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

quietly by her father-in-law. II ltseemed
to her a ceremony more dignified than
terrible, for she was unable to con-
ceive OF her husband as lying In the
coffin which stood, a behowered and
subsidiary altar. at the chancel steps.
Everybody said that the wreaths were
beautiful, especially the great circlet of
white roses which had been sent by
the curate's wife She had written a
verse on the card which went with it,
for she contributed poetry to the week
ly papers sometimes.
The verse rang In the brides head
while the slow ritual OF the service
went on:
"The happy dead are here:
Their spirits In the sun
Sing softly and make cheer
Because that life IL done"
She said TO herself bitterly that II
was cruel and unfair that he should be
free and joyous on some happy spiritual
plane whilst she spent long gray years
In the world that had suddenly become
uninteresting. He had been so kind,
so considerate. 40 much her own dur
ing the fortnight that they had spent
together. She missed his ready atten-
ton. the exclusive delight which he
had In her company. the way that his
hand caressed the short bits OF hair In
her neck. She dared not allow her
self TO realize that she would never
have these things again The thought
hurt her intensely. and she detested
pain
Something in her mind cried out: 20
come backl Come backi want youl
His death. his vanishment. as she
thought Of II, sitting in the dark
church with her eyes fixed on the white
mass Of flowers. seemed too monsirous
and unnatural to bo true.
She cried a little as she walked back
across the churchyard and thought OF
the text which the curate had several
times repeated so also is the resur-
rection Of the dead II Ia sown in cor
ruption: II is raised in interruption.
Her father-in-law and his two daugh-
ters were with her They all felt a
little tired and dull now that the great
event was over They went slowly down
the church lane. through the garden
gate, up the path still marked with the
heavy footsteps OF the bearers The
dead man was in all their thoughts just
then; he had been a great gardener
and had planted a little while before
his marriage the lilies which his bride
now brushed with her stiff crepe skirt
In the garden which be had given llf'
to II was difficult 10 believe IN his death
They looked at each other. recognizing
between them an added sensation OF
loss
And in the porch they found hin
waiting for them.
Afterwards, when they came TO tall
about II. no one could quite remember
what he wore or how he looked. Only
he was there. standing In the doorway
as he had been accustomed 10 stanC
looking at his flowers after a morn
ing's work at the desk There was al
air Of entire reality about IT,
His father. tongue responding auto
matically 10 the stimulus OF sight. be
gan 10 say: Hello. my boyl" TheI
he stopped, looked hastily at the Others
and hoped they had not heard him.
For just five seconds there was
dead silence. The father heard tn
watch tick in his waistcoat pocket AM
the sound OF his own strenuous breath
He knew that the three girls were al
looking at the figure in the porch. Thel
the bride gave little cry. Her hus
band had stepped towards her. holdInI
out his arms with that boyish gestur
OF affection which she had always like
so much.
Bertha, darling. couldn't leay
youl" be said. His voice had the Joy
full note of a traveller come home.
She turned away from him and fun
herself against her fatherin-law. hi'
her face on his sleeve. and began to or,
Historically.
Pm 10 sorry," said the young man
1--WE startled all Of you. / thought
somehow, you'd understand when yol
saw me here: but Of course you don't
II was stupid Of me The point Is. Nv
come back. Bertha wanted me; an
leaving her alone seemed so horrible
He turned back into the house. an
the others followed him. staring stupid
ly. and not liking To speak to one an
other. No one as yet had said anythin
TO him.
They went into tho dinlng-room. X
was not there. The cloth was laid 70
lunch; there was faint scent OF cab
bages and stewed rabbit.
They all felt treasured. II was s.
evident what had happened. They ha
been the victims Of collective hallu
cination-a natural thing enough un
der the circumstances OF nerve strai
and shock. The bride raised her vel
and on her small white face there wer
traces OF relief as we'll as Of disappoint
ment She went upstairs to take he
things of.
They heard her light footsteps an
rustling dress, and then a heavy foot
step that went after her. The eide
daughter rose quietly and went to III
open window. Il can't breathe; thl
room Is sitting" she said.
"A sound came through the opene
sash-the grating sound Of a spade. an
then the heavy. regular thud Of We
earth thrown from height The ne
grave was being filled up.
Whilst this still held them with
reminder Of the mornings work doc
above was opened and shut Quickl,
Then they heard a confused fallin
sound and q scream. They rushed vi
stairs, feeling sick with an unacknow
edged terror. The bride lay on n
bedroom floor In dead faint
He Joined them at lunch and spoke II