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Roger Malvin's Burial
Inthissituationhewasdiscoveredbyapartywho,uponthefirstintelligenceofthefight,hadbeendespatchedtothereliefofthesurvivors.Theyconveyedhimtothenearestsettlement,whichchancedtobethatofhisownresidence.
Dorcas,inthesimplicityoftheoldentime,watchedbythebedsideofherwoundedlover,andadministeredallthosecomfortsthatareinthesolegiftofwoman’sheartandhand.DuringseveraldaysReuben’srecollectionstrayeddrowsilyamongtheperilsandhardshipsthroughwhichhehadpassed,andhewasincapableofreturningdefiniteanswerstotheinquirieswithwhichmanywereeagertoharasshim.Noauthenticparticularsofthebattlehadyetbeencirculated;norcouldmothers,wives,andchildrentellwhethertheirlovedonesweredetainedbycaptivityorbythestrongerchainofdeath.DorcasnourishedherapprehensionsinsilencetilloneafternoonwhenReubenawokefromanunquietsleep,andseemedtorecognizehermoreperfectlythanatanyprevioustime.Shesawthathisintellecthadbecomecomposed,andshecouldnolongerrestrainherfilialanxiety.
"Myfather,Reuben?"shebegan;butthechangeinherlover’scountenancemadeherpause.
Theyouthshrankasifwithabitterpain,andthebloodgushedvividlyintohiswanandhollowcheeks.Hisfirstimpulsewastocoverhisface;but,apparentlywithadesperateeffort,hehalfraisedhimselfandspokevehemently,defendinghimselfagainstanimaginaryaccusation.
