And George had promised that Jim would
sing.
Jim had been drinking so steadily of late that he was a wreck. People
wondered if he could sing. When they told him his sister was dead he
laughed miserably and said nothing. No one was surprised when the hour
for the funeral services arrived to find Jim missing. Messengers had
to be sent out. They searched the town but could find no trace of Jim.
For an hour Green Valley waited in that still home. Then the
undertaker from Elmwood whispered something to the crushed, terrified
giant who stood staring at the dead face of his wife like a soul in
torment.
Mary Hoskins left her home without the song George had promised her.
At the grave there was another, a more terrible wait.
"My God--wait! They'll find him. God, men--wait--wait! I can't bury
her, without Jim's song. I promised her--I tell you I promised--oh, my
God--it was the last thing she wanted--and I promised."
So Green Valley waited, with horror in its eyes and the bitterness of
death in its heart. As the minutes dragged women began to sob
hysterically, in nervous terror. Men looked at the yawning grave, the
waiting coffin, the low-dropping sun and mumbled strange prayers.
Through a mist of tears the waiting watchers saw Hank Lolly and Billy
Evans pass through the cemetery gate, dragging something between them.
Pages:
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343