The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-08-22

and underlined as in q mirror, moving
about bright little home where flowers
bloomed in the easements, and birds
sang, and clock ticked, "He is coming!
he is coming p
"One of these daysY' said Dorothy
to herself, as she put away the saucer of
peaches and little pitcher of thick
cream on whitcly-scoured pantry-shelf
=" of these days"
She was thinking of the future. And
old Jonathan, smoking his pipe, was
living in the past. @
you've somethin' to do with the rail-
road, stranger, haven't you?"
81 reckon I have" said Israel Es-
mayne, indifferently. "I'm switch
man." #
cit don't take up much of your time,
l guess?" -~~-e~-.
"lt'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 his house.
"Whnt time does the way train come
by"
cat 9 o'clock. a.t!
"Do you suppose could go to Mel
lenville, and see the lumber dealers
there, and get back to the station again
by that time?"
Israel looked refectively at the other
shore of the river. EF
"Well, you might" said he; "but it
would be pretty tight squeeze. ~
"Fm a good walker" said the strsn-
ger; md as he spoke he drew a fiat
pocket-fask from his pocket, uncorked
it with his teeth, and drank lcopious
draught. Israel Esmayne watched him
with eager, glittering eyes, like those of
some famished wild animal that scents
blood.
Have a drink, friend" said the
stranger, proffering the flask. Israel
Esmayne shook his head, with set teeth
and ividly pale cheek
ST never drink, said he, hoarsely.
"You would, I guess, if you could
get such stuff as this, said the man ;
"soft as oil and strong as fire. Ny
father imported it. There's not much
like it in the country. Taste, if you
don't believe mep
Israel stood for moment, hesitating.
Then he cast an eager glance to the
right and to the left, as if half fearful lest
some one should see him, and grasping
at the bottle-drank
The fevered blood mounted to his
cheek strange sparkle came into his
eyes. IL.
"Have you got more like that ?" he
whispered, hoarsely, approaching his
burning lips so closely to the mans eal
that he involuntarily started. "More?
"Tye got another flask, but"
"Will you leave it behind? I'll pay
you good price for it. :"
What for ?"
Israel's eyes fell guiltily. "In-in
case of sickness, you know. We cant
buy such liquor here-and it's lonely
spot"
"You're 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 welcome to it as a gift. .
And he was gone, plunging through
the high grass and bushes, all fringed
with scarlet cardinal flowers and nod.
ding marigolds. before Israel could stay
him.
Israel Esmayne crept back to his
house or, rather, the rude log-cabir
which was sort of hostage that one
day real hone should rise on its foun
dations, holding the fat bottle close te
him, and glancing round with furtive
wandering eyes.
"I needed it," he said to himself
"yes, l needed it. didn't know how
much until tasted it. just one more
taste. It slips over ones palate Like
glass, SO smooth, SO rich, so full oi
strength. One more taste, and then
When the clock struck Q the whistle
of the way train sounded faint and fa'
of, and Israel Esmayne rose uncertainty
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 blut
| armament overhead. Nothing was rea
l-an was faint, and fsr off, and vision
ary. But the chains of habit are hard
to shake of, and Israel had gone out al
9 o'clock every night for year. Crop
1 ine his way, and walking with slov, un'
4 steady steps, hewent, still claspmg the
partially emptied flask to his breast il
the inner pocket of his coat.
He could hear the rush of the rivel
below: he could see the rails OF ths
track glistening in the faint starlight
and mechanically feeling under clus
ter of spice-bushes for the switch-key
he knelt down and stupidity fumbled
there an instant
4 "The way train" he muttered Il
himself I" It's all right. And then th'
freight train--half-past Ga quarter q
10; and" ~ n
], He stopped down by the river house
i, ond uat h;s hurn;n0 forehead with the