The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-09-30
FARMvILLE, VA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 1904.


not we'll enough to leave her room.
I'D looked forward SO 10 this. he
said "To the being with you all again.
OF course, ! see now that / was BIT OF
a fool not to have prepared you in some
way. But / was so anxious to get back.
And II seemed to me that being Chris
tians. you would find it natural enough.
| wonder more don't return. But It's
an effort suppose Incidence keeps
them on the other side"
you mustn't think I'm hurt or any
thing Of that kind" he began In a dep
recating. explanatory tone. "Of course.
/ 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 IAN those
wreaths. she SAID ought TO be ar
idIEtN Oh Ant EidNfr NhrhhN N''N
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 a bitter
smile. Dorothy was always n 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. lie 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 well. II 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
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 cheerlulness, talking
and laughing loudly, but 1t 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 a new fear. To-
gether they were invulnerable; but each
dreaded the dark hours, and I'm the
faces Of the others saw her own ter
ror. The girls we're full Of pity foi
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 curlously. They heard
her run upstairs with a sudden scutter-
ing rush Of frightened animal. Hei
door closed sharply and the key was
turned I'm the lOck-twice. In sort OF
frenzy OF haste. In the room below
there was quietness for a moment or two
and a feeling OF unbearable suspense
No one dared look at the bridegroom
who had remained standing In the posi-
tion he took up when his wife rOse from
| her seat
Presently he went and stood before
his father and spoke without anger
but In a tone that suggested an unal-
terable loneliness
81 must apologize. father. he said
"for having annoyed you and the 9TH
ers like this. II was a mistake had
not realized that grave could be- -
quickly filled up. But you will soor
forget Eleven hours Of reality are moi
too much out Of lifetime Of Illusion.
He went out. but stopped on the
threshold for an instant
Persuade Bertha that ! am not ar
Imagination" ." he said "She IS such q
nervous little thing"
In the morning they found that some
violent and dlsdalnful hand had tossed
all the fading wreaths away from Tho
grave II stared at them from tbs
trim green OF the churehyard, brown
and desolate. One card. detached from
its ribbon, lay, a forlorn white patch
amongst the sods. II was that which
Bertha had tied TO her cross OF lilies
there WAS the inscription. Just decipher'
able. though blurred by the wet earth
'For my darling, from his ever loving wife
He Is not lost. for we shall meet again
Chicago Tribune.