Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-07-30
hain't anything agin him-but it amt


Judging one anothers Why did they
always look at the blackest and least
promising side of everything? Israel
had promised her. She believed him.
And that was enough
And while she tripped lightly back
and forth about her house hold duties,
her mind was full of the underlined fu-
ture. She could see herself shadowy
and underlined as in mirror. moving a
bright little home where flowers bloomed
in the easements, and birds sang, and
clock licked. ''He is coming! he is
coming y
"One of these days !" said Dorothy
to herself, as she put away the saucer of
peaches and the little pitcher of thick
cream on a Whitley secured pantry shelf
tone of these days!"
She was thinking of the future And
old Jonathan, smoking his pipe, was liv-
ing in the past.
You've somcthin' to do with the rail
road. stranger; haven't you %
r I reckon | have" said Israel Esmay-
ne, indifferently. "l'm switchman"
at don't take up much of your time,
l guess :"
IL. got to be locked 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 his house
"Wbat time does the way train come
by p
AT nine o'clock"
"Do you suppose I could go to Mel.
lenville and see the lumber dealers there
audget back to the station again by that
time 7"
Israel looked reHectively at the other
shore of the river.
well, you might. said he "but it
would be a pretty tight squeeze
"lm a good walker" said the stranger
and as he spoke he drew fat pocket
flask from his pocket, uncorked it with
his teeth, and drank copious draught
Israel Esmayne watched him with eager
glittering eyes. like those of some fam
| ished wild animal that scents blood
"Have drink, friend 7" said the
stranger. proffering the flask. Israel Es-
maync shook his heed, with set bis teeth
and lividly pale check.
II never drink" said he, hoarsely.
You would, ] guess, if yon could get
such stuff as this" said the man "soft
as oil and strong as fire My father i'm
ported it. There's not much like it in
the country. Taste. if you don't believe
me-"
Israel stood for moment, hesitating
Then be cast an eager glance to the right
and to the left, AS if half fearful least
some one should see him, and grasping
at the bottle-drauk |!
The fevered blood mounted to his
cheek /; and a strange sparkle came into
his eyes.
Have you got more like that" be
whispered, hoarsely approaching his
burning lips so closely to the mans ear
that he involuntarily started. Moore"
"lve got another flask, but
"Wili you leave it behind ! III pay
you good price for it."
"What for E.
Israel's eyes fell guiltily. "In-in
case of sickness, you know. We cant
buy such liquor here-and it's a lonely
spot
You're right enough there said the
man, laughing, as be drew out another
fat flask, the mate to the first. "Here,
take it. Pshaw, friend, put up your
purse. You're welcome to it as gift"
And he was gone, plunging through
the high grass and bushes, all fringed
with scarlet cardinal flowers and nodding
marigolds before Israel could stay him.
Israel Esmayne 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, hold
ing the fat bottle close to him and glanc-
ing round with furtive, wandering eyes.
81 needed it," he said to himself yes
need it. l didn't know how much
until tasted it. 1t clips over ones pal
ate like glass. SO smooth, so nice, so full
Of strength. One more taste, and
then"
When the clock struck nine the whis-
tie of the way train sounded faint and
far off, and Israel Esmayne rose uncer-
tainly to his feet The subtle, burning
fumes of the liquid fame had entered
into his brain the walls seemed to reel
about him, the stars to swim in the great
blue armament overhead. Nothing was
real-all was faint and far off and vision
ary. But the chains of habit are hard
to shake off and Israel had gone out at
nine o'clock ever nigh for over year -
Cropping his way, and walking with slow
unsteady steps, he went, still clasplng
the partially emptied flask to his breast
in the inner pocket of his coat.
He could hear the rush of the river
below he could see the rails of the track