The Placer herald., 1873-09-06
AUBURN PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER

agin him-but it amt safe
Dorothy was silent. Why is it, she
asked herself, that men were so severe
in judging one another? Why did they
always look at the blackest and least prom
ising side of everything? Israel bad prom
ised her. She believed him. And that
was enough
And while she tripped lightly back and
forth about her household duties, her mind
was full of the underlined future. She could
see herself, shadowy and underlined as in
mirror, moving about bright little home
where flowers bloomed in the easements,
and birds sang, and a clock licked, "He is
coming! he is comingl'
Cone of these days!" said Dorothy to
herself, as she put away the saucer of
peaches and the little pitcher of thick cream
on Whitley secured pantry sheli'-"one of
these daysF'
She was thinking of the future And
old Jonathan, smoking his pipe, was liv-
ing in the past
you've somethin' to do with the rail-
road, stranger; haven't you?'
81 reckon have, said Israel Esmayne,
"lt don't take up much of your time,
guess"
"a It's got TO be looked after just the same
though" said the tall Westerner, as he
lifted the last monster log from the cart he
Was unloading TO the thrifty pile at the
north end of the house.
"W hat time does the way train come
by?"
cat nine o'clock."
"Do you suppose could go to Meen-
vile and see the lumber dealers there,
and get back to the station again by that
time?"
Israel looked reflectively at the other
shore of the river.
swell, you might said he; "but it
would be pretty tight squeeze"
"l'm good walker" said the stranger;
and as be spoke he drew a pocket flask
f ON his pocket uncorked it with his
teeth, and drank copious draught.
Israel Esmayne watched him with eager,
glittering eyes, like those of some famished
wild animal that scents blood.
"Have drink, friend?" said the
stranger profrering the flask. Israel Es-
mayne shook his head, with set teeth and
lvidly pale cheek.
81 never drink, )" said he, hoarsely
"You would, l guess, if you could get
such stuff as this said the man; "soft as
it. There's not much like it in the country.
Taste, if you don't believe me!'
Israel stood for moment, esitating
Then he cast an eager glance to the right
and to the left, as if half fearful lest some
one should see him, and graspng at the
hotie-drank.
The fevered blood mounted to his cheek
"A strange sparkle came into bis eyes.
"Have you got any more like that ?" he
whispered, hoarsey, approaching bis burn
ing lips so closely to the mans ear that he
nvoluntarily started. "More?"
I've got another flask, but"
"Will you leave it behind ? III pay you
a good price for it.
"What for ?"
Israel's eyes fell guiltily. "If-in case Of
sickness, you know. We can't buy such
liquor here-and it's q lone spot"
"You're right enough there" said the
man, laughing, as he drew out another fiat
flask, the mate to the first. "Here, take
it. Pshaw, friend, put up your purse.
Your welcome to it as gift"
And he was gone plunging through the
high grass and bushes, all fringed with
scarlet cardinal flowers ard nodding mari
golds, before Israel could stay bim
Israel Esmayne crept back to his house
a. A. IL l..
sort of hostage that one day q real home
should rise on its foundations, holding the
flat bottle close to him, and glancng round
with furtive, wandering eyes
~ needed it," he said to himself; eyes |
needed it, didn't know how much until
over ones palate, like glass, so smooth, so
rich, so full of strength. One more taste.
and then"
When the clock truck nine the whistle
of '.Ic way train sounded faint and far off,
and Israel Esmayne rose uncertainty to his
feet. The subtle, burning fumes of the
liquid fame had entered INTO bis brain: the
walls seemed to reel about him, the stars
to swim in the great blue armament over
head. Nothing was real-all was faint and
far off and visionary. But the chains of
habit are hard to shake off; and Israel had
gone out at nine o'clock every night for
year. Cropping his way and walking with
slow, unsteady steps, he went, still clasp
ing the partially emptied flask to his breast
in the inner pocket Of his coat.
He could hear the rush of the river be-
low; he could see the rails of the track
glistering in the faint starlight; and
mechanically feeling under cluster of spice
basbes, for the key, he knelt down and
stupidly fumbled there an instant.
"Ihe way tnain, he muttered to him
SELF "It's all right. And then the
freight train-half past nine-a quarter to
ten; and"
He stopped down by the river-shore and
wei his burning forehead with the cool