Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-08-29

AT what time does the way train come
by2'
Nine o'clock
DO you suppose could go to Mellen-
vile and see the lumber dealers there, and
get back to the station again by that time p
| Israel looked rehectively at the other
shore of the river.
"Well, you might, said he but it would
be II pretty tight squeeze
I'm a good walker said the stranger !;
and as he spoke he drew fiat pockct.i flask
from his pocket, uncorked it with his teeth,
and drank copiOus draught. Israel Es-
mayne watched him with eager, glittering
eyes, like those of some fainished wild ami
NAL that scents blood.
Have drink friend p said the stran-
ger, prohering the flask. Israel Esmayne
shook his head, with set teeth and lividly
pale cheek.
L never drink, said he, hoarsely.
You would. guess, if you could get
such stuff as this said the man soft as
oil and strong as fire. My father imported
it. There's not much like il in the coun-
| try. Taste, if you don't believe me j.
Israel stood for a moment, hesitaling.
Then he cast an eager glance to the right
and to the left, as if half fearful lest some
one should see him, aud grasping at the
The fevcred blood mounted to his check;
strange sparkle came into his eyes.
Have you more like that p he whisper
ed, hoarsely, approaching his burning lips
so closely to the mans ear that he invOlun-
tarily started More p
'l've got another flask, but
viii you leave it behind ? Ill pay you
good price for t.''
What for p
lsrael's eyes fell guiltily. In-in case
of sickness you know. We can't buy such
liquor here-and it's lonely spot
Your right enough there, said the man,
laughing, as he drew out another flask, the
mate to the first. Here, take it. Pshaw,
friend. put up your purse. You're well
come to it rs gift.
And he was gone, plunging through the
high grass and bushes, all fringcd with
scarlet cardinal-tiowers and noddiug mari
golds, before Israel could stay him.
Israel Esmayue crept back to his house,
or, rather, the rude log cabin which was
sort Of hostage that one day real home
should rise on its foundations, holding the
fiat bottle close to him, and glancng around
with furtive wandering eyes.
Il needed it, he said to himself; yes, [
needed it. didn't know how much until
tasted it, just one more taste. 1t slips
over ones palate like glass, so smooth, 50
rich, so full of strength. One more taste,
and then
When the clock struck nine the whistle
OF the way train sounded faint and far off,
and Esmayne rose uncertainty to his feet.
The subtle, burning fumes of the LIQUID
flame had entered into his brain the walls
seemed to real about him, the stars to
swim in the great blue iirmament over
head. Nothing was real--all was faint
and far off and visionary. But the chains
OF habit are hard to shake of: and Israel
had gone out at nine O'Clock every night
for year. Cropping his way, and walking
with slow, and unsteady steps, he went,
still claspng the partially emptied flask to
his breast in the inner pocket of his coat.
lie could hear the rush of the river be-
low he could see the rails of the track gis-
tcning in the faint starlight and mechan-
ically feeling under a cluster Of spice BUSH
es for the Gwitch key, he knelt down and
stupidity fumbled there an insta ut.
The way train,' he muttered to himself.
It's all right. And then the freight train
-hali-past nine-a quarter to ten and
lie stopped down by the rivcrhouse and
wet his burning forehead with the cool
drops he could scoop up in the hollow of
his hand. lie sat down on fallen tree,
and let his head fall in his palms.
Am | - drunk p he muttcrud, half
aloud. % God have | come to this in
spite of everything? p
And the memory Of Dorothy Beers and
his sacred promise to her rose up in his
mind, AS one sometimes remembers prom
iscs to the dead. In all the wild, wide,
reeling, rocking world of his brain there
was but one certainty. lie had lost Doro-
thy, his sott-stepping, sweet-eyed. redeem
ing angcl-the one ia all the world who
loved and trusted him most implicitly.
Il don't deserve her. he thought, scarce
able to shape definite thought in his chaotic
mind buff had fallen down dead be-
fore-before touched that accurscd stuff!
She would have believed in me them
The fresh, cool night air Gu his brow was
SOLDERING him little the touch of the cold
river water cleared the mists ofhis clouded
brain IN some degree. lie rose up, steady
ing himself by the stem of young white
birch tree that grew close beside him, and
looked around.
lIark clear whistle, half a mile away,
clcavng the silence like the call of some
swect-thrOatcd bird
1t was the express, whose plume of lurid
smoke spanned half L cOntntut-~the long
serpent-like train, gltteriug with lights,
nnG carrying great eye ot lire IN front,
which nightly Numbered over the line of
rails, and shot like meteor out of sight in-
to the hush and silence of the woods, west
ward bound.
The way train passed at nine, making
brief stoppaGe at liurstley station beyond,
a mere wooden shed with platform ou Ell
ther side. Half an hour atlerward II slow
and heavy freight train followed it'll running
oil on Il side track toward the riycr-shore
until the express should have safely passed.
And it was the special business of Israel
Esmayne To set tie switch for the freight
and subsequently, replace it for the hurry
Ing express.
Had he done this
With an awful doubt poisoning his
heart. he pressed his hands To his tenn
pies and tried to think. lie had been
there-he could recall just how the dewy
rails looked, wet and glistening in the star
light. He had had the switch-kcy in his
hand-that he could also remember. But
was that before or after the freight had
switched OF? He could not remember
whether the freight had passed or not. He
did not know whether he had locked the