The Osceola times., 1880-07-31

woman had tugged his boots of. was
perfectly unconscious. Crushing down
The binding tean, down into the heart
almost broken, Susan passed down
stairs, to find Amanda already enioving
the nice supper. Between mouthfril
OF bread and sip of milk she took time
to say, complainingly:
lou don't give your men straw
berries and cream, do you, Susan? Don't
you thlnk 1t is very extravagant? Don't?
oh! You've made great deal too much
strawberry short-cake, and | guess I'll
set 1t away in the refrigerator; can eat
II tomorrow; and it will be clear waste
10 put II on for hired men"
susan made no reply. if indeed she
heard but continued .her.sewing mechan-
lcally, while Amanda lolled back in the
chlntz-covered rocker, and dilated upon
the way she would manage if she was in
Susan's place.
As Amanda had the conversation all
TO herself, the subject soon exhausted
itself, and at length declared that the
ride from town had tired her most to
death, and if Susan didn't mind she'd
retire. Susan didn't mind, SO Amanda
took herself of, leaving Susan to her
solitude.
flacing the lamp on the table. she
stood looking at the image reflected in
the small mirror before her, and all she
saw was very pale face with large ex-
pfesslve grey eyes and n small, tightly
compressed mouth. Slowly she removed
the pins from her hair, and allowed the
mass TO tumble about her shoulders
"A fl hA 4.
the glossy waves and glancing OCCASION
ally IN the mirror. Then she walked
over to the sleeping man, and brushing
the tangled locks from his forehead.
stopped and kissed him long and low
lngly. Happening TO pass her hand
over his face, she exclaimed at its fever
ish heat, and quickly walking to the
pitcher on the stand, again exclaimed at
its emptiness.
For an instant she stood hesitating,
then, with another sympathizing glance
at Johns flushed face, she grasped the
pitcher in one hand and the lamp in the
other, and noiselossly stole out of the
room, leaving the door open to create
draft and cool off the room.
All night long John slept that heavy
sleep whose awakening is misery and
remorse. Not till a stray sunbeam
pierced the gloom of the darkened room
and danced chcerily athwart his face.
did he awake 10 consciousness. Fer a
few second he scarcely comprehended
his situation, then he stifily aiose TO a
sitting position, and, clasping his hot
head with both hands, looked longingly
toward the washstand.
"Wallf' hn ax.lai,nnI .....
AFTER some water, | guess. / don't see
why she can't see the pitcher overnight;
and | wonder why she didn't call me at
the usual time; suns been up an hour"
Then he sank back upon the bed to
wait for the water. After waiting some
time he jumped up again, exclaiming,-
III bet she's out in that flower bed OF
hers, and | shall rot get any water up
here in an hour" And slaInming the
door angrily after him, down stairs he
went, grumbling at every step about
that Susan"
Headache all forgotten, John ran out
in the garden, half hoping, half expect
ing to find Susan, forgetful of time,
training her loved roses. But Susan was
not there, and partly angry, partly
frightened, John returned to the house.
Just then he recollected the missing
water. pitcher, and his face frightened
as he muttered,-
"Ies, that's IT, | shouldn't he sur
prised if she concluded to skim the milk
while she was in the cellar. Don't see
why | didn't think of that before"
So, to make assurance doubly sure, he
opened large white, lattice door, and
dashed into the cellar used for dairy
In the farther corner of this cellar a
natural spring dubbed up, and John had
followed out and enclosed it with stone,
thus forming reservoir of considerable
capacity. Toward this improvised well
John now turned his gaze, and in an in
slant all color left his face; yet he saw
more terrifying than the sought
for pitcher and lamp dimly burning,
beside the open cistern.
Some way, he could never tell how, he
reached the cistern, and kneeling down
by its stony brink, gazed long and
searchingly into its dark depths. For a
he saw nothing, then gradually
he discerned small, bright tin pail, at
tached to rope, floating upon the wa
ter, and then-something horribly hui
man in its outlines.
Great beads of terror started out on
the mans brow, and sick and faint he
sank on the ground. Again nerving
himself for this dreadful realization of
his worst fears, he sprang up, and, OBJ
tanning small ladder, returned to the
spring, into which he soon descended,
almost Immediately returning with that
something" firmly clasped in his strong
arms. Laying his burden down on the
hard cellar floor, he mechanically
brushed the long, dripping locks away
little cold hands in his, and gazing ston-
lily at those features now so indelibly on
his calloused heart.
Like painfully real dream their whole
life passed before his mental
vision, and he saw once mora the
sprightly little Sue Bronson, who had
left luxurious home and loving parents
forever to follow him so many miles, to
work, to suffer, to die-and for him.
And now!
In vain did he caress the inanimate
form before him. In vain did he be-
seech-
"Suel Sue! Oh, Sue, come back!'
Not even that promise Sue had begged
for on her knees could now wake the
faintest smile, as John in his remorse
whispered it over and over again in the
dull ear. Then, as if but just compre-
hending the tutility of his efforts, the
strong man shuddered, and with a groan
sank almost liieless beside the wife =.
had never appreciated, exclaiming, -
he fell,-
"My wife! o my wifel And l have
killed herr
And so at last they found them, with
the yellow sunlight streaming in a flood