Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-05-05

HE SAT THERE ON 4, LITTLE IRON SEAT,
social session ME HRPmer HSFa weRld. weRl(dl.s
ed his way through the moonlit night
toward the graveyard that surrounded
the church. In his arms he bore great
sheafs Of white lilacs, which he in
tended to place on his wife's grave.
Scarcely day passed that he did not
visit the spot, and invariably he car
ried some floral Offering
And SO It happened that as he knelt
beside the green mound the harsh
clack of voices in discussion issued
from the lighted window OF the church
parlor, and as argument waxed heat
edly and the voices rose louder Homer
Byrd was soon made acquainted with
the various opinions which his towns
women held toward him.
He sat there on little iron seat
with his head bowed IN the upturned
palms of his hands. The moon mount
ed toward the zenith. The members
Of the Improvement society noisily
dispersed, and still he sat there In the
silent plot back Of the church think
ing.
When he arose and shook back the
long lock of gray hair that fell over
his forehead there was a light of res
olutjon in his thin face, light that
replaced the expression of duh de-
spair which had characterized his long
period Of grief for Mary Byrd.
God forgive me! l have been n
coward. a coward will be no longer"
The Homer Byrd place was large,
square. brown house set in wilder
ness of trees and shrubs. The weather
beaten roof showed through the bare
branches in the winter, but when sum
mer came the house was invisible.
The fence that surrounded the ample
grounds was sagging from the rotten
posts. and an air of neglect and decay
characterized the whole place.
Within doors, where Homer Byrd oc-
cupied the south wing, it was bright
and cheerful. but the remainder OF
the great house was closely shuttered
and given over to mold and darkness.
After the funeral Of Mary Byrd the
horses and other stock had been sold.
the great barns closed, the poultry
yards deserted, and the large. prosper.
Gus farm lay Idle and useless, while
the master shut himself and his grief
away behind closed doors.
That was all until Homer Byrd
heard the opinions expressed by the
Village Improvement society.
The next morning Miss Harriet
Paine declared the news that Homer
Byrd had gone to the city, and Upper
Village knew no more of its unworthy
townsman until fortnight had elapsed
and he returned with two sharp look
ing men who spent several days about
the Byrd place, measuring and figur-
ing and talking earnestly together
Then they disappeared, and with one
accord the curious element of the vii
lage fell upon old Rachel Mills, who
did" for Homer Byrd, and eagerly
sought for knowledge OF the strange
proceedings.
"Fo' de Ian, Mis- Paine, l dunno"
protested old Rachel earnestly. Il
arsked Mr.. Homer, and all he sayed
was: Us gwine ter have more light,
Rachel. 1 'spects needs more light.
and I'm gwine ter have IT. Sich queer
doin's never heard on-no neyerr'
The investigating committee admit
tea tnat they never had heard of such
doings either. And as time went OH
the wonder grew. for an army of work
men appeared as by magic to assist
the few village artisans, and before
long the Homer Byrd place began to
assume its former handsome appear
ance.
"And they say" proceeded Harriet
Paine volubly, addressing the assem-
Dled members of the Improvement So
ciety, "that the whole house has been
done over. He's had the shutters open
ed and the carpets all took up, and
most of them was mildewed and worth
less. He's had the furniture all pol
ishpd and the walls DaDered and new