Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-06-21

| DNt shc ulu not move. PernapS he
VIII see u.s." she murmured. She
looked toward the pit, and at what
look place there. for hundreds of col
hers had come up out of the depths.
Their dark forms swarmed over the
hillside.
Behind all the others came four men,
They bore upon their shoulders a
rough-plank bier covered with brown
tar-eanyas, and under the canvas she
saw the outline of a human being.
She knew what that meant: A pit
worker lay there mutilated- perhaps
dead! The men carried comrades
home from the pit like that every
| other day. Accidents were the rule
In the pits But this accident" made
the woman tremble. She stared at the
procession
Perhaps 1t is him." she whispered
In terror
Let US go" urged shon Ddu, draw.
Ing the woman by the hand.
Il cannot see him among the men,"
she answered, her white face culver.
ing.
Small collier lads played about the
skirts of the procession. To them the
accident which had brought them so
early out of the pit meant a day for
play. They broke through the hedges
10 the fields. One small boy in pit
clothes, with his lamp swinging reck-
essly at his belt, came running along
the field and the woman caught his
hand.
Who is it?" she asked.
ut is David" said the boy, trying
to pull himself free so as TO so on with
his game.
The woman's hand lost its hold
upon him. The boy joyfully broke
away; but Shon Ddu turned with
frown, and caught the lad again.
What happened to him?" he asked,
hercely.
The boy answered in the pit terms
"He just touched big face-slip the
first thing this morning and II fell on
him"
ISIS he much-hurtg
'sThey say II killed him"
Davids wife had fallen upon the
field in helpless agony. Shon Ddu
bent over her and raised her TO her
feet
The procession with its terrible bur
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 field hid
the man and woman from the others,
When the GOLFERS and their burden
had passed. Shon Ddu tried to rouse
the woman from the stupor that had
overpowered her
Now" be whispered iercely, you
are free! Let us leave all things be
hind US"
He tried TO draw her away, but she
resisted. She tried TO free herself.
Her body trembled; her pallid cheeks
ouivered: the red had left her lips, and
her dark staring eyes look signuess.
"Can | let them bring him home
dead-and |, his wife, bring shame
upon him by my absence? Let me go
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 go back" she pleaded,
struggling to free herself. Il can not
shame the dead"
shon Ddu stared into her eyes. He
saw there a look of fear-a terror
which made him hate her. lie eould
no, understand the strange spiritual
mower in a woman's soul which VIII
suddenly awaken and conquer the
mere forces of stubbornly strong mas
cnlinity. Her inconsistency had It's
root in compulsory obedience 70 her
sniritual power. Living, this woman
had despised her husband; dead' she
reverenced him.
Rut her action had awakened feel
ing of hate and contempt IN the heart
~ shon Ddu. He would have com
mitted murder for such a woman as
this, An oath came from his lips
and he cried out in his anger;
IF we part now-we part forever!
"Vow can | shame the dead? said
she struggling to free herself
Instantly he released her-without
.no,ber word climbed the hillside lie
did not stop; he did not look PACK
once. He reached the mountain.
There the road sloped suddenly and ne
dropped out of sight
the woman looked after him, SOD
h,ng Then she turned away down the
Nil She ran. She crossed fields ana
hedges avoiding the roadvay-trylhs
70 escape being seen BY the villagers
Al the door Of her cottage stood a
collier with the hiack
dnst Of the pits upon his face ana
cIothes The gray beard smiled When
she came 10 the door.
81 was waiting to see you said ne.
81 know what has happened she
said "David is killed
The gray-beard shook his head
.o,n - az last declared positively.