The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-01-02

uti lsaiup . Spptdi duCCs SuC mus
have admitted that, although rathe
formidably big and brawny, be would
not have been at all bad-lookinl
fellow if be were once well shaved
and had better clothes. He had beer
kneeling before her on both knees,
bat now changed his posture to one
knee, and almost instantly thereafter
sprang to his feet, crying with an ex
citement that showed how strong
had been bis repressed feeling:
Thank God I've got something
that will save you. What a fool |
was not to think oft before ~ and be
pulled flask out of bis pocket, and
shook it exultantly in her face. His
heel, as be changed his posture, had
touched the flask and reminded min
of its existence. Miss Livingston
looked at him apprehensively What
was he going to do to her? lie
speedily made it clear.
That's full of whiskey. good
pint Nhiskey Is the only sure cure
for rattlesnake poison. All you've
got to do is 10 drink this I'LL you are
Intoxicated, aud then you're cured. F"
| She bad been through some very
novel experiences that afternoon, and
done things which she would never
have thought it possible she should
be brought to do; but this was rath-
er too much. If she had heard this
browny vagabond Alright, be coolly
proposed that she should drink he--
self into state ofinsensibility, alone
with him in this remote spot. He
poured some liquor into the tin cup
which be took from the bottom OF the
flask, and extended it to her She
shook her head, and merely said:
Thank you, 1 won't try it."
What was the use of arguing a
question OF propriety with tramp
II see you're afraid of me-" be
said; al cant wonder at that, but i;
is case of necessity If you don't
drink, YOU are dead in an hour
There's at least bare chance that L
am an honorable fellow, but there's
no chance at ali if you don't take the
whiskey. This is the time of year
when the poison is strongest, and
that was big fellow. Your arm is
swelling already"
"But won't this that you've been
doing draw out the poison Z"
There's not much chance, because
YOU see the bite is in among the veins,
and the poison got at once into the
blood | only did it because it was
better than doing nothing"
She looked at the cup which be
held towsrd her as if almost decided
to take it, and then turned away
again aud stood long time. What
thoughts were in her mind only wo-
man can guess. 1t is not for me to
describe them Finally she turned
SLOWLY around once more and looked
fixedly into his face, as if studying it
/ f5r her hfe-as indeed she was. The
dark blue eyes rested on the brown
ones of the man with gaze in which
inquiry, entreaty, fear, doubt, and
piteous appeal, We're most aifectingly
mingled.
II assure you that you viii be safe
| am gentleman-I am indeed, al
though I'm not dressed like one"
He spoke with an air Of sincerity.
Still these were but words, and her
eyes still questioned his, though as if
hopeless OF obtaining the assuran ce
they sought.
II am so sorry for you, 'he said al
last, and as he spoke his eyes suffus.
ed with moisture.
Give me the cup-I will drink il
now!' she exclaimed.
However it might be with her own
sex, she felt that she might trust the
wet eyes of man. He explained to
her how to take as much as p0ssible G
at one gulp snd swallow it without
breathing. so as to avoid the smart
of the raw liquor. Still she strangled
aud spluttered so that half the first
draugbt was wasted, and her eyes
were filed with, water After that be
gave her smaller drinks and she got
on better.
Don't yeu begin to feel it?p be ask
ed, after she had in this way taken
nearly half pint.
Not at all, )" she replied, beginning
to think that, after all, it was not
going to be such a dreadful thing.
That shows that the strength Of
the poison it has TO counteract." be
said
"Why, you talk like an educated
man" she exclaimed. impulsively.
"Why shouldn't H." be replied, in
surprise, and then added as if to him.
self, with an amused tmiie, "Ob, yes,
| forgot-it's the clothes"
She failed to see what the Joke
was.
Beyond this there was no conver-
satiOn between them. She simply
drank, and gasped, and wiped her
mouth aud fearful eyes with an en-
broidered handkerchief, of which the
effective part was a centre half an
inch square, the rest being lace border,
while her odd Ganymede was kept
busy replenishiBg the cup as fast as
she finished it. At intervals of few
minutes she took two more drinks.
She would still have said that she
felt no effects from the liquor, but she
was conscious of taking a more gen.
orally saDguine view of the situation
than 3 few minutes before. Her
painful fears and apprehensions had
disappeared. There was evidently
nothing so formidable about tramps,
if they were properly managed. Her
Limidily about this one had wholly
gone, and she felt quite inclined to
pstroniZe him. 1t struck her that it
wonld be shrewd idea to clincb the
fellows fidelity with peeuniary mo-
tives; so she said with fine air of
condescension:
IL want you 20 understand that /
am very much obliged TO you for
your assistance, and intend to reward
you handsomely if you continue to
behave well, as / have no doubt you
will do. have nothing with me to
give you but my watch. which is not
worth fnneh. hut On returrin1 to the