Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-10-02
Two Wife.Killers.
ny II, V. OSBORNE.
CONCLUDED.

| III TINS uay J! he fctOrteu. "lO
are what you are, what you hav
been, n0w-nOt what you have pas
sed for among your fellow.men.
man who has abused his wife as yoI
have-a man who in cold blood ha
killed the mother OF children hang
in amt enough for him /; it ain
enough" said Krietf, mockingly
"Come on here with me, then, an
take yer deserts, like the ghost of /
man should. Krietf and Townsley
wife-killers, ell Yes, lve been lott
erin around here all day. Had
news P,l have companion in mis-
cry if I'd wait Il little. I've died
once Of suspense; an now Pm like
ly to suffer from it again if you
don't kick the bucket pretty lively
Townships face became purple
with passion while this loquacious
soul delivered his speech but just
as he was about to cry out with rage
he was brought back to a realizing
SENSE of his own condition by his
soul, which was now making des.
perate efforts to free itself. White
succeeded the purple in Townships
face, blood Oozed from his mouth,
and IA dead faint made his head rest
heavily on old Mother Earth.
ga pretty clever dodge, this dead
faint of yours" continued Krietf,
coming down from the fence and
seating himself tailor fashion beside
the still, white, bruised body of
"But Pm bound to wait
for you, and Pm bound to have out
my say. Your body is as cold this
as that shell of mine in the
medical college; but here's your
soul turned listener, and here's
what Eve got TO say:
81 died like a man, you've heard"
said Krieff, gently, dropping his
voice, and throwing aside his rough
manner in his intense eaInestness.
I)o you know why? Because |
vas dead to begin with. 1t wasn't
he gallows that killed Krief, though
hat institution freed his soul.
Nrietf died of a broken heart, and
lied years ago. Who took his life ?
\ woman. Who broke my heart ?
Wy wife.
''Do you think ] didn't love that
title armful of a Lucy when | mar
led her? loved her from the rib
ION in her hair to the bow on her
Upper. l worshiped her.
81 used to know something of
iod in those days. Used to think
could feel him near. hOld;n' an
eepin' Lucy an me in the hollow
f His hand. But when Lucy crept
way from Him let go too, and
lung to her. When IL man loves q
'oman as | loved her, she can lead
i'm anywhere. He will follow her
D heaven, or she may drag him to
ell, if she pleases. That is where
lucy dragged me. She didn't mean
D, | suppose. She didn't know it,
lost likely. But there amt nothin'
se for II man when a woman he
ives an would die for stops givin'
we back.
"You see l lost my money, an
ucy went with that. | couldn't
elieve she'd married me for that
tile property of mine till she twit-
ID me of deceivin' her am buyin'
er love with counterfeit bills. This
Om that little armful that | loved
}! But it didn't crush me. 'We'n
ave gold in their place, Lucy,' says
; 'yOu shall he a rich mans wife
ct, darlin', only love me. l hain't
)t the heart to work without that
ut work grew scarce instead of
cnty, an | was in such a rush to
axe money for her l lost all | gain
| in hurryin' from one promisin'
lance to another.
"Other men make money. why
mt you 2 she would say. And |
ould say it over an over to myself:
)ther men make money, why can't
After that, when l got little
inns, speculated with 'em in
)or mans small way. l gambled
the nearest grog-shop to win a
rtune for Lucy. But she sneened
me when lost, an when [ got
read would forget the look of love I
y encouragement | craved.
81 had no peace at home e-no com.
rt. She taught the little 'un to
axe fun of me, its father. oh, ;
ucyv said l, one day, you're kill,
, mean | love you so! you
mt die any too sOOn,' said she, 'an'
our love is all wasted.' But l