CHAPTER X. BORNE TO THE TOMB.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12538, 25 April 1904, Page 6

CHAPTER X. BORNE TO THE TOMB.

The day of Trixy Waldron 's funeral dawned — cold, dismal, stormy. The house, with its closed shutters and heavy curtains, was almost dark — a cheerless, comfortless atmosphere pervaded the room and every face was shrouded in gloom and sadness. At nine o'clock the few friends oi the family assembled in Mrs Wai dron's parlour around that spotless casket to pay their last djuties to one who, only a little more than one short week ago, had been as bright, and active, and vigorous as any one among them. ■The services were private, consequently no great formality was observed upon the occasion. The casket had been placed in the centre of the room upon low trestles, where every eye could plainly see the slight form and pale face beneath the transparent lid. Laura had come down alone at the appointed hour, and took a seat by herself at one end of the room, where she sat throughout the service, with her stony eyes fixed upon the pure white casket. She made no outward demonstration ol grief, but her face wore a white, pinched look, as if her suffering had withered forever its bloom, and her lips were blue and drawn with pain. Mr and Mrs Waldron sat side by side, the latter in finest bombazine and heaviest crape, and deeply bordered handkerchief. Williajn and Fred occupied seats at the left of their mother. Eliot Harcourt sat opposite Lav- | ra, and quite near the casket, but he seemed very nervous aiid strangely ill at ease, his glance wandering restlessly anil continually from Laura to the casket and back again, while he appeared wholly unlike his usually calm, rather haughty self. 'As Laura entered, he looked up quickly and searchingly at her ; but she, aside from one wild, despairing glance at him, did not appear to heed his presence, nor indeed tiiat of any one else. The gray-haired pastor, a tenderhearted man, a friend of the family, and one who had watched the development of Mrs Waldron's two fair charges with exceeding interest, seemed deeply moved. Very affectionately and benigJiantly he spoke of the young girl, her bright, winning ways, her genial and impulsive manner, and the respectful attention with which she had always listened to his instructions. But the only gleam of real comfort that Laura gleaned from his words was Biis allusion to the deep affection which Trixy had always manifested for her, and his tenderly expressed trust that, though one had been taken and the other

left, the broken thread of their lives would be reunited when both should meet in that "city not made with hands," and where there should be no more sorrow or pain. The services were concluded at last, and the friends were allowed one more look before the outer lid should forever shut their dear one from their sight. Mr and Mrs Waldron, with their two sons, arose together and stood around her ; and it would seem, from the excessive grief which Mrs Waldron displayed, as if Trixy had been her one idol, instead of tin "trial" and "fright" of her life. The others, though not so demon strati ye, were not the less sin cert in their sorrow. Eliot Harcourt alone remained seated, his face pale and agitated, his eyes keen and restless, but otherwise motionless as a statue. Laura was the last to approach the s-potless casket, and now her unnatural composure seemed to for sake her. Trembling, and witli her face buried in her h an dker chief, she tottered forward. She knew, or rather felt, that Mrs Waldron was watching her every movement, an) that, if ever the time came when she should charge her openly with that horrible deed, her appearance now would be dragged forward, commented upon and miscontrued against her. Eliot Harcourt also eyed her narrowly. He had watched the others closely, particularly his aunt, as they came forward, but his whole mind and attention seemed to be concentrated upon the movements of this fair girl, whom he had grown to love with hi^ whole soul. (To be Continued.)