The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-23

I Earle came along with a pack train going
| to the mill, and picking her up carefully
laid her on top of a bundle of wood; tha
, the Mexican driver covered her up with 6
r blanket, which so smothered her that she
} wakened, and started up gasping for
8 breath. The feeling of suffocation contin
uing, she stole softly to the door, an6
opening it let the chilly night air blow
, over her. Most persons would have founC
t Mrs. Hastings house freely ventilated
but some way poor Alice found it hard te
breathe in it.
The summer was passing; times grew
= if possible, harder than before. The pros
} pectors, who had found plenty Of ''leads, >
l had spent their ''bottom dollar'' in open
ing them up and in waiting for purchas-
ers, and were going back to California
} any way they could. The capitalists were
} holding off, satisfied that in the end all the
valuable mines would fall into their hands
and caring nothing how Jared the brave
, but unlucky discoverers. In fact, they
J overshot themselves, and made hard times
for their own mills, the miners having to
stop getting out rock.
Then Jack lost his situation. Very soon
food began to be scarce in the cabin of
Mr.. Hastings. Scanty as it was, it was
more than Alice craved or rather it was
not what she craved; if she ate for day
or two, for the next two or three days she
J suffered with nausea and aversion to any
thing which the outside kitchen afforded.
Jack seldom mentioned his mine now,
and looked haggard and hopeless. The
conversation between her husband and
DR.. Earle, recorded elsewhere, had been
overheard by Alice, lying half conscious
and she had never forgotten the threat
about blowing out his brains in case he
failed to sell his mine Trifling rs such
an apprehension may appear to another
it is not unlikely that it had its effect to
keep up her nervous condition.
The summer was going-was gone.
Mrs. Hastings had not met DR.. Earle for
several weeks; and, despite herself, when
the worst fears oppressed her, her first i'm
pulse was to turn to him. 1t had always
seemed so easy for him to do what he
liked
Perhaps he was growing anxious to
know if he could give the thumb screw
another turn. At all events, he directed
his steps toward Mr.. Hastings house on
the last day in August. Mrs. Hastings
received him at the threshold and offered
had--in the shade outside the door; at
the same time seating herself upon the
doorstep with the same grace as if it had
been silken sofa.
She was not daintily dressed this after
for the expenditure of a certain amount OF
money, and money Alice had not-not
even enough to pay Chinaman for "do-
oF hn,,
} Neither had she the facilities for doing
them herself, had she been skilled in that
sort of labor; for even to do your own
washing and ironing pre-supposes the
usual convcniences Of a laundry, and
these did not belong to the outside
J kitchen. She had not worn her linen
lawn since the visit to the mill. The dust
which blew freely through every crack OF
the shrunken boards precluded such eX-
travagance. Thus it happened that a
soiled cashmere wrapper was her after
noon wear. She had failed a good deal
since coming to Deep Canon; but still
looked pretty and graceful, and rather toe
spirituelle.
The doctor held in his hand, on the
point of a knife, the flower of Il cactus
very common in the mountains, which he
presented her, warning her at the same
, time against its needle-like thorns.
cit makes me sick, " said Alice, hastily
throwing if away. ''It is the color ol
gold, which | want so much; and of the
sunshine, which | hate so.
81 brought it to you to show you the
little emerald bee that is always to be
found in one; it is wondrously beautiful,
a living gem, is it not?"
) 'Yes, know" Alice said, 81 admired
the first one | saw but admire nothing
; any longer-nothing at least which sur
rounds me here"
| understand that, OF course" returne 1
the doctor. ''lt is because your health il
} failing you-because the air disagree
with YOU"
"And because my husband is so unfor-
tunate. If he could only get away from
here-and Il" The vanity of such sup
position in their present circum stance
} brought the tears to her eyes and 4 quivel
about her mouth.
, "Why did you ever come here? VIII,
did he ever ask you how dared he?'
demanded the doctor, setting his teeth to
gether.
THAT is Il strange question. doctor y
Mrs. Hastings answered with dignity
5 lifting her head like an antelope IN,
9 husband was deceived by the same hope
which have ruined others. If l suffer, i
!; is because we are both unfortunate"
"What will he do next?" questionel
the doctor, curtly. The cruel meaning
: caused the blood to torsake her cheeks.
Il cannot tell what he will do,"-hel
t brief answer rounded by an expressive
silence.
3 "You might help him shall poin
} out the way to you ?'-watching her in
| tently.
) Can you? can | help him a"-he
whole form suddenly inspired with tresl
!, life
4 DR.. Earle looked into her eager face
) with passion of jealous inquiry tina
made her cast down her eyes:
, "Alice, do you love this Hastings ?''
| He called her Alice he used a ton,
and asked gu, stion which could not be
l misunderstood. Mrs. Hastings dropped
her face into her hands. her hands upol
her knees She felt like wild creatu +,
4 which the dogs hold at bay. She knew
now what the man meant. and tho
: temptation he used.
7 Alice" he said again, "this man, youl
husband, possesses prize he does not
value, or does not know how to care for
: Shall you stay here and starve with him
, Is he worth it 7"
, "He is my husband,' she answere,
} simply, lifting up face calm, if MORTAL,
3 pale.
"And might be your husband, after ;
brief interval" he said quickly. "There
f would have to be divorce it could be
t conducted quietly. l do not ask you t.
f commit yourself to dishonor. | will
shield you; no care shall tall upon you
, nor any reproach. Consider this well
dearest, darling Alice and what will be
| your fate if you depend upon him.
t "Will it help him then, to desert him?'
} she asked family.
: Eyes, unless by remaining with hin
you can insure his support. Maintain
7 you he cannot. Suppose his mine were
, sold-he would waste that money as he
l wasted what he brought here. l don'1
, want his mine-yet | will buy it to-mor-
l row if that will satisfy you, and | have
, your promise to @ with me. told yor