Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-01-18

looked toward the pit ans q what
TOOK phase thsts. for hukafsaA Of col
lisrs had come up out % IN depths.
Their dark forms swarmsa over the
hillside.
Behind all the others came four men.
They bore upon their shoulder .
roush.plAnk bier covered with brown
tAr-canvas. and under thu canvas shs
saw the outline OF Q human being.
She knew what that msanti A pit
worker lay thsfs mutilatsd--psrhaps
dead! The men carried comrades
homo from the pit like that svsry
other day. Accidents were the rule
In the pits But this "aecidspt" made
the woman trsmbls. She stared q The
procession.
Perhaps 1t IL him." shs Whispered
in terror.
Let Us Co." urged shon Ddu. draw.
ing the woman by the hand.
Il cannot zee him among the men,"
she answered. her white face uuivsf'
Ing.
Small collier lads played about the
skirts Of the procession. To them the
accident which had brought them -
early out Of the pit meant Q day Tor
play. They brooks through the hedges
TO the fields. ons small boy In pit
clothes. with his lamp swinging rsck'
lessly at his belt, came running along
the Geld and the woman caught his
hand.
Who 10 III" she asked.
1T 70 David" said the boy. trying
to pull himself free % - to 90 on with
his game.
The woman's hand lost it, hold
upon him. The boy joyfully broke
away; but shon Ddu turned with .
frown. and caught the lad again.
what happened 10 himr hs asksd.
nsrcely.
The boy answered in the pit terms:
He Just touched Q BIG fsceslip the
nrst thing this morning and It fell On
him"
"Is-is he much-hurt?"
They say II killed him" '
David's wife had fallen upon the
neld In helpless agony. shon Ddu
bent over her and raised her to be-
feet.
The procession with It's terrible bun.
den went slowly down the mountain
road, passing shon Ddu and the wife
Of David. but the hedge Of white bios.
som between the road and geld hid
the man and woman from the others.
When tie collisrs and their burden
had passed. shon Ddu tried to rouse
the woman from the stupor that had
her.
Nov" he Whispered fercely. you
are free! Let " leave all things b
hind u.s."
He tried to draw her away. but ahs
resisted. She tried to free herself.
Her body trembisd: hsr pallid cheeks
auivered; the red had left her lipo. and
her dark staring eyes look signuess.
Can I let then bring him home
dead-and I. his wife. bring shame
upon him by my sbssncef Let me %
home. Let me. his wife. be there to
honor his dead body, and keep shame
from his name"
Come" said shon Ddu, In anger.
Let me 60 back" she pleaded.
struggling to free herself. II can not
shame the dead"
shon Ddu stared into her eyes. He
saw there q look Of fear--a terror
which made him hate her. He could
not understand the strange spiritual
power in Q woman's soul which vii
suddenly awaken and conquer the
mere forces Of stubhornly strong mas
Her Inconsistency had ito
root In compulsory obedience to nor
spiritual power. Living. this woman
had despissd her husband: dead. sss
reverenced him.
But her action had awakened . feel
Ins Of hate and contempt In the heart
n shon' Ddu. He would have COM
mitted murder for such . woman -
his! An oath came from hA lips
and he cried out In his anger:
IF we part now--ws part forevsf!"
How can I shame the dsadf" saad
The, struggling to free herself
Instantly he released hsr--vithous
another word climbed the hillside. ne
lid not stop: he did not look back
,nce. He reached the mountain.
There the road sloped suddenly and no
iropped out Of sight
The woman looked after him. sob
Ding. Then she turned away down the
,ill. She ran. She crossed Aslds and
hedges, avoiding the roadway-trying
o escape being seen by the villagers.
At the door Of her cottage stood
ray.bearded collier with the black
lust Of the pits upon his face ana
clothes. The gray.bsard smiled Wnes
he came to the door.
81 was waiting to zee you" said NJ.
81 know what has happsned." shs
aid. David - killed"
The gray-beard sheok his hee6
No" he at last declared Dositivtly.
II II not % bad - that. The sis
lin fell on him, but Il fsll aannst 2
,ost IN front Of Il and The post hsla
- "a 1,s3 aoA inst aavad hin