Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-10-02
A NVOMAN,S COURAGE.

The blood-red light of sunset was mir
roring itself in crimson splashes in the
turbid tides of the great Western river
the blackbird was sounding its sweet
whistle through the old primeval forests;
and Jonathan Beers, sitting by his cabin
door, smoked his solitary evening pipe,
and thought vaguely of the church bells
that used to ring at evening time in the
far-off eastern village where he had been
born and brought up, with the roar of
Penobscot Bay in his ears.
I'D like to hear them bells once again
afore die" unused old Jonathan. "But
it amt likely I'll ever go back now"
Even while these disjointed medita-
tons passed through his mind, there was
a light step on the cabin threshold, and
the rustic of stifly starched pink calico,
and his niece Dorothy came to the door.
"Tea's ready, uncle DEAR" said she.
"And I've baked real New England
corn-bread, and some ginger-snaps, such
as grandmamma used to make. And see,
uncle, I've sliced up the little red peaches
from the tree you planted yourself on
the south side of the hill. Israel Es-
mayne said it wouldn't grow, but it has.
! mean to keep a saucerfull and little
cream for Israel tonight, just to Shoao
him.
"Do you mean that Israel Esmayne is
coming here tonight ?"
eyes, uncle" said Dorothy, STOPPING
to recover q teaspoon she had dropped
"a spoon with an antique silver shell
carved on its handle-and coming up
very rosy from the search. "Why not?"
'Take care, Dotty. That's ALL"
'Uncle, what do you mean ?"
IL Il lou
in your grave in the new burying- ground
where there's only one mound yet in the
shadow of the church spire, than to see
YOU married to aman who drinks! That's
what mean, Dotty!"
Dorothy's head dropped over her
plate.
''Uncle, that is hardly fair. Because
man had bad habit once"
''And has it now"
The soft eyes glittered into defiant
flash.
''You are mistaken, uncle. Israel Els
mayne has not touched drop of ardent
spirits in year. He has promised me
never to touch it again !" / hope he
never will, my girl, said Jonathan Beers,
although his tone betrayed no very san
gune feeling. "But it amt safe thing
to do. 1t is a madness, love of liquor is
and nothing short. It's liable to break
out at any time. Israel Esmayne's &
good fellow enough. haint anything
agin him-but it amt safe!"
Dorothy was silent. Why was it, she
Vsked herself, that men were so severe
injudging one another Why did they
always look at the blacklist and leas
promising side of everything Israe
had promised her. She believed him
And that was enough.
And while she tripped lightly bach
and forth about her household duties
her mind was full of the underlined fu
ture. She could see herself, shadowy
and underlined as in mirror, moving
about a bright little home where flowers
bloomed in the easements, and bird.
sang, and clock licked. He is com
ing he is coming!"
Zone of these days" said Dorothy tt
herself, as she put away the saucer o
peaches and little pitcher of thicl
cream on whitely-scoured pantry-shel
tone of these days
She was thinking of the future. AnC
old Jonathan, smoking his pipe, was liv
ing in the past.
''You've somethin' to do with the rail
road, stranger, haven't you ?"
"Ireckon Ihave, said Israel Esmayne
indifferently. "I'm a switchman."
''It don't take up much of your time
] guess p
Its got to be looked after just tn
same, though" said the tall Westerner
as he lifted the last monster log from tn
cart he was unloading to the thrifty pill
at the north end of his house.
''What time does the way train com
by ?"
CAT nine o'clock"
''Do you suppose / could 90 to Mellen
vile and see the lumber dealers there
and get back again to the station by tina
time? ?"
Israel looked refectively at the othe
shore of the river
'Well, you might" said he but it vii
be pretty tight squeeze.
''Im a good walker" said the stran
ger; and as he spoke he drew fla
pocket-hask, uncorked it with his teeth
and drank a copious draught. Israe
Esmayne watched him with eager, gilt
tering eyes, like those of some famishet
wild animal that scents blood.
''Have drink, friend ?" said the stran
ger, proffering the flask. Israel Els
mayne shook his head, with set teetl
and lividly pale cheek.
Il never drink" said he, hoarsely.
'.You would, guess, If you could ge
such stuff as this, said the man ''sof
as oil and strong as fire. My father i'm
ported it. There's not much like it il
the country. Taste, if you don't believe
mel"
Israel stood for a moment, hesitating
Then he cast an eager glance to the RICH
and to the left, as if half fearful les
some one should see him, and graspine
at the bottle-drankl
The feyered blood mounted to hi