Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-12-02

with the funeral? Whose was that
corpse. anyway? Didn't IL belong TO the
y l. ranchs Hi. on the other hand.
contended that the corpse was in
charge of the pallbearers. II was
their duty To see IL right TO the grave.
and IL they were not on hand how was
1t soin' TO get there? They didn't ex-
pect that IL would git up and get there
by itself. did they? Hi didn't want no
BANKED mourners fooiin' round that
corp TIL it was properly planted: after
that they might git in their work.
BIT the y l. driver could not accent
this view, and at the first opportunity
slipped past Iii and his paIlbearers
and took the place next the sleigh that
carried the coffin. II is possible that Iii
might have borne with this affront and
loss OF position with even mind. but
the Jeering remarks OF the mourners rs
they slid past triumphantly could not
be endured, and the next moment the
three teams were abreast I'm a race rs
Tor dear life. The corpse driver. hav-
Ing the advantage OF the beaten track
soon left the other two behind running
neck and neck for second place. which
was captured finally by Hi and main
tanned 10 the grave side In spite OF
many attempts on the part OF the Y Is.
The whole proceeding. however. was
considered quite improper. and at la
tours that night. after full and bibu-
lous discussion, il was agreed that the
corpse driver fairly distributed the
blame. For his part. he said. he knew
he hadn't ought TO make no corp
Git any such move on. but he wasn't
goin' 10 see that there corp take second
place nj his own funeral Not il he
could help II. And as for the others. he
thought that the pallbearers had a
BANKED sight more 10 do with the
plantin' than them giddy mourners.
But when they gathered at the Mere
dith ranch 10 carry out the Pilot to his
grave il was felt that the foothiH conn.
try was called TO a new experience.
Ihey were all there-the men from
the Porcupine and from beyond the
Fort the police with the inspector in
command. all the farmers for twenty
miles around. and OF course all the
ranchers and cowboys OF the Swan
Creek country. There was no effort M
repression. There was no need. for in
the cowboys for the first time in their
experience there was no heart for FUN
And as they rode up and hitchcd their
horses 10 the fence or drove their
sleighs into the yard and took of the
bells there was no loud voiced saluta-
ton. no guyinS nor chatting. but with
silent nod they took their places I'm the
crowd about the door or passed into
the kitchen.
The men from the Porcupine could
not quite understand the gloomy S.
lence. II was something unprecedont-
/ ed in country where men laughed all
| care 10 scorn and saluted death with
4 nod. But they We're quick 20 read
/ signs and. with characteristic courtesy
they fell in with the mood they could
not understand There is no man Uv-
ing SO quick TO feel your mood and so
ready 10 adapt himself 20 IL as Is the
true westerncr.
This was the day OF the covhovs'
grief. To the rest OF the community
the Pilot was preacher. to them he was
comrade and friend They had beer
slow 90 admit him 20 their confidence
but steadily he had won his place viii
them TIL within the last Few month.
they had come 10 count him rs OF
themselves. He had ridden the rang,
with them. he had slept I'm their shack
| and cooked his meals on their til
stoves, and besides. he was BIZ
chum. That alone was enough 20 civ,
him n right 10 all they owned He wa
theirs, and they We're only beginning {,
take full pride in him when lie passe,
out from them. leaving an emptiness fl
l their life new and unexplained.
No man i'm that country had evel
! shown concern for them. nor had IL oc
| CURED 20 them that any man could til
/ the Pilot came. II took them long q,
/ believe that the interest he showed II
/ them was genuine and not simply pro
/ tessional. Then. too. from a preacher
/ they had expected chiefly pity. warn
/ Ing. rebuke. The Pilot astonished then
/ by giving them respect admiration and
/ open hearted affection. II was month:
before they could get over their sus
/ piciou that he was humbugging them.
/ When once they did they gave him
/ back without knowing Il all the trust
/ and love OF their big. generous hearts.
/ He had made this world new 70 some
Of them. and 10 all had given glimpses
/ or the next. Ii was no wonder that
| they stood i'm dumb groups about the
/ house where the man who had done
/ all this for them and had been all this
10 them lay dead.
! There was no demonstration OF GRIEF
! The Duke was in command. and his
/ quiet. firm voice. giving directions.
| helped all 10 self control. The women
! who were gathered in the middle room
| were weeping quietly. Bill was no
whore 10 be seen. but near the inner
door sat Gwen in her chair. with Lady
| Charlotte beside her holding her hand
Her face. worn with long suffering,
was pale. but serene as the morning
sky. and with not trace Of tears. As
/ my eye caught hers she beckoned me
| TO her.
Where's Bn?" she said. Bring him
in"
found him At the back Of the house.
Aren't You coming in, Bin?" 1 said.
NO; I guess there's plenty without
me" he said in his slow way.
You'd better come in: the service is
| going 10 begin" urged.
Don't seem as if l cared for 10 hear
| anythin' much. l amt much used 70
| preachin', anyway" said Bill. with
careful indifference, but he added to
| himself. except his. OF course"
Come in. Bill" I urged 1t will
| look queer Won know" hut RUl ~
piled: