The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-04-28
The rlan Who
Returned From
The Under World.

90
II was a sad thing. The local paper,
uitbout obvious exaggeration, had
called It a tragedy. But they were
a truly Christian family, unimagina-
lively orthodox, and knew how to
hiring discreet resignation to their
griefs. He had caught a chill IN the
last week Of his honeymoon and re-
mrned home TO die after a three days
Hlness-three vague, Intellectual days
Of optimism and inexperienced nurs-
ing
The whole thing was horrible and
surprising, and the little bride-l9
wears old. blue eyed and fuffy-was
80 stricken with astonishment as to
ne only half conscious Of her misery.
She went to the funeral, walking firm
" and quietly by her fatherin-law. 1t
seemed 10 her a ceremony more digni'
fed than terrible, for she was unable
10 conceive of her husband as lying
IN the coffin which stood, betiowered
and subsidiary altar. at the chancel
steps. Everybody said that the
wreaths were beautiful, especially the
great clrclet 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 po'
eiry to the weekly 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 is done.
she said to herself bitterly that 1t
was cruel and unfair that he should
be free and joyous on some happy
spiritual plane while she spent long
gray years in a world that had sud
denly become uninteresting, He had
been so kind, so considerate. Sc much
I her own during the fortnight that
they had spent together. She missed
bis ready attention, the exclusive de-
h light which he had in her company
\ the way that his hand caressed the
short bits of hair on her neck. She
dared not allow herself to realize that
she would never have these things
again. The thought hurt her intense.
4 ly, and she detested pain
Something in her mind cried out,
"0h, come back! Come back! want
B YOU" His death, his vanishment, as
she thought Of 1t. sitting in the dark
church with her eyes fixed on tho
4 white mass of flowers. seemed too
monstrous and unnatural to be true.
A She cried a little as she walked
back across the churehyard and
thought of the text which the curate
had several times repeated: so also
Is the resurrection Of the dead. 1t is
sown in corruption; it is raised In
n interruption.
n Her father-in-law and his two daugh'
tiers were with her. They all felt
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 bear
2ers- The dead man was in all their
thoughts Just then; he had been a
great gardener, and had planted, lit
ue while before his marriage, the lilies
a which his bride now brushed with her
ARsun crepe skirt. In the garden which
nehad given life to 1t was difficult to
|NoeleVe in his death. They looked at
Ieach other, recognizing between them
|an added sensation of loss, y 'W
And in the porch they found him
Taltlng for them. .as -II a
Alerward, when they came to talk
rooat IT, no one could quite remember
shat he wore or how he looked. On
ne was there, standing in the door
|Iay' as he had been accustomed to
and looking at his flowers after a
uo'hlng's work at his desk. There
Nss an air of entire reality about it,
MS father--tongue responding au-
Omaucally to the stimulus Of sight
esan TO say, Hello, my boyl" Then
n. y stopped, looked hastily at the 9TH
- and hoped that they had not
beard him.
tor Just five seconds there was .
ea' silence. The father heard the
a.ch tick in his waistcoat pocket,
uu me sound of his own strenuous
'Salh He knew that the three girls
s'e all looking at the figure in the
I'll Then the bride gave little
% Her husband had stepped to-
a.u her. holding out his arms with