Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-01-26

WHIST TINS sun held them With
reminder Of the mornings work a dooi
above was opened and shut quickly
Then they heard a confused falling
sound and a scream. They rushed up
{ stairs, feeling sick with an unackpovl-
] edged terror. The bride lay on her
bedroom floor in dead faint
! He joined them at lunch am spoke re-
gretfuily of the fact that Bertha was
not well enough to leave her room.
I'D looked forward so to this" be
said. ITO the being with you all again
OF course, | see now that | was a bit OF
a fool not to have prepared you in some
way. But was so anxious to get back.
And it seemed to me that beng Chris
tians, you would find il 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 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, WASH it,"
After lunch the elder daughter drew
her father on one side. "Al those
wreaths,' she SAID, ought to be ar
ranged on the grave. oughtnt 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 ehurchyard, 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 a tidy
little soul" he said; but it's extraor-
binary how Illogical a woman can be-"
As the day passed they noticed
change in him. He had always been OF I
an open, happy disposition, fond Of a
,ompanionship. and easily pleased II =
was In this mood that he had returned. I .
But their secret terror. the uncontroll- d
ible aversion Of which they we're so
much ashamed, told after awhile on y
he mental atmosphere outwardly y
hey bore the tension Of his presence
'retty well. II is astonishing how soon %
horror becomes homsly. Only he Ie
Who knew their voices and the little NJ
ffectionate habits Of their daily life. w
aw that he was being treated as q nc
isitor. 70
Bertha came down TO tea with an air ma
I determined plaoidity, which sat oddly al
n her babyish face. But she still lo'
ore her black dress. She was careful I'M
OF to be left alone with her husband tui
Ie was moody now and silent, but no
link they found this lees horrible than tn
is gayety had been. Once he said,
j tone that was almost sulky: For re'
reunited family we manage to con lin
val her raptures pretty well" IN
Then Magdalen, the younger sister, ba
no had never loved him much, put on on
1 air Of fierce cheerfuiness, talking sol
I'd laughing loudly. but II did not con FIR
nee. chi
At dinner they were silent and the
ne Of his voice when be spoke was re- A.
ntful They all knew themselves to
behaving crully-worse awkward Fa
but any other conduct seemed i'm
ssible.
As bed time approached they looked
one another with a new fear. To- =
Their they were invdlnerable; but each 49,
aaded the dark hours, and In the 49,
res of the others saw her own ter o,a,
:. The girls were full Of pity for va,
E bride, but they did not dare offer 80
cir companionship ~.
As the clock struck II he got up and ga a.,
'ked at his wife. There came over a. a.
face an expression which meant de- en-
and also a great expectancy. 49,
e rose, too, and went almost steadily 80, 80
the door Her face was white and
eyes stared curiously. They heard No. ~
: run upstairs with a sudden scutter- 49,,
+ rush Of a frightened animal. Her AL
" closed sharply and the key vac tba,
ned in the loek-twice, .u a sort Of cha,
MY Of haste. In the room below We
re was quietness for a moment or two ,on
a feeling Of unbearabla suspense. y,
one dared look at the bridegroom. -
D had remained standing Ia the posi- a.
! he took up when hts wife rose from re-,
seat. .ia' :
resently he went and stood before -
father aud spoke-witaout anger -.
in a tone that suggested an unal- 90.
Ible loneliness. -.
must apologize. father. he said, r gI
; having annoyed you and the 9th =. !,
like this. II was a mistake had ~ =
realized that a grave could be So ~ ~
KY filed up. But you will soon
ct. Eleven hours of reality are not n.
much out Of a lifetime of Illusion. l. -,
|e went ont, but stopped on the -.
shold for an instant -
Bertha that am not an a. -
be said "she is sueh n 80
'ous little thing"
the morning they found that some -
aut and dfsGaiufu1 hand b,s .oss,ys ss't VI