Bradford Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Haverhill, MA)

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NINETEEN THREE 101 not suffer from actual need, but-oh God, if it could have been otherwise Il' She turned to look back at the little house. Good-bye, she whispered, I have still much work to do, and I have a feeling that I have not lived for nothing. Good-bye, dear ones at home, good-bye.'l She drew a letter from her breast and reverently kissed it. f'Yes, it is true, I am going home and I ani starting today, but the way is hard, Father, and I am very tired. She put the letter back in her pocket and her lips faintly uttered the last Words, Rayner, gcgd-bye until we meet at home-good-bye. She turned and hurried down the path. The horse was waiting, and an hour's ride would bring her to the leper village.

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100 THE CHINIES There was so much to be done and to be thought of, plans to be made-her own funeral plans. After the first shock was over she faced the grim monster with a calm courage which she had not known she possessed. It was like being a spectator at one's own death and burial. She had attended so many living deaths, she knew what hers would be. When a leper was found living in Popayan, he was immediately ostracized by the town authorities, but before he went his friends were summoned and his funeral service was held. He was laid in the coffin while the service was being performed and, at the close, a spadeful of earth was thrown in upon the body, to show that all was over. Then. he left and went away forever, dead to his friends, dead to 'his community. The horror of these funeral services had never lessened with her, so she made up her mind to go at once, not to wait until the disease became apparent, but to go now, while she was yet strong. But what word should she send home? This was the day she was to have written that she would return. Could it be possible that she had intended to go home? How strange the words sounded now. .Home-that was the dream and this was the awakening. She sent for the nearest doctor and bade him write the last words she wished sent to her friends. They were only a sentence or two and addressed to Raynor Waldo : Grace Armstrong has died. Tell her family. It was her dying wish that you should receive this message. Her body lies buried here, at her re- quest. Signed, From a Friend. That was all, but it would save their knowing the hideous truth and keep them from coming to search for her. That evening, just as the sun was setting again, a young girl came out upon the veranda and stood looking out over the mountains. Her hands were clasped together and her face turned upward to the slowly darkening sky. Great tears filled her eyes and dropped down upon her hands. It was the first time she had cried since the awful truth had come to her. Father, she whispered, help me, and if it be thy will, may the end be soon. I am going away to return no more. I am a leper. Oh Father, help me. She slowly ascended the steps, taking only a few of her personal belongings with her. The rest would be sent later by the faithful peon. I know the people love me and they will do everything they can for me. I shall

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102 THE CHIMES 1 A Strange Adventure. BY FANNY BADGER HAYDEN. HAD been riding in a dingy, smoky car all day from London to Lancaster, and as I never before had travelled such a distance alone, and never had been in that locality, I was beginning to imagine all the dreadful things that might happen to me if I had passed Lancaster without knowing it. Fur- thermore, my aunt, whom I was to visit, had written me that at Gloucester one of my cousins might meet me and accompany me the rest of the journey, but although I had scanned the face of each passenger who had entered the train at Gloucester, none of them were at all familiar looking. Suddenly the train stopped at a little station and a tall, handsome young man got on. After looking through all the cars, he Hnally came up to me and asked if the other half of my seat was engaged. Of course I said no,- there seemed at that moment nothing else to say. After riding awhile in silence, my companion turned to me and asked my destination. I-Iow my voice did tremble as I answered, Lancaster. I imagined I saw a faint suspicion of a smile on his face, as he asked again, 'f Have you friends there? I have some and possibly you know themf' I know no one but my aunt, Mrs. Sylvester, and her son john, Ian- swered. All this time I was hesitating whether or not to speak to the guard, should he appear. 'fBut, thought I, my fellow traveller is very pleasant and I am so lonely, surely I can take care of myself. just then he interrupted my reveries with the exclamation: jfjohn Sylvester your cousin! Why, I know him quite well-rather an odd looking fellow and not an especially agreeable one, either. Poor fellow, he hasn't made much of a success in the world. At this I became quite angry, and forgetting that he was a stranger, ex- claimed, Odd looking and disagreeable l I think you are very unkind to run down my cousin. I have never seen him, at least not for ten years, but he was very nice then, and I won't believe he has changed. To my horror I felt my- self blushing. .