Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-27

loves, then2 Did you ever ask herr" s
 Will got up and thrust hls hands in his poekHts and fromne7, mif his head bent, but not looking at Chris ss
 ssNo, never asked her; I never thought of it. We grew up like brother and sister. don't believe she ever thought of me oth erwise, and did not think of it till it was too late. But found out when you came between us, and I could have killed you for 1t.
 . He stopped and ground his heel into the floor, and then turned toward Chris. as
 "BQt it's n0 use quarreling about has been or might be. We're not children, and we've got to take things as they are. I've got to stay here and scratch away alone, and you've got to go back and make the best of your bargain. It's no good kicking against fate; you only bruise your feet and don't make the path any smoother. When you've kicked out that scamp, there's only two things you can dO-humor her, and
 make her at least respect you, by walking st1aight. Don't be fool and try to drive Ezg she never would do thing that they tried to make her since she could walk alone. And don't make her loathe you as acompaniOn of sots and black guards. If I can help you any way you won't have to ask twice."
 Chris vowed he would try his best, shook hands and went of, feeling very friendly toward Will, and resolved to be all gentle ness and fOfbearance toward Mabel. He arranged a little scene as he rode home ward, in which he was to be quietly forci- hle and fOrbearing in the manner of Bird sal, and afterward things were to go smoothly, with mutual allowance and help fulness. Arriving at home, and coming in with that humor on him, he found Mabel dnwing. and Grifiths looking over and directing her. and the little drama of gen. ueness and accommodation did not ensue
 In the month or two that followed, Markham tried t0 force Mabel to renounce QHhiths, acquaintance, with the result tnat Will had foreseen, and Chris went ,han mad with jealousy and disappoint- lm0nt. VIII saw the wretched affair go on, but leoBld only look on, and wish and re- gEek He knew that Mabel had no innate leaning toward evil; he had watched her closely, and was sure she had no weakness Tor Griffiths sufficient to mlslead her, un- less she was very much beguiled by anger as well as artifee; but he know the smooth fellow was artful, and Chris was playing into his hands with all his might.
 The end came one hot Thursday night. A rumor of fear reached Birdsall in the early evening. Mabel had left her home, half mad, and resolved never to go back. Then the devil met her in the way and tempted her. After hours of agonized searching, Birdsal came upon the bridge at midnight, and she was there waiting. She bade, besought, commanded him to leave her, tried to elude him, but he held her fast. and when she struggled, and fercely ordered hlm to let her go, held her the faster, and answered:
 will drown you first"
 Then. by his words and manner, her eyes were somehow opened, and she be- came suddenly scared, and made him hur- r away from the bridge with her. But she would not go back; she said she could not, and Will, for his part, could not urge lt. The storm of grief, remorse, shame, fear. and resistless passion that she pour cd out wrnng his heart, and made him helpless as a child. l.a I
 She wished she were dead; that she had s 8er been born: that he would drown her, as he said; that she would % away alone, anywhere where she was not known. He asked her if she had friend or rela- tive to whom she could go, and she re- called some one he did not know, and said she would go to her. She knew the way; she would walk till morning and then take the railroad. She had no money. Will gave her all he had but some pennies, She cried and thanked him. Could he spare 1t? Had he more? He said yes, not to think of it, 1t was nothing. So she went.
 She had not told him the place she was going to, but if he went back he would be questioned and tormented with gabble. The place was hateful to him; he was sore and desolate; all the world had gone after her, and he must not follow; for her he left all behind, and went out alone also.
 The same night Chris Markham had a chance meeting with Grifiths and short and sharp balancing of accounts. -
 Grihiths was not seen about for some tune after that, and when he was. his face vas not nearly so handsome as it had been. FheHhe startled the community by charg- ing Chris with foul play toward his wife and Birdsall He made oath to an ingen- ious story into which his own injuries. the of Mabel and Will, and many other real and apparent facts were fitted, and which he found credulitv and guilibllity enough to support He set the lawyers and blaekguardly rival of the Messenger" to work; filled out his charges with details and circumstances: them with scandalous hints and inGnuations that spread like leayen among people and papers till the storm that howl. cd around Chris grew to something terri fylng. For months he was dragged about and abused; examined, investigated. ac- cused of everything imaginable, reyiled with ferocity, until . local paper one day fell under Birdsall's l's amazed eyes far away and he came swiftly and scattered the hor- rid illusion to the winds. GrifiEhs fled. and Will and Markham went back to Ma pleton together from the county town where the trial had been going on. Chris was much shaken and sobered. As they waited at a junction in the night, he was silent and absent, and when the whistle of the train sounded, he turned and asked Will If he knew where Mabel was, and Will that he did not.
 Birdsall set the .'Messenger''r afioat again. He was conscious that Chris mis- trusted and watched him. He never went away for a day but he met Chris some where. He. went once to the southerlv town where he had been reporter in his absence, and, sitting in the office, there saw Chris looking in That made him very angry, and he went out quickly, but Chris was gone. That afternoon they met face to face. and Markam demanded roughly:
 ..Birdsan. I want you to tell me wheth- CT Mabel is in this town"
 The hot blood flooded into Wills head. and his impulse was to. answer with a blow, but he curbed himself and remem- bered, and tried to make due allowance.
 Markham" he answered, 'sdon't you ask me another question like that. She may be in this town, for all I know, or in Maine or Oregon. The anger with which he began became blended with . tremor of pafhos in the last words, and then changed to sudden yearning of heart which softened him to- ward poor, foolish Chris.
 ssoome along, Chis, !" he said, s1'm go- ing home. And look here, Chris, don't hunt me any more; there's nothing to get out of me. You know you two are best apart; you said as much to me before she went away. It isn't like as if there were children; then it would be different. I'll tell you all | know about it."