News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-08-25

the bones III my body The sky sun
to it. ! could feel the humming in M
feet. Every hair of my head, ever.
nerve, every fiber Of me, was vibrat
ing million times a second. / wa
numb, tortured delirious with fever
shaking with chill.
| saw Jack at intervals. In tina
awful first instant he had eXtinguisheC
the gas, but the moon and the dawI
shone dimly. in which his face hal
showed. Here and there the shadows
shifted, rose and fell-wave shadows
From above, from below, from every
side came a grinding, SCATTERING, roar
ing, like a hundred trains crossing q
hundred bridges. Then followed the sill
very rattle of breaking glass, the thun
derous crash of walls, wild screams
that grew feeble, ceased, then silence.
ran to a window, but could see
nothing but dust, dust. 1t shut out the
day and the moon. l CROPPED back into
the room. Jack was standing in the
open door, twisting and untwisting his
soft felt hat
Earthquake! My God"' he cried in
hoarse whisper.
I tried to speak, but my tongue was
frozen. | reached out my hand and
touched his coat. felt the warmth Of
his body and laughed like a child that
feels the pressure of its mothers kiss
in the dark
He clutched my arm. Gomez he
cried Gomez 1t was a savage cry,
yet trembling with agony.
"Where?" l asked l was frightened
| at my own voice.
amy" he cried. "Merciful God,
Amy
We went down the stairs-stagger-
ing, falling, struggling, we went down
the stairs. He was the first in the
street, after him. He led the way.
and I followed. Over piles of brick
and iron, through dust that choked
and blinded, we ran. The streets were
full of people, running like we, were.
But there was no word spoken, save
only the cry of some one under wall
or the grooming of a mother to a child
in her arms.
l was beginning to breathe once
more and to get a new grip on life
when again came the rumble and roar
and the earth trembled in its agony.
Tall buildings leaned till they all but
touched. | could see but a narrow
line of sky between. I thought they
would fall and crush me, but didn't |
care. | didn't care for anything. | |
wanted to laugh. I thought if didn't
laugh I'd die But I didn't ran. |
could hardly keep on my feet |
seemed to be stumbling over ridges Of |
earth that sank out of sight when I |
stepped on them.
Jack kept right ahead of me. but |
presently he stopped so suddenly that |
ran into him.
ooh" he said, II can't leave them
there His face was pale as death. |
Anxiety burned in his eyes. but a
great pity trembled in his voice.
Cant leave ywhom?" I gasped, but
already he had turned back.
| followed, and we came to q frail |
woman sitting on the curbstone. In
her arms was baby AT her knee
was little girl. The girl was crying.
On the woman's face was the paleness
of utter exhaustion, on her lips was
a prayer. and in her eyes, resting on
her children, the deep pain with which
love embitters despair.
Madam" he said, you will let us
help you?'
She looked at him, in her eyes a
blessing worlds could not purchase
He clasped the baby in his arms and
motiOned for me to take the girl |
Then. with his strong hand grasping
the woman's arm, we hurried away.
Three blocks distant a man bolted
into us-a large, broad shouldered man
with Crime on his hands and grease
and dirt on his face that shone pale
beneath The woman threw her arms
about the mans neck and sobbed, and
the man took Jacks hand and held it
for an instant then reached forth his
arms for the babe. Jack kissed the
child and handed it to him and stood
looking at It wistfully until they were
swallowed by the throng.
we pdSSeu CUuTCu. 1 lie OOOr was |
open. A few candles burned dimly.
on the stone steps a black
robed priest stood, crucifix in air,
chanting. About him a few Of the |
faithful knet. His black locks were
blowing in the rising breeze. His eyes
were upturned. Upon his calm face
was written, Peace, be still.'
So we came to a corner, where Jack
paused and caught my arm. His face
was without color, CHASTITY in the
weird light of the new day. His voice
was scarcely more than a whisper.
His eyes shone like those of one who
has staked his last cent upon the turn
Of a wheel and knows the issue is life
DR. death.
"Tom,'' he cried, "lookl / cannot.
| cannotp He covered his face with
bis hands. He was trembling. A child
tan past crying for it's mother.
Look where?'' / asked.
He glanced at me dumbly and raised
his hand to his head, then lowered it.
red blotch cleaned DULY on his
brow at the edge of his hair His fin