Water Valley progress., 1903-07-04
THE BITTERNESS
OF DEATH


Durst through the really DrancneS Oh
the overhanging trees and fell in
floods ofyellow light upon the wayside
flowers, or broke into luminous spray
against the rejecting spheres Of the
dew-drops that tipped like, crystal
the upright blades of the fresh young
grass. The thrushes in the hedge
rows, the mocking birds in the null
berry trees, and the field sparrows in
the stunted bushes whistled ana
chirped and sang; while the farmer
coming home from town where his
business had kept him over night,
caught the infection in the bird
notes and whistled too, and laughed
because it was good to live. Far away
over the rounded hills there was a
tinkling of bells as the cattle went
forth to pasture; nearer, the clear air
was vibrant with indistinct sound,
and past all and over all swept the
morning breeze, scented with the
breath of the dew-laden blossoms
and the good earthly odor of the
rested world. And here and there
where the loM,- -weather-beaten farm
houses stood, columns Of curling
smoke rose high in the thin air, pro-
claiming the tidings afar that it was
breakfast time in the country. sidT
Stirred blythe evidence of the hour
and urged by the demands ofasharp4.
ened appetite, the farmer brushed
his horse into a long swinging slope.
which quickly brought into sight the
low. white house that he, called
"home." Truly, it was his. home.
Here his father had lived, and his
grandfather, and here he in his turn
had brought his wife. That was two
years ago, and happiness and rude
plenty and love were,a part of theold
white house. u
Out in the yard the yellow sunfow-
ers nodded a salutation to the great
broad sun, the hens laid their piping
broods about, and even the ducks
quacked boisterous welcome. How
good it was, thought the farmer, to be
at home again. aa
Dismounting, he threw his bridle-
rein over hook in an oak tree that
stod before the gate and entered the
inclosure; then for the first time. he
noticed that the house seemed closed
and that here, at least, no smoke
came curling from the kitchen Chin
ney. - aeN
"Sally must be sleepin' late this
mornin','' he said, half jestingly,
half to reassure himself, for queer
sensation had risen in his throat.
Sally had been alone last night. What
if? He steadied himself with an
effort and resumed his whistling as
he walked up the steps and tried the
door. 1t was locked. Wy
The hens clustered aboiit his feet
clamoring to be fed, the bees droned
lazily among the sunflowers, a car
dinal flashed his gaudy colors through
the opening of thicket in the or
chard, mocking bird swinging on an
apple bough filled the air with song;
but the man, filled with vague alarm,
hurried unheeding around the house
and loo..ed in at the open door. The
stove, freshly polished, stood in.one
end of the room, at the other was the
table with the dishes upon it, all or
derly as they had been placed the
evening before. Near the door a
chair had been overturned, otherwise
the room was as if the dainty house
wife had but just stepped over the
threshold.
As he peered in at the door he hes
itated, half expecting her to leap out
from some hiding place and laugh at
his terror. A mouse nibbled and
scratched among the crusts in the
cupboard. All else was still.
"Sally?" he called, in quavering
voice. The mouse stopped scratch
ing. There was no answer. g sse
"What a fool / am, he said aloud.
"She's only gone to neighbor's. ~