The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-07-30

] WIZ OlltUNNt III lNt tAlitNfifA anu
rownsley. accustomed 10 Difference, re-
scented them. In his indignation he for
got his helpless condition he felt himself
10 be the man the early morning has
shown us-the richest farmer In Tuckahoo
County. lie wouldn't take such talk
from such soul.
Who are YOU. siry'' he demanded. In
tones of dignitied authority.
Who am ~ Well, | was man once,
an Amt a baby now. III you'll examine
my burden ot sins here. Won will see that
| am all that's left of krieii, the man who
murdered his wife au' had TO swing for il ~
Townsley shuddercd. lie had intense
adherence of this krich In his earthly
guise, and his spiritual form was more re-
pulsiye.
Move on" said Townsley. "and get
out OF the way of respectable people. God
may have mercy on YOU; but | haven't
even pity for man who could so iii. grace
himself. You're a-n
krieff soulful eyes had been full of
tears; but now his dry, harsh laugh drank
up all the moisture. lnterruphng the
fallen man, he exclaimed:
Yes. I'm krieff, who killed his wife !;
an you're Townsley, who killed his wife.
We re both in the same box, only I've had
20 dance the gallows for nv crimes, an
your neck isn't broke accOrdin' To law.
though its pretty well cracked for an acct
dental send-off An now wen strike
hands an spin along
hricii outstretchod "A long, thin arm.
through which Townsley saw the green
hills aud the blue sky.
=" In the same boxW screamed Towns
ley. "What DO YOU mean, you wall-eyed
scamp! I'm a respectable citizen. | ma
..t't Ia. 1
member Of"
Kreft' bitter laugh broke off the sen
tence. liz was not a merry laugh, but one
that described agony better than words.
You can't come any such lodges in
this day - he retortcd. "You are what
you are, what you have been, now-not
what you have passed for among your
fellow-men. A man who has abused
his wife as you have-a man who in
cold blood has killed the mother of his
chidren-hangin' Amt enough for
him; it ain't enough said krioi,
mockingly. Come on here with me,
then, an take yer deserts, like the
ghost OF Han should. Krieff and
fownsley, wife killers. eh? Yes, I've
been loterin' around here all day. Had
news I'd have companion in misery If
I'd wait little. I've died once OF sus-
HNiNt iAON 4 WI iihtil w tAutA a bhs
II you don't kick the bucket pretty lively"
Townships face became purple with
passion while this loquacious soul deliver
ed his speech but just a. he was about
10 cry out with rage, he was brought back
to realizing sense of his own condition
by his soul. which was now making des-
perate efforts 10 free itself White sue
ceeded the purple i'm Townseys face.
blood ooZed from his mouth, and "A dead
faint made his head rest heavily on old
Mother Earth.
"A pretty clever dodge, this dead faint
of yours continued krieh, coming down
from the fence and seating himself tailor
fashion beside the still, white. bruised
body OF Townsley. " But I'm bounC 10
wait Tor you. and I'm bound 10 have out
my say. Your body is as cold this min
ute a. that shell Of mine in the medi,al
college; but here's your soul turned lis
tener, and here's what I've got TO say;
:" died like man, you've heard" said
Krietf, gently, dropping his voice. and
throwing aside his rough manner in his
intense earnestness. DO you know
why Because WAS dead u begin with.
Ii wasn't the gallows that killed kriefi
though that Institution freed his soul.
krieff died OF broken heart, an died
years ago. Who took his life? A woman.
Who broke my heart My wife.
do you think didn't love that little
armful of a Lucy when | married her?
loved her from the ribbon in her hair
to the bow on her slipper. worshipcd her.
VI used TO know somethin' Of God in
those days. Used To think ! could feel
him near, holdin an keepin' Lucy, an
me in the hollow Of his hand. But when
Lucy crept away from him. let go too
and chung To her. When a man loves "A
woman as | loved her, she can lead him
anywhere. He will follow her TO Heaven
or she may drag him to He'll. If she
pleases. That Is where Lucy dragged me.
She didn't mean TO, | suppose. She
didn't know IL. most likely. But there
amt nothn' else for a man, when wo-
man he loves an would die for stops givin'
love back.
You see, lost my money, an Lucy
went with that. | couldn't believe she'd
married me for that little property of
mine, till she twitted me Of deceiyin'
her and buyin' her love with counter
felt bills. This from that little arm
full that loved so. But IL ddn { crush
me. Wen have gold i'm their place.
Lucy says /; you shall be a rich
mans wife yet darlin', only love me.
| hain't got the heart to work without
that But work grew scarce instead of
plenty. an | was in such rush to make
money for her lost all gained in hurry
in from one promisin' chance to another.
"'Other men m Ike money, why can't
your she would say. And would say IL
over an over TO myself: Other men make
money, why can't your Afer that, when
got little sums, specialized with 'cm i'm
poor mans small way. gambled at the
nearest grog-shop TO win fortune for
Lucy. But She sneered at me when lost,
an when | got ahead would forget the
look of love an encouragement cravcd.
81 had no peace at home--no comfort.
She taught the little 'un to make fun of
me, it, father. oh, Lucyr said /, one
day, you're a-killin' mean | love ven
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