The Washington times., 1906-06-17


Side. A girl hardly more than a
child was there, the poor mother
having gone out 10 obtain some
simple mourning garments; and
this child was left in charge, with
much TO do, beside watching over
her little dead cousins. So 10 the
inevitable request: May John
look upon-the faces-of the de-
parted?' she gave ready permission,
saying: Yes, you can walk In and
look at him-but you mustn't stav
long, John-auntu be backH-and
she turned 20 her duties.
John slowly opened the door and
entered the darkened room. After
ward, the girl told Of a queer sound
that came TO her-something like q
groan, yet more Ike a mumed shout.
Then further listening and only hc=r-
ing a murmuT from the front room
which she thought was made by John
talking 70 himself-she looked in.
and she said his eyes shone so = the
half darkness that she would have
been frightened had he not looked
so very happy A little later the wall
or the funeral march reached the
ears Of the girl from the corner. and
the great COrtege that followed the
dead official was approaching Child
fashion, the girl ran out 70 look at
II, and q neighbOr from a window,
moment Rfterward, saw John Nj
vens, bare-headed, and carrying his
hat full Of clover blossoms, return
and again enter the cottage. How
often the most trivial circumstances
associated with the loved one are put
away IN the amber OF memory. Tne
Girl was ignorant OF hts action, and
when the mother was about 70 enter
the front room, she was terrified TO
hear from within a constant happy
murmur Of talk, broken now and
then by low gurgling laughter, and,
timidly opening the door, she saw
John Nivens and what he had done.
He had drawn the trestles apart so
as TO leave a space between the cOf-
fms and had removed the covers en-
tirely. The small bodies were
sprinkled over with clover blooms
and a little bunch Of them lay by
each waxen face. Then he hau drawn
a chair between the collins and sit
ting there, he bent forward, smiling
into the dead faces, and holdir~ in
hi. warm, living grasp the wee fey
hands of the little lads-whom he
tenderly and happily -.Gdressed as
Frank and John" The cismzy OF
the mother turned to pity as she list
ened-a pity that ID its turn gave
place to chill terror, when IN going,
he remarked, thOughtfuIly: Pretty
hard-yes, yes-pretty hard-pOOr
Mrs Nivens. Must go see-must be
ready-for fOoneral." a mere glance
told his watchful mother that even
ing tina; something unusual had hap
pened 10 her afflicted son. His burn
ing eyes. flushed face, and trembling
limbs; his joyous manner and low
laughter when he thought himself
unObserYed. changing into qEIck pity,
when he saw, all aroused, her fears.
AT last he burst out:
Franks dead-mother. I found
him-he's dead. So is JOhn-he's
dead, too. Too bad-tOO bad-nice
boys. Clovers lots clovers on
Erank-John, too Must go-to
1OOneral-tOmOrrOw street"
Sending for the family doctor, the
poor mother coaxed John into the
dining room. On the way he passed
a looking glass and saw his own
reflection and paused. 4 distressed,
tOrmented look came upon his face.
He muttered: Johns dead saw
him-thCn, then" he turned to
his mother and asked desperately,
who am u"
And looking at his gray hair and
bent figure, she answered: Why.
you are our Nr. Nivens."
oh. yes" He laughed his va
cant, fools laugh. Yes, yes-pOor
man-poor man-both boys dead
must gO-fOOne-al tomorrow"
His hold on life from this no
ment sensibly declined. A few min
utes' walk now sent him wearied
home There the loving eyes which
had so long frightened at his en-
the voice that had
daily inquired into what he had
seen or heard, and like another
had whispered sweet in
terest and approval; and by its
care had postponed the
hour of exhaustion! After all this
COmmOtiOn and disorder lapsed
estate-a term of repose-Of soft.
but fatal repOse succeeded. For
DAYS he chuckled and gathered
clover blossoms, and when the heat
made him giGdy. he would sit in
the rocker and smile at the blooms