Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-12-15


'Dost hear yon bell, Anos?" he
called. Quaveringly.
"Ey. Mr.. Bargle," and Bargle was
relieved to have his hearing thus cor
roborated. Who be it COP there, ]
wonner?"
Put your coat on smartly, lad. I'm
goin' TO see."
Silent, and quaking with cold or
nervousness, they moved noiselessly
over the muffiing snow, turned the
wall Of the churchyard, and, Bargle
grimly leading, filed in through the
creaking lych gate.
The narrow path between the graves
brought them to the porch. and here
Bargle, who entered first, stopped,
fumbling for his keys, and suddenly
held the lantern lower with husky
cry of alarm
In the glimmering light Of the Ian
tern, woman lay huddled close to
the church door, with child rolled in
a shawl, and clasIed lightly in her
arms.
"Alicei faltered the old man, "Alicei'
he hung himself On his knees be-
side her, crying out, elasping her cold
hands, and appealing wildly and help
iessly 10 those VINO we're with him, for
she lay as still and unresponsive as
II she were DEAD
They took the child, which woke
and whimpered. and dispatched Amos
with il 10 The nearest cottage.
TEL en- u hghI hre, said one
OF the meA. an get you on, lad, an
get the doctor there against we come. "
/ Then the two lifted the woman be-
tween them, and the old man, trem-
ulOusly, dlstractedly leading with the
lantern, carried hel with what speed
they could in the direction that Amos
had taken.
And every minute still the bell re-
iterated It's heavy, monotonUus clang
though, for the nOnce, they had al.
most ceased TO be aware OF it; Bargle
had become indifferent to il altOgeth-
er, and only gradually awoke to il
again as he sat holding his daughters
hand, watching the life rekindle in her
eyes, and listening TO her feeble whis-
perings.
1T is long way from the station"
she was telling him, satisfied with the
forgiveness she could read in his
every tone and LOOK; and when got
as far as the church ! was so tired
and faint-and ! fancied about that
time tonight you would be there, in
the belfry; so went to the church,
but the door was locked, and"
Bargle turned to a touch on his
shoulder.
The vicar is waiting, with several
others, In the next ROOM" said the
doctor They want the key OF the
belfry, but think you had better 90
with them-you are talking TO my pa
tient more than is good for her.
Gomez"
Bargle hesitated a moment, then
stopped TO kiss the pale face on the
pillow, and submissively obeyed.
Up the steep, narrow stone stairway
Of the belfry tower, up, and up, and
up they clattered, one after the other,
till at last they streamed in across the
Understanding floor OF the belfry,
and there through the ceiling the
three ropes dangled in the shadowy
emptiness, moved by no visible
agency; and yet, even as the palpitat-
ing little group paused, the iron clang
doomed again close above them.
Some ones up in the bell chamber. :"
said Bargle, obviously.
BY right Of his Office and OF his
familiarity with the place, Bargle
mounted first with his lantern. the
others trailing up after him. In a
twinkling, he had jerked the trap
door open, and stepping into the bell
chamber, peered eagerly around. and
was startled by vision Of two white
faces gazing from the shadow Of one
of the bells.
Why" he calculated, what are
you doing here, young masters?"
For he recognized them instantly as
the Squire's two Sons, down at Peri
dale for a holiday.
They came forward shivering but
evidently bent on showing that. they
were unperturbed.
Its all right. Bargle," cried the
older Of them; you have been long
time coming"
But why are you here James," in.
quiret the vicar, reprovingly.
20, we nipped out after we'd gone
up to bed, sir" said re boy. "and
came to ring the bells"
But I've got the keys" inuttered
Bargle
I'VE crawled through the belfry
window"
There was no need to come so high
as this. though"
mo. 1t was too early to begin
when we got here, so we came up to
see what 1t was like in here; and all
) In a jiffy the trapdoor slammed down
and the candle blew out, and we'd left
the matches below. We couldn't feel
where The trap was in the dark, but
We found one Of the BELLS" He fal.
tered. shuddering reminiscently, but
added, forcing q laugh: Its your