South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-12
Make way. MIR. Blackburn"

down the stairs, and into the dull
autumn air. He followed at the side
Of Katherine. across the clearing and
into the overgrown path. He was
aware OF the others drifting behind.
Katherine slipped her hand into his.
ut is dreadful We shouldn't feel
more sorrow, more regret" she said.
Perhaps we never understood him.
That is dreadful. too; for no one
understood him. We are the only
mourners."
Bobby, as they threaded the path
behind the milling bearers, found
grim justice in that also. Because
Of his selfishness Silas Blackburn
aad lived alone. Because OF it he
must go to his long rest with no
other mourners than these, and
their eyes were dry.
Bobby chung to Katherine's hand.
I'll 1 could only know!" he whis-
pered.
She pressed his hand. She did
not reply.
Ahead the forest was SCARED by
a yellow wound. The bearers set
their burden down beside it, glanc-
ing at each other with relief Across
the heap of earth Bobby saw the
waiting excavation. In his ears
vibrated the memory OF the harsh
voice:
1T is deep enough"
Another voice droned. ~ was soft
and unctuous. 1t seemed to stake
pleasure in the terrible words it
loosed to stray eternally through the
decaying forest.
Bobby glanced at bent stones.
strangled by the underbrush; at
other slabs, cracked and brown.
which lay prone, half covered by
creeping vines. The tones of the
clergyman were no longer revolving
in his ears. He scarcely heard them.
He imagined a fantasy. He pictured
the inha bitants of these forgotten,
narrow houses straying to the great
dwelling where they had lived, pun
ishing this one, bringing him 20 suf-
fer with them the degradation or
their neglect So Robinson became
less important i'm his mind. Through
such fancies the ordeal was made
bearable.
through the trees and disturbing the
vines on the fallen stones. Later
he thought. it would snow, and he
shivered for those left helpless to
sleep in the sad forest.
The dark-clothed men strained at
ropes now. They glanced at Kath-
crime and Bobby as at those most
to be impressed by their skill. They
lowered Silas Blackburn's grimly
shaped casing into the sorrel pit. 1t
passed from Bobby's sight. The
two roughly dressed laborers came
from the thicket where they had
hidden. and with their spades APP
preached the grave. The sound from
whose imminence Bobby had shrunk
ratified in his ears. The yellow earth
cut across the stormy twilight OF
the cemetery and scattered in the
trench. After a time the response
lost it's metallic petulaDee.
Katherine pulled at Bobby's hand.
He started and glanced up. One Of
the black-clothed men was speaking
to him with a professional gentle
ness:
you needn't wait. Mr.. Blackburn.
Everything is finished"
He saw that Robinson stood
across the grave. still staring at him.
The professional mourner smiled
sympathetically and moved away.
Katherine, Robinson, the two grave
diggers. and Bobby alone were left
of the little company; and Bobby,
staring back at the district attorney,
took a somber pride in facing 1t out
until even the men with the spades
had gone The ordeal. he reflected.
had lost it's poignancy His mind
was intent on the empty trappings
he had witnessed. He wondered II
there was. after all. no injustice
against his grandfather in this un-
kempt burial. The place might have
something 20 tell him. If il could
only make him believe that beyond
the inevita BILE fact nothing mattered
If he were sure of that il would
offer a way out Of the worst; per-
haps the happiest exit for RATHER
ines sake.
Then Doctor Grim returned. His
huge hairy figure dominated the
cemetery. His infused eyes. beneath
the thick. black brows, were far
seeing. They seemed 10 penetrate
Boby's thought Then they glanced
at the excavation. appearing TO in
innate that Silas Blackburn's earthly
blanket could hide nothing from the
closed eyes it sheltered. At his age
he faced the near approach OF that
inevitable fact. and he didn't hest
tate 10 look beyond Bobby knew
what Graham had meant when he
had said that Groom had brought
the ghosts back with him. 1t was as
If the cemetery had recalled the old
doctor 10 answer his presumptuous
question.
There's no use your staying
here"
The resonance of the deep voice
Jared through the woods. The
broad shoulders twitched. One of
the hairy hands made a half circle
Il hope you'll clean this up, my
boy. You ought 10 replace the stones
and trim the graves You couldn't
blame them. could you. il these old
people were restless and tried TO go
abroad? ?"
For Bobby. in spite Of himself. the
men on whose last shelter the earth