country, that he might lie by the
side of the wife he had loved and
wronged. A few friends met us at the
wayside station and followed in sad
procession along the country road that
wound past farms and through woods
and at last up to the ascent where the
quaint old wooden church, black with
the rains and SHOWS of many years,
! stood among its silent graves. The lit
tie graveyard sloped gently toward the
setting sun, and from it one could see,
far on every side, the fields of grain
and meadowland that wandered off
over softly undulating hills to meet the
maple woods at the horizon, dark.
green and cool. Here and there white
! farmhouses, with great barns standing
near, looked out from clustering or.
, chards.
Up the grass grown walk and
through the crowding mounds, over
which waves uncut the long, tangling
grass, we bear our friend and let him
gently down into the kindly bosom OF
Mother Earth, dark. moist and warm
The sound of distant cowbell mingles
with the voice of the last prayer; the
clods drop heavily with heart startling
echo; the mound is heaped and shaped
; by kindly friends, sharing with one
another the task; the long, rough sods
are laid over and patted into place; the
old minister takes farewell in a few
WOFuS VI ScIlIe Sy mpdtuy, TIC UlOluSl
and sister, with lingering looks at th'
two graves side by side, the old an(
the new, step into the farmers car
riage and drive away; the sexton locks
the gate ard goes home, and we arr
left outside alone.
Then we went back and stood b!
Nelson's grave.
After a long silence Graeme spoke.
"Connor, he did not grudge his life t.
me, and think" and here the word
came slowly, II understand now wha
that means, who loved me and CAV
himself for me-
Then, taking off his hat, he said rev
erently:
"By Gods help, Nelson's life shal
not end, but shall go on. Yes. oil
man." looking down upon the grave
I'm with you," and, lifting up his fac
to the calm sky, God help me to
true!'
Then he turned and walked briskl
away, as one might who had pressin
business or as soldiers march from
comrades grave to a merry tune. no
that they have forgotten, but the
have still to fight.
And this was the way old man Ne
son came home.