The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-11-28

He came IN SlSnt Vi TIC ehulc H,
which was not far from the station.
Arriving at the porch, the foremost OF
the marty discovered that the door
uos locked Here was sudden check
and they began to consult together as
n where the key might be found.
AS they did so, window OF one OF
tbe little cottages opposite the church
was thrown up, and an old man, In a
ouaint old fashioned nightcap, stuck
his head out.
~ be a-comin," he cried; I'VE must
lest bjde bit, and I'll be with ee."
This was evidently the clerk or sex
ton. at any rate he was the individual
reouired, and there was nothing to,
do but to "bide,' as he had desired
them.
At last the churchyard gate clicked,
and a shriveled, bent figure made It's
appearance, dangling a bunch OF great
KEYS in one hand. He threw the great
door open with clang, and the people
entered the church. 1t was very dark
inside. The windows were most OF
them of colored glass and high up, and
the old fashioned pews and the thlck
SQUAT columns which supported the
roof seemed to swallow up what little
light there was.
"They've put em all inside the chan
eel rails" said the old man, who had
constituted himself sort of ghoulish
master of the ceremonies.
No one seemed to care to be the
first to approach that part of the holy
edifce.
AT last Ted Burritt, with grim
determination, approached the railing.
Inside, the bodies, or what had once
been bodies were disposed in two
rows.
Those on the right hand lay in COT
fins which had been hastily gathered
from all parts of the neighborhood;
those OIL the left were mere groups
of ashes collected together on pieces
! of tarpaulin
Ted Burritt began at the right-hand
side The other people followed his
example, and the old clerk acted as
cicerone.
This 'un,' he said, indicating the
terrible contents of one coffin, lis sup
posed to a-bin young female, as
they found thimble and bit of
dress among the ashes. Thimble 'ad
~ ~ On
A man who was craning his neck
over Ted Burritt's shoulder gave a.
sharp cry: That's my gsrl! That's
my Lizzie. And her mother waiting
for her at home. and won't believe as
anything can have happened to her
Oh, Lord" and he broke out into wild
outcries.
Some of the others, forgetful Of
their own concerns for a moment,
gathered round him and made an at
tempt at consolation.
"At least you know which she is
that ought to be little comfort to
you"
But | thought she might have been
saved. She was such a good girl
and look at her there!" and he gestic'
ulated towards the open coffin.
'1 can't stand much more of this"
murmured Ted Burritt, as he wiped
the great drops of perspiration from
| his forehead.
They left the bereaved parent moan.
| ing over his childs remains and again
| passed on. The next three collins
were examined, shuddered at and left.
The mutilated corpses which they con-
tanned possessed neither head, feet
nor hands. They could never have
been taken for anything human had
not the fact been established beyond
all doubt. Was either of those his
father?"
There only remained one or two
more belonging to that row. and they,
| too, were unacceptable. After that
nothing was left but the poor heaps OF
ashes on the other side.
This is all. ladies and gentlemen"
said the old man, with sort of char.
nelhouse cheerfulness, sides one
more in the vestry, as was put there
in consequents of bein' very little
damaged, 'cept about the legs; and
| passon did say as | was to show i'm
fust, though bein' easy recognized
| But my pore old eds bin all of
| tumble since tn accident, and | clean
forgot i'm. But anybody as likes can
| jest step into the vestry and see i'm
for themselves. They've laid i'm out
on the table, through bein' of hextry
size, and runnin short O. collins. 'B
was found buried under a lot o. rub
bidge, and they 'ad deal o. trouble to
git i'm out"
There was a general rush in that
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