Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-03-02

SQOW6u. anu IHeI6 Tic Su6lOOWS
shifted. rose and fell-wave shadows.
From above, from below, from every
side came a grinding, SCATTERING, roar
ing. like a hundred trains crossing a
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.
l ran to a window, but could see
nothing but dust, dust. 1t shut out the
day and the moon. / CROPPED back into
the room. Jack was standing in the
open door. twisting and untwisting his
soft felt hat.
Earthquake! My Godr' he cried in
a hoarse whisper.
l tried to speak, but my tongue was
frozen. l reached out my hand and
touched his coat. l felt the warmth of
his body and laughed like a child that
feels the pressure of it's mothers kiss
in the dark.
He clutched my arm. Gomez he
cried. Gomez 1t was a savage cry,
yet trembling with agony.
"Where?" asked. l was frightened
at my own voice.
"Amyw he cried. "derciful God.
Amy
We went down the stairs-stagger-
ing, falling, struggling, we went down
the stairs. He was the first in the
street, l after him. He led the way.
and 1 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 a wall
or the grooming of a mother to a child
| in her arms.
| 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 it's agony
Tall buildings leaned till they all but
touched. l could see but narrow
line of sky between. l thought they
would fall and crush me, but l didn't
care. I didn't care for anything.
wanted to laugh. thought if didn't
laugh I'd die. But l didn't ran.
could hardly keep on my feet.
seemed to be stumbling over ridges Of
earth that sank out of sight when
stepped on them.
Jack kept right ahead of me. but
presently he stopped so suddenly that
l ran into him.
ooh" he said. st 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 whom?'' l gasped. but
already he had turned back.
I followed, and we came to a frail
woman sitting on the curbstone. In
her arms was a baby. At her knee
was a little girl. The girl was crying.
On the woman's face was the paeness
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 womans 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 Il
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 passed a church. The door wa:
OPEN A few candles burned dimly
Without on the stone steps a blacl
robed priest stood. crucifx in air
chanting. About him a few Of tn,
faithful knelt. His black locks wer
blowing in the rising breeze. His eye
were upturned. Upon his calm fac,
was written. Peace. be STILL
So we came to corner, where Jacl
paused and caught my arm. His fac
was without color. CHASTITY in tn
weird light Of the new day. His voic
was scarcely more than a whisper
His eyes shone like those of one VIII
has staked his last cent upon the tur1
Of wheel and knows the issue is lif
Or death.
"Tom," he cried, 'look! I cannot
. 7 cannot" He covered his face wit
> his hands. He was trembling. A chill
p ran past crying for it's mother.
: Look whereof asked.
4 He glanced at me dumbly and raise
7 his hand to his head. then lowered Il
A red blotch cleaned DULY on hi
= brow at the edge Of his hair. His fiji
!. gers were red.
4 'Tom'-he was on his knees, griI