The Washington herald., 1911-09-17

picture the painted for his own eyes. He saw
1t a-his bullying and clustering and lack Of under
standing and sympathy. And he saw Sibellas pa
tience and weakness and the way she'd gone through
the needless trouble that he put upon her day by day
He her strange look when he swore at her for
getting the whooping cough. and he saw her again,
when, still too weak for such thing, she tried to
help with the sicK babby. he saw the struggle and
the child doing his III best against the foe, but going
down~at last like the daisy in the bayfield, And he
looked into the future with his professional eye
and saw the piteous funeral.
You might think that would have shook him most
Of ALL but 1t didn't because a mans business is his
business and # can be mighty comfort to the heart
even In its darkest hour Therefore strange to say,
queer consolation came to Sas though YOU and me
at all. -
tortured and contrite soul 1t offered a respite and
furnished work to distract his mind; 1t even gave
some relief to his cruel He assured himself
that without doubt he had helped kill his son. and
that he would be told by the nurse when he went
home; and he also felt terribly sure that Sibella-
There he broke of. because he couldn't think of her
In fact he couldn't think more about anything 50
he fell back upon action. He took off his coat and
wastcoat turned up his sleeves. lighted a brace of
OIL lamps and set to work to make the babby's coffin
II suppose there ban't a man here but knows
time or two when work his salvation I'm sure I
have-bachelor though am-and if the lazy ones
only knew what tower Of strength work may be in
the hour of trial they'd learn something II twas only
for that sure and certain rainy day. At any rate
Slas declared Afterwards that nought but hard labor
kept his wits from wandering just then. Another
would have gone back to comfort his waing
wife. doubt; but too vel he knowed that at such
a time she'd suck comfort from him. Instead
there came thought-half sane, half daft-that il
went afore her in the gray Of with the most
beautiful little coffin that wit Of could fashion
she'd he'd suffered too and done the best that
was left to do, and perhaps take it kindly and for
give him.
ITO work he went and took the finest bit Of oak in
the shop-a piece long kept in secret for Squire ShlI
ingford when the good should come TO want It.
And Silas he worked hour upon hour; he lined it with
opda anff Hfa ~. ho Apic chaI
it up home to the lid and with all the skill Of
ter undertaken ran pretty piece Of blue cloth over
1t in the shape Of cross, after he'd polished 1t and
made the fine grain shine like the
Twas finished by the first glimmer Of daylight,
and even then the man wondered II more work could
be put into it. But he's made brilliant masterpiece
without a doubt, and as the day dawned for a mo-
ment the craftsman mastered the father and he
folded his and gazed upon 1t with high salts
faction that only chilled OF when he remembered
twas made for who. Then he put on his clothes
again and tided hisself and went down through the
dimpsy light Of the morning, dog tired, wi the box
under his arm hid in a cloth.
The Return of Silas.
Twas not much after Eve O'Clock and he met
nobody, but reached his house-to it sleeping in
the with its blinds down. But the place wasn't
made fast, so he goes through his garden and opes
the door and walks In.
IAN was stfil as death. and he stood on his own
doormat for five minutes in doubt what to do. Then
sound that he'd got to hate pretty terrible bad
of late days, but now, happening when -e never
thought to hear It more all the music Of heavens
harps wouldn't have struck so lovely and blessed
upon the undertakers For what he heard
weren't his wifes little voice yet Smerdons
big but Just the long drawn familiar croak and
catch Of his baby boy fighting for air against the
whooping cough. Twas bit Of a shock to the man,
doubt, and he failed against the umbrella stand
and stood propped up for half a minute Then he
went into the and found the air full Of chemical
stun from burning lamp, which the doctors
latest idea, and nurse Smerdon with his on her
lap afore the fire as usual
"'Good PowersP whispered silas you don't say
he's avep
"'Of he's alive, and he's going to bide alive
II know anything about him. she said. You'd best
get to your wife. She's fretting for you-the poor
fool But for my part, II was your wife, I'd only
fret when you was in the house
He sat down all of a heap and stared at his child
as if he'd seen spectrum. Then he let the box go
from under his arm and the cover coined of and the
light making it red O. one sde and daylight making
1t white tother.
seed what he'd fetched home, but she wasn't much
astonished you might think.
You unlucky wretchP she said. What the mis-
chief have you been up to now?
HE was limp and helpless still, but hard man like
him began to get his nerve back.
( Hannah Maine rushed in the shop last night and
told me he was a goner. And was that strung up
about it that nothing would do but get work
there and then. Thank the watching Lord-and
you-that he ban't dead but a fact be a fact and
there's the thing. masterpiece I've made for him.
And my wife must see it, for twill tell her better
Twill help her to forgive me. And-and-where's
that blasted girl? For two pins I'd wiring her neck!
Nurse Smerdon how the land lay and acted
with her usual command over men,
1.-The girls in bed. Wiring her neck certainly
she's up-I won't prevent you-but you've
got to think Of your mssis first. She shall know all
about what you've been through in good time, but
you mustn't go showing her that thing just now She
bant in frame Of mind to admire it. Ts ike this:
she took the child for five minutes last night and,
Ill luck would have it. he got bad choke In her
and turned so purple sloe. And she thought
twas the end-poor woman. Hes gone He's
dead! 'Tis all over WI un." she screamed; and the
girl thought 1t true, and you know that girl. On
she must bolt, like the senseess mumphead she Is;
and while 1 getting the child round she was
traapsng all over WidecOmbe telling the parish that
little Silas Dunnybrig was dead. And she come to
you first no doubt.
"FWhen she returned she heard me, and sent her
OF to unsay her evil news; but she forgot you SEEM
ingly-just the she ought to have minded first.
However these things don't fall out by chance and
you'll do well to be too hard the Lords chosen
tool. He'll often let idiot work for Him-accord-
ing TO His mysterious ways. You've had your dose