The Irish standard., 1904-10-08


He turned back into the house, and
the others followed him, staring stupid
~, and not hldng'sto, speak to one ,an-
ether. No,one as;yetlhad said anything
to. him.
Tn<, went into the dinlng-room. He
Was hot there. The cloth was laid for
lunch; there was faint scent of cab
.hages and stewed rabbit
They all felt treasured. 1t was so
evident what had happened. They, had
been the victims of collective hallu-
cination-a natural thing enough I'M
der the circumstances of nerve strain
and shock. The bride raised her veil.
and on her small white face there were
traces of relief as we'll as Of disappoint-
ment. She went upstairs to take her
things off.
They heard her light footsteps and
rustling dress. and then heavy foot
step that went after her. The elder
daughter rose quietly and went. to the
open window. Il can't breathe; this
room is stifing," she said.
"a sound came through the opened
sash-the grating sound of spade, and
then the heavy, regular thud of wet
earth thrown from height. The new
grave was being filled up.
4 Whilst this still held them with 2
reminder of the mornings work door
above was opened and shut quickly.
Then they heard confused falling
sound and scream. They rushed up
stairs, feeling sick with an unacknowl-
j. for h
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.
4 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.
l wond@ more don't return. But it's
an effort. l 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 l don't
understand. In day or two the shock
will have passed off, 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. Cali those
wreaths,' she SAID, Ought 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 a tidy
little soul,' he said "but it's extraor-
binary how illogical woman can be. :"
AS the day passed they noticed a
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 of which they were so
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
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 tone that was almost suliy: "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 cheerfulness, talking
and laughing loudly, but it 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 tc
I be behaving crully-worse, awkward
. ly; but any other conduct seemed i'm
possible.
+. AS bed time approached they looked
/, at one another with new fear. To
gether they were invulnerable; but eacf
dreaded the dark hours, and in the
faces of the others saw her own ter
ror The girls were full of pity fo
the bride, but they did not dare ofre
their companionship.
As the clock struck II he got up ant
looked at his wife. There came owe
. his face an expression which meant de
:. termination and also great expectancy
She rose, too, and went almost steaoil.
to the door. Her face was white ant
:, her eyes stared curiously. They hear
: her run upstairs with asudden scuttel
ing rush of a frightened animal. He
= door closed sharply and the key wa
turned in the lock-twice, In sort o
frenzy of haste. In the room belo,
there was quietness for moment or tw
n fonl;r, of mr. bco hlo cnsnor or