, 1859-02-11
)oM WASHINGTON TERRITORY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY H. 1885,

ingly on, until Lima contrived him an errand Ia
the top Of the village, and sent him away, whether
he would or no. .s.-. o.. 49,.
"Who is that fiery-iaccd clown, LinnyP He
lords it over you fnely!" lisped tho genteei
clerk. i1
Lima colOred and stammered. She was
ashamed to acknowledge John before this young
spark; who despised a far better man than him.
SELF F' rae "''N f" ''-l'
i"Ot he is mason. He works with my
fAtheF," said she. ~ a .f5H asse9 :
There was fine bush of monthly roses trail.
ing over the cottage walls, from which Lima al
ways culled few to embcllish hcr work table.
II happened that some had been newly gathered
that afternoon, and she had takcn one out Of
the cup and was playing with il while John was
in the cottage. When John came back from the
errand on which she had dispatched him, the
rose had changed its place from her fingers to
the city clerks button-hole; transference which
caught his jealous eye in q moment He gave
her glance, to which she replied with one Of
coquettish defiance; and as the young stranger
presently went away and left them together, he
began to be very angry. q F r15 i7fsq
II tell you what, John Harland," retorteil
she, passionately, If you had not got my word
I'd never marry you. like Tom Freelngs Lit.
tic finger better than your whole body \" Johns
eyes blazed, and he dashed away from the cot
tage in fury. The heartless girl had quite
warped his honest, manly nature. He scarcely
knew what he did for the next hour or two. "a
1t was late when no arrived home, and his
mother was waiting for him. Il had begun to
rain, and distant rumble Of thunder echoed in
the sky. Mrs. Harland got up from her chair to
bolt the door when he came in; but he impa-
tiently forbade her, as he was going out again
very early In the morning. She asked where he
was going to but as he seemed not to hear, and
did not reply to her question, she said further I:
Need sit up, Johnny, I'm tired with washing
to-dayf" He seemed startled by her weary tone,
and turned round to kiss her. This touch of his
now unusual tenderness quite broke down the
old mothers reserve. "Ohl john John I
you've not been like yourself lately; what ais
affectionately.5 He put her quietly aside, after
Long before daylight John was ready. He
took down gun that hung over Che chimney,
deliberately cleaned it. loaded it, and concealing
il partially under his coat he left the house steal
thily, and set off on the high-road to Baftinglas
His countenanee was wicked and deadly under
the cloud Of night But no one met him no
enc saw him 10 suspect on what evil eifand he
was bound. He had heard the young clerk say
to Lima, out in the garden, before they parted:
Early tomorrow morning I'm going over 10
Bartinglas. Meet me there at noon, Linny, and
wc'll have walk in the wood without that spy
ing fiery face clown to watch US - Hush, hen
hear I" was Lina's response and, on the instant,
there came devilish thought into Johns head.
am spoil your meeting Pnbe beforehand with
you, my fine gentleman-HyOu shall not ridicule
me to Lima again !" 5000 lai aN ltsl 11
As he walked, the rain continued TO stream
down in torrents. When he came to little thick
copse by the roadside, he hid himself amongst
the trees There was partial shelter for him over
head but he stood in the tall wet reeds and grass
No matter; the chill did not cool his hot blood,
nor qucnch the fire Of jealous rage that was con-
suming him, and he waited there until the morn
ing began to break through the dense watery
clouds Then be established himself under .
careful covert where he could see the road from
Brigham, but would be himself unsecn by any
one approaching from that direction. The rain
had ceased, but thick vapor rose from the fields
and dcnse vegetation about him. Ills watch was
prolonged; ahc began to feel pains in his limbs
and head, and giddiness. lie found that he could
scarcely steady his hands to raise the gun not
from any failure in his purpose, but from sheer
physical inability. At last he heard the trot Of
a pony on tho road, and the clear whistle Of the
young clerk. With q mad haste be tried to raise
tho gun. But his arm failed him. TWAS sud-
denly struck with such weakness that he could
not Iiit the weapon above his own breast; andin
that moment his deadly chance was lost lie
sprang out into the road, with the intention ol
dragging the stranger from his horse and beating
him to death; but his foot slipped on the mud ol
the bank, and no fell prostTated on bis iacao Tho
clerk, hearing the noise, turned, rode back, and
recognized tho mason whom he had seen at
Lina's cottage. ia ag a. tg te Jsis
"Ehl what, pOaehingl" he cried, as John
reared his Indignant head and stumbled upon his
feet take my warning, Giles, &c that's your name,
and leave the game to them Il belongs to.
There's only ono step, and that a short one, as
I've heard say, between poaclling and sheep
stealing" With that he trotted off, whistling
his tune, and leaving John more wroth than be-
fore. He was half mad as he staggered bona
and restored the gun to its place over the chin
ney. His mother was just stirring. He had
sense enough left to crawl into his chamber 50
stealthly that sho should not suspect he had been
absent all night But for any rest he could get,
he might have bad his body stretched upon ths
rack, and the tooth Of an active devil gnawing n
ms hearraa s., % ,.sa',. sis, ~ 5ss sal
trs#.N s CHAPTER ". -7aseas ys,f
II was full three months before John HarlaRd
set foot over the threshold again; and when he
did so at last II was as gaunt spectre, crippled
and deformed by rheumatism in almost every
limb. Toward the close Of sunshiny Septem-
bcr afternoon, when the village was empty, every
available hand being engaged in the harveSt-held,
he said to his mother, who was sitting with her
knitting in the open doorway: - r, lli. p
"Mother, how long IS il sipce Lima Fernie
came 10 sec after me I hayn't heard her voice
for tlays-wccks, think.
"Kis weeks, John. De Advised by me, and
give up thinking about her. was tho pleading
reply. IL 81 .3lglt5 ~ 59s ed -
at Is all very easy to say give, up thinking
about her but Il Is none 50 easy to do" said
John, bitterly. al mcautc hear my fate from
her own lips; and fyoaill reach me down my
plaid, In 20 and SEQ her nOw--she nctRr GOES "a