The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-01

s
After ManY Years
NJ FREDERICK HAR1

After Many Years
~ FREDERICK HART
N SS5es moons hot, sticky noon,
ia the sun shining down on
the lowering buildings ana
nouuiors streets Of lower New
,orf 81 though not satisfied with
Compartments was malignant.
doing its best TO add anotnef
aree Or four degrees to the length
81 the already stretched mercury.
rho throngS that flooded the side.
walks and lodged. in and out
among the stream OF street cars
automobiles, and trucks that clut.
tered about the intersection OF
wall aud-Broad streets were thin.
ii clad-the men In palm beach
suits, for the most part, the girls
ID ,whito fllmy garments; but even
these efforts could not bring ABOUT
The desired coolness.
The narrow high-YSlled streets
uHht and held the heat like
yens, each window turned itself
Into a miniature reflector and null
tipIied the power OF the sun, only
"a one square was there promise
81 ;elieE;Ain the little block where
trinity Church stands, its spires
dW5rfedS f1S the miefly buildings
that crowd It about, but sturdily
stt1fding its sacred plot OF grass
HE graveyard where Alexander
tiamllton and Robert Fulton lay
buried sacred among the booming
f6tndarR of commerce.
Here were winding patht ai6
grass for tired feet, weary
tie pound Of the ceMent pave
ents; and here was tine cool, dim
interior Of the church itself, where
shadows drove away the heat and
emetimes the dim notes Of tho
9fgan took the businesssick mind
nay, from the racket OF type
fiters and tickers and gave 1t
Nothing melodies to rest and re-
fresh for space beforq the after
noon, inexorable, called again to
Dc world Of commerce and trade.
Into one OF the pypaths leading
along row Of taking brownstone
Saba which marked the last rest
ing place OF forgotten pioneers of
she city walked a girl. She was
fan1arkable in that while obviously
deesGed with an eye to GOODNESS
hdgcomfort she still gave the inr
pfessfon Of being fully clad-an
ttect which many of her sisters
abroad in that slltry weather ut
ny failed to attain. Her step was
DOW, her eyes on the ground, her
rae shaded by plain straw hat;
III the face under the hat was,
any one cared to notice, a
psetty face. She was looking
cfosely at the grayestoues and ap-
peared to be seeking something.
On Q bench nearby was sitting
& young man. Previous to the APP
pesrance Of the girl he had ap.
rently been absorbed in an early
Sryer might have noted that he
Slanced often at tho wrought.lron
fyte Of the churchyard and occa-
8i0nplly compared his watch with
the clock IN the steeple. Appa-
EentIy ne was waiting for some,
thing, or someone. When the girl
appeared he had folded the news.
PAPER and watched her intently.
She carried a tiny bunch OF
RtnIets bought from one OF the
many flower.hawkers that infest
nearby corners. AS she scan
the, headstones she paused;
8, apparently finding what she
Fought, she stopped above one OF
ke smallest Of the graves, smooth
iS grass on the mound with hel,
2. = Tat
the sIanting headstone. When
he Strengthened up and turned
way from her task her eyes were
The young man, gathering
courage, arose, approached her
md took off his hat.
tI beg your pardon for my for
dness in speaking to you in
y Il 81 unconventional manner" he
y satd. But have seen you, once
week, all during the summer
1iade flowers on that little grave.
nd II you will pardon my curl.
liz, for which assure you I
we good reason, should like to
you why you remember Janet
dwell. who died in 1893, in this
S1y2 Believe me, am not inspir
a. by u6E6 vulgar CuElublLy
The girl looked at him moment
lid then decided to speak.
Have you read the epitaph7"
asked
ssyes, but I don't remember all
at, except the name and the
date.n
well, 1t is such little stone
Ia 80 alone, and It leans over as
odgh. ,it were tired. And-come
read It.
They went together to the grave
md stopping, the young man de-
Ssibhered the worn inscriptions:
HIC JACET
met, Daughter of Ephriam and
Janet Caldwell
Act Is yrs. mos.
1777-1793
RaQuiescat in Pace.
lsFhink Of iti' said the girl,
only sixteen; and her little grave
ssems 80 neglected here with all
I'D others. / was sorry for her;
4 nj III thought she might like
"a yiolets-and T."
lThe young man was not listen
a9. instead he was digging in his
'res9fA1...A @n6IgaF APFar onro