The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-11
THE RETURN or THE DEAD.
Ry HUGH PENDExTER.

fv0nXrtEhI lJUb, ny Joocph D' DO
 s"There goes Mercy Gibson ter tn hurvtn' ground" mechanically observed old man Peters, sitting on the platform in front of the general store and post office and tossllg oi@k the hot ma summer sunp eAms with blade of his new knife.
 She's ben dein i: for years. ain she?, yawned Freemont Skitly, "no should have been at home and work ing -
 T can remember est as i' 1t was yesterday, when she give Edwin Tim bly tn mitten ah lTarried Elam, de- clared old man Peters. rn a dr"Wsy sing-song An they hadn't been maj, ried no time before Elm; enlisted an went ger wa. She didn't know nc enlisted ill he marched by her in tn ,ilIa0e here with tll' other York .>oun- " bow. I can sac nIw jest h w h@ grinne1 in a sh sepiSh WAL an how she almost swooned. He was always play in capers on somebody. an guess he thought tn surprise ter her would be A good joke. She seed him jest onfc after that. an that was when ne come up from Augusta an bid Ter good-hy from in front of this very store. And he never come back" yawned SkiIlv to terminate the old story, n'ak- ing a move as If to rise. and then re- considering.
 Except in his cofing," corrected the old mans dull monotone, us he dettly cut another notch in the plankIng. Here comes tn Baldwinvilie stage. fellers." announced the storeke sper from the doorway. And the hree with some show of interest. hitched up a step to escape the wheels, and de5ist- | ed from conversation and whittiins to watch the yellow -streaked vehicle dls- gorge a slim mail pouch and one pas senger. Gent wants ter find tn viddor Gib- son." informed the stage driver Mp | ing his broiled face on d rel bandaa aa | handkerchief. She's down ter tn buryin ground. volunteered old man Peters, rising un- steadily to point a lean hand. Then he added, I'll go along with ye
 Much obliged, said the newcomer, shortly. as he turned away, put I'd rather go alone"
 The stranger came upon the Widow Gibson, while she kneeled and arranged her basket of oldfashioned ed mowers about low. neatly cared Tor mound The afternoon sun was at his pacK and brought the old woman's face into strong relief.
 After few seconds of nesitatloh, ne sIouched a step nearer, and with Ea!t
 
 in the York County intonatlon:
 "Fixin' the grave, Mercy?
 She dropped the flowers at the sound nf his voice but turned not a once. Her eyes were riveted on P!tchmope's 5 pine-covered sides. Nex', her riSldity relaxed and a shiver ran through her frame. Slowly she rose and carefully brushed out her black skirts. Then. for the first time, she faced him, all verv slowly and precisely. however. anJ with the hint of catch in ner voice. asked: "Is that yout E:am?'
 yes" he replied, hanging his head rye come back Then, as she stared in silence. he protested An this ain | what we'd exactly cail d warm welcome either And he advanced awkwardly. until only the grave separetcd them vet she made no move t0 meet him, and instead. filled her hands with the bas- ke1 and trowel.
 Her strong eyes drove his to the ground as she studied him long and earnestly. 50. you aint dead" she said, numbly
 Bless we, mo-" he laughed uneasily. again removing his well-worn hat. I've travelled some, though he added. all most proudly "Ain't many men that's seed so much of our country as have"
 Then, remembering the grave. she suddenly demanded: no lays hcte'
 Ed Timbly. he apologized. Ed she mumbled. brushing hand over her face.
 "Yas." he explained. "Ye see. got inter little difficulty after I'd been at tn front few months. an thought I'd best clear out fer a while. An when Ed was killed at Bar Harbor an tn boys sent him home as me by mistake why, I thought I'd let it all go that way for q while '"
 And I've been tending Eds grave all these years after forsaking him for ! you, she unused. Well, Elan, you