River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-22

lunch; there was a faint scent Of cab
bages and stewed rabbit.
They all felt treasured. 1t was so
evident what had happened. They had
been the victims of collective hallu-
cination-a natural thing enough un-
der the circumstances of nerve strain
and shock. The bride raised her veil,
and on her small white face there were
traces of relief as well as of disappoint-
ment. She went upstairs to take her
things off.
They heard her light footsteps and
rustling dress, and then heavy foot
step that went after her The elder
daughter rose quietly and went to the
open window. Il can't breathe; this
room is sitting" she said.
"a sound came through the opened
sash-the grating sound Of spade, and
then the heavy, regular thud OF wet
earth thrown from a height The new
grave was being filed up.
Whilst this still held them with a
reminder of the mornings work door
above was opened and shut quickly.
Then they heard a confused falling
sound and a scream. They rushed up
stairs, feeling sick with an unacknowl-
edged terror. The bride lay on her
bedroom floor in a dead faint.
He joined them at lunch and spoke re-
gretfully of the fact that Bertha was
not well enough to leave her room,
I'D looked forward so to this" he
said. ITO the being with you all again.
Of course, see now that l was bit of
fool not to have prepared you in some
way. But was so anxious to get back.
And it seemed to me that being Chris
tians, you would find it natural enough.
l wonder more don't return. But it's
an effort. l suppose incidence keeps
them on the other side"
'You mustn't think I'm hurt or any
thing of that kind" he began in dep
recating, explanatory tone. "Of course,
| know how glad you all are, out you're
startled. You mustn't fancy | don't
understand. In a day or two the shock
will have passed off, and we shall all
be happy together as we used to be-.
Poor little Bertha. The sId3ro- joy was
almoa} too much for her, wasn't it?''
After lunch the elder daughter drew
her father on one side. "All those
wreaths,' she SAID ought to be ar
ranged on the grave, oughtn't they?
People will wonder"
YES" he answered. you're quits
right-it ought to be done"
She got her hat and went across into
the churchyard, grateful for the fresh
air and the sane, ordinary appearance
of the outer world. Her brother went
to the window and looked out, saw her
among the tombstones STOPPING over
her work.
He turned to his father with bitter
smile. Dorothy was always a tidy
little SOUL" he said; "but it's extraOr-
binary how illogical a woman can be"
AS the day passed they noticed a
change in him. He had always been OF
an open, happy disposition, fond of
companionship, and easily pleased. 1t
was in this mood that he had returned.
But their secret terror, the uncontroll-
able aversion of which they were so
much ashamed, told after awhile on
the mental atmosphere. Outwardly
they bore the tension of his presence
pretty we'll. 1t is astonishing how soon
a horror becomes homely. Only he,
who knew their voices and the little
affectionate habits of their daily life,
saw that he was being treated as a
visitor.
Bertha came down to tea with an air
of determined placidity, which sat ODDLY
on her babyish face. But she still
wore her black dress. She was careful
not to be left alone with her husband.
He was moody now and silent; but |
think they found this less horrible than
his gayety had been. Once he said,
in a tone that was almost sulky: For
a reunited family we manage to con-
ceal her raptures pretty we'll"
Then Magdalen, the younger sister.
who had never loved him much, put on
an air of fierce cheerfulness, talking
and laughing loudly, but it did not con-
vince.
At dinner they were silent, and the
tone of his voice when he spoke was re-
sentful. They all knew themselves to
be behaving crully-worse, awkward
ly; but any other conduct seemed i'm
possible.
AS bed time approached they looked
at one another with new fear. To-
gether they were invulnerable; but each
dreaded the dark hours, and in the
faces of the others saw her own ter
ror The girls were full of pity for
the bride, but they did not dare offer
their companionship.
AS the clock struck II he got up and
looked at his wife. There came over
his face an expression which meant de-
termination and also great expectancy.
She rose, too, and went almost steadily
to the door. Her face was white and
her eyes stared curiously. They heard
her run upstairs with sudden scutter-
ing rush of a frightened animal. Her
door closed sharply and the key was
turned in the lock-twice, in sort OF
frenzy of haste. In the room below
there was quietness for moment or two
and a feeling of unbearable suspense
No one dared look at the bridegroom,
who had remained standing in the posi-
ton ne took up when his wife rose from
her seat.
Presently he went and stood before
his father and spoke-without anger.
but in tone that suggested an unal-
terable loneliness.
ST must apologize, father, he said,
f'for having annoyed you and the 9TH
nrs like this II was a miStake-I had