The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-04-28


come back. Bertha wanted me. "a
ble." ~ noiri'
lie turned back into the house and
me Others followed him. staring str.
pluly' and not liking to speak TO one
another. No one as yet had said apy.
thing to him. '' "N''
lhey went into the dining room. He
was not there. The cloth was Iaid for
lunch; there was faint scent of cab.
pages and stewed rabbit
They all felt treasured. II was 50
evident what had happened. They hal
been the victims Of a collective balIp.
clnatlon-a natural thing enough nm.
der the circumstances OF nerve strain
and shock. The bride raised her veil
ana on her small. white face there
were traces Of relief as well as of dis.
appointment She went up stairs to
take her things off.
They heard her light footsteps and
rustllng dress, and then a heavy foot.
sep mat went after her The eldest
daughter rose quietly and went to
open the window. II can't breathe;
'nis room is sitting" she said.
A sound came through the onened
sash-the grating sound of a spade,
and then the heavy and regular thud
or wet earth thrown from a height.
Inc new'made grave was being filed
up.
While this still held them with a re.
minder Of the mornings work a door
above was opened and shut quickly.
Then they heard a confused falling
sound, and a scream. They rushed
upstairs, feeling sick with an unac.
knowledged terror. The bride lay on
her bedroom floor in a dead faint.
He joined them at lunch and spoke
regretfully 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 was a bit
or fool not to have prepared you In
some way. But | was so anxious to
get back And it seemed to me that
being Christians, you would find it ma.
tural enough, I wonder more don't
return. But it's an effort. suppose
Just Incidence Keeps them on the 9th.
sr side"
Silence,
You mustn't think I'm hurt or any
thing Of that kind" he began in a de-
precating, explanatory tone. "Of
course, know how glad you all are,
but you're startled. You mustn't fan
2y | don't understand. In a day or
two the shock will have passed off, and
we shall be as 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. IAN 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 must be done"
She got her hat and went across
into the churchyard, grateful for the
fresh air and the sane, ordinary APP
pearance Of the outside world. Her
brother went to the window and
looked out, saw her among the tomb
stones STOPPING over her work.
He turned to his father with a bit
ter smile. Dorothy was always tidy
little SOUL he said; "but it's extraor-
binary how illogical woman can be-"
As the day passed they noticed
change in him. He had always been
of an open and happy disposition, fond
of companionship, and easily pleased.
II was in this mood that he had re-
turned. But their secret terror, the
uncomfortable aversion Of which they
were so much ashamed, told after a
while on the mental atmosphere Out
wardly they bore the tension Of his
presence pretty well. 1t is astonish-
ing how soon a horror becomes home
ly. 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 ST.
lent; but think they found this less
horrible than his gayety had been
Once he said, in a tone that was al
most sulky: "For a reunited family
we manage to conceal our raptures
,,.att,t v,,oll