The daily gazette., 1879-11-17


Rose among the bushes in the garden ~
asked Matthew.
81 cannot quite make out. / see the
house but is that Rose standing like
one detected undes the trees?"
"Curse you-yes! And now look
nearer-down at your feet" az.
David looked down, and saw volumes
OF flame and smoke rising around
him.
"Matthew-Matthew p he cried 81
shall be burned to death ~
81 mean you shall be, and your bones
crisped. Ay, look at Rose-look your
NIL. 1t will be the last time you will see
her mourning under the trees for you I"
And, springing upon his horse, Matthew
galloped away from the blazing building.
In a moment he was beyond the sound of
his voice.
David stood in ring of rolling smoke
ana 1ame. His flesh began to shrink
from the heat, his throat to feel parched,
his breathing to be difficult. AS he lift
ed bis eyes In agony to heaven, he saw
the bending bough of tree leaning tow
ard him. With an effort he erasped it,
drew himself up upon it until he gained
q firmer bough, and so crept out of his
living grave.
Matthew rode home at full speed rush
ed into the house, and flung his arms
around the neck of his wife.
"What is the matter, Matthew ?" she
cried.
"You are mine now!'' he exclaimed,
fiourishing his arms around like q delir-
ious or drunken man. "You are mine
for the rest of your life |"
ma ha a.
thew" she replied, quietly. "See how
cannot lift the milkingpails when they
are but half full, or put half pile Of
fagots at once upon the fire."
But Matthew did not beed her; he
went about, acting SO strangely that she
thought he was drunk.
"M atthew," she said at last, "will you
bring in some more faRots 1 want to
cook your supper"
He went out of the door into the dark
ness. As he stood at the woed-heap, a
hand was laid upon his arm. He started
and looked up into face, black with
smoke, and set in stern lines out Of
which cleaned DAVID Melnotte's accusi-
ing eyes.
"a wrath /" he cried, dropping the
fagots, and spring away into the dark
| ness
The tall figure followed him with swift
strides.
With scream Matthew leaped the
garden wall and fled across the common.
The rigure pursued closely. Gathering
terror with every step. he seemed to be
flying. But avenging steps kept pace
| with his own. He left the common |; he
cleared the rocks aud fallen trees with
frantic bounds /; he fell, but scrambled
up again. On he ran ; breathlessly every
| TO Faal &Lne
dreadful grasp upon his shrinking shoul-
ders.
"Stop "panted voice behind him.
With leap, which only a man insane
with fright wOnld have taken, he cleared
ravine. graspinR at the bushes upon
the other eide to assist his foothold
among the rolling stones and 10 Ose earth
One broke-be grasped another but its
roots tore out from the damp soil, and,
clutching fruitlessly at the air, he reeled,
and swayed back into the steep depths OF
the ravine, 1t was nearly moment be-
fore his fall sounded among the Jagged
rock ana rushing water.
As David Melnotte bent over, the
moon came out, showing the body Of
Matthew Burns, broken heap upon
the rocks, with the water Rurgiing
around it.
He went to the neighbors for assistance
and help to carry him home. As he sup
pOSeu, ne was quite dead.
1t was pitful sight to see his wife.
She tainted with horror and then she
lay for weeks as weak as a babe. AL.
thought she would die. A new beauty
seemed given her-the exceeding love-
illness OF great suffering patiently borne
She was bolstered In an easy chair up
on the hearth, one day, when David
came in. He came straight and knelt
down by her chair, and took her in his
arms as If she had been a child. And,
indeed, she was little more in size-she
bad wasted So She took his face between
her fragile hands, and looked straight
into his eyes.
David, tell me the truth"
81 will"
"Did you murder my husband ?"
| "Never"
Size clasped her hands, and raised her
| eyes to heaven with murmur OF thanks
| giving.
Resting upon his breast she heard the
whole dreadful ory. No legend of the
wild place, familiar to her childhoOd's
day, was as dreadful as this but time
reconeiles all things and to-day she is
a placid, healthy old wife, with grand.
children around her. but they never hear
the tragedy from her lips. 1t is record
of too much suffering to be re-read by
her.
|