The Worthington advance., 1904-09-23
open window. n can't breathe; this
room il sfif1inR - shA said

then the heavy, regular thud OF wet
earth thrown from height. The new
grave was being filed up. .,- ..s@
Whilst this still held them with .
reminder Of the mornings work door
above was opened and shut quickly.
Then they heard q confused falling
sound and q scream. They rushed up
stairs, feeling sick with an unacknowl-
edged terror. The bride lay on her
bedroom floor in dead faint.
He joined them at lunch and spoke re-
gretfully of the fact that Bertha was
not we'll 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 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.
wonder more don't return. But it's
an effort. I 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,
l know how glad you all are, but you're
startled. You mustn't fancy don't
understand. In day or two the shock
will have passed of, and we shall all
be happy together as we used to be.
Poor little Bertha. The sudden Joy was
almost too much for her. wasn't it,"
After lunch the elder daughter drew
her father on one side. "All those
wreaths,' she said, fought to be ar
ranged on the grave. oughtn't they!
People will wonder"
! "Yes," he answered. you're quite
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 tidy
little SOUL" he said "but it's extraor-
dinary how illogical woman can be"
AS the day passed they noticed =
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 ofsswhich they were 80
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 lie.
saw that he was being treated as q
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 4 tone that was almost sulky: For
q reunited family we manage to con-
ceal her raptures pretty WELL"
| 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 hts voice when he spoke was re-
sentful. They all knew themselves to
| be behaving crully-worse, awkward
lly;.~ but any other conduct seemed i'm
possible.
| AS bed time approached they looked
lat 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
! .or. The girls were full of pity fol
The Ilzride, but they did not dare Offer
, thetr .companionship.
j AS the clock struck II he got up and
,.,elssd 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
4 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 a sort of
frenzy of haste. In the room below
there was Quietness for moment or two
/ and q feeling Of unbearable suspense.
No one dared look at the bridegroom.
who had remained standing In the posi-
/ ton he 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 I oal"
terable loneliness.
Il must apologize, father, he said.
"'for having annoyed you and the otr-
ers like this. It was a mistake-I ha
not realized that a grave could be so
quickly filled up. But you will soon
forget Eleven hours of reality are. not
too much out Of a lifetime of illusion"
He went out, but stopped on the
threshold for an instant.
Persuade Bertha that am not an