The Morning herald., 1878-12-04


dropping bis hat, began pushing up the left
sleeve of his coat.
Il can easily prove what say, ma a'am."
The coat was pushed as far as the elbow,
after which the shirt sleeve was rolled even
| with IL. tAesl en- lJl
Instead Of the rough, hard skin supposed
the natural covering.of the sinews of sailor,
the flesh beneath that shirt was as white and
delicate as the flesh Of q person who has
never been exposed to hardship.
He held his arm aloft. IF gg nor oq
I Mrs. Weeks started, and cried aloud. '9G
"Hush!" cautioned Tom; 'youll bring
somebody inr'rr n ~ - r .s3.1D
I Ali she now knew that he must be her
friend; there could be no room for doubt.
| She eyed him wonderingly, dreamily, as
If she were looking upon one whose thoughts
she would fain fathom.
"You're leetle inclined to doubt vet, amt
your" questioned the man of mystery.
Mrs. Weeks answered, quickly:
mo, I cannot; the proof is sufficient; !
am sure you feel kindly disposed, else you
would not rick the danger you incur in COM
eyes, know; I'm good deal to blame
for yer trouble. But its never too late to
patch upP' IF ,,o,r.. ,..,.,.,,
] "Please speak as you ought said the widow
nervously. 'There is no need to masquer-
ade here. If you have come to do any good
act for the limitless evil of former days.
speak; I will be lenient, much as despise
you" .fLlH
"Can't help my style o speakin', ma am;
I'm Tom Black; you must skuse me. But
do promise, if I lead you to happiness, that
you'll forgive me all the evil Ireally didn't
mean to do; hot temper's bad thing, but it
runs in my blood" .aai
II promise to act as woman should
with pity! No word Of mine will ever re-
veal your secret" 4.IY@l
"Will you swear itP" 80 af .
my word is as good as my bond"
'Thats so! You're whole-hearted crit.
ter after all; wish was. But that's past.
Mrs. Weeks, when sent you that ere letter,
I thought it would put into yer noddle the
way to help yer trouble" ~ u
'.Nay,"' returned Mrs. Weeks, with
shake Of the head; 'the plan you suggest
would increase my suffering, for have had
these years past, all the weight my mind can
bear" A.. ..g' .
'Think you're mistaken agen," said Tom,
huskily. 'The gals sich pleasant society
that yer troubles would be leetle SUBJ
merged, p'raps drowned"
Il cannot think so."
sBring yourself to it; I'll bet you'll find it
works jolly well. But I'll alter the plans a
bit. / writ you to apply for sitewation as
housekeeper; stead O. doin' that, 60 and
make friends with the gal afore she dusts
away to Connecticut you know the village
She starts soon."
'The strain on my brain would be too
muchl repeated the widow.
mot half what it would to live here in
this gloomy hole. Go see her. You're
smart enoug gh to make up some falsehood to
carry you through" ~"
Mrs. Weeks haughtiness returned.
"Have you the impudence 10 counsel such
q thing9"
The man of mystery was somewhat taken
aback by her angry tones.
II wouldn't 'zactly counsel it, ma'am," he
said, submissively. "You can arrange it
somehow, I guess" he added. "Matters
have been confoundedly black for good
many years, but there's a chance yet, If
you'll only take time by the fetlock!
@"You don't mean to say"
Again she was interrupted. ..
II mean to say nothin' but this: to-dayI
got hold on an enemy so tight that he can't
iy away with much ease, and can't rest
till he's answered for his crimes. The
traps got to be sprung quiet like, or the
fats ali in the fire, cause he's got lots O
stamps You're level headed enuff to know
that" ...u ,.
Mrs. Weeks displayed irritation, as she
asked the second time:
"Can't you speak as you ought?"
"speak the only way can, was the reit-
Grated reply; "speak as allus do."s
"Well, what have you discovered"
sThat our enemy is as big liar as ever
trod Gods footstool! "
"Is that all?'
"All?" exclaimed Mr.. Black; saint 1t
enough3 Aint it plenty2 doesn't it prove
woman as was slandered and abused to be
pure3"
His voice was becoming choked by emo
tion.
ayes, say slandered and abused, and by
- I'm sorry sich things happened; but
can't be helped now; got to be righted
near as possible"
~ bear no enmity," said the widow in a
voice trembling with emotion evidently as
deep, if not deeper than her visitors. "My
heart is kindly disposed toward those who
have shamefully treated me; / have never
hated them. mourn that they should
be victims to passions which could mislead
and make them tyrannical.
"God bless you for thatr groaned
Black, his tones becoming gentler and
subdued. r-ET hsAt.
Recollections Of the past were causing the
well-springs of his heart to bubble over,
and he brushed away gathering tears.
Mrs. Weeks approached nearer, and would
have laid her hand on his shoulder. The |
motion aroused him. He drew back.
"No, mol" he exclaimed; "dont touch me!
NJ. laal;x,e co ora MT 70 ha conSiderad in fhis