The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-12-18


But shadow enters at the same time and
there is "a low lSngh oftriumph behind and
turning with a shastly face, Matte eces a, I,
demon she breads. Joe williams has he'd
time to come up with her, and she is lest.
She fights no more, and, both worn out with
their long race they enter the cabin together.
With deep sigh of weariness and a sogtl
chuckling roulade Of satisfaction, Joe threw
himself into the armchair by the smoldsrinrI
fire.
"Mattic I didn't think you'd serve mel
so," he said, huSkily, and turning his red|
and horribly bloated fsoo toward her "Rus|
after The trick you played me in marryinf|
Tom Foster l might have expected anY-l
thing"
She is surprised, he Is not a bit angry 81
but there is something odd about him, she
can't tell what She has taken up her 20.
sition near the corner where Tom's shotgun
stands, and stands watching the uu uwelcons
guest with bright and pallid stare.
He is looking now drowsily at the almost
burnt out hrer his hands crossed Oh his N.
| in a dream.
Matte, where's Tom ?" he asked sudden.
ly.
~ expect him every minute. Why have
you followed the here 10 nighti"
"ld follow you anywhere darlingG al |
ways did follow you but you didn't like the,
and he laughed. "There was only one wo-
man in this world as liked Joe Williams,
and that was the woman he married. Lots
Of beaux sbe bad, as you know yourself,and
she might have married better man nor
me-"
"Well," returned Matte, softening q In
tlej ''you might have made better hus-
band"
"Mattie, it's strange how things 60 wrong
with people," he continued, loOkiRg sgain
at the fire and swearing a shuddering oath,
and speaking still in the same drowsy tone,
half in soliloquy "and how people throw
their chances os happiness away. Te-mor.
row shall be forty-two years old--I was
born on Christmas Day. What life has /
been crowded into them forty-two years r.
"wcll, do BETTER" she answered, curtIy,
gaining cOunge, and beginning TO suspect +
that his moraliaing mood was due to source
that inspires many extraordinary states Of (
mind. "But wish you would go, Joe il
is very late, and you know it is not right +
for me TO be here with you alone"
"Mattie, you amt in no danger from me,
my gal. You was always a good gal, you
know there never was none in these noun
tains like you. II you had married me. ia
ha' been different man, but you liked Tom /
better, and the person that married liked /
me the best Of all, though didn't care 80
much for her, and that, you see, is the way
it is in world that's mighty hard 10 under.
stand"
A pause followed.
Against the wall there was one Of those
old clocks such as you will see nowhere now
a-days but in these parts, Of the antique pat F
tern, reaching from hoor TO ceiling, and
tmepiece was iicFing Of fFs rs minStes RIt 4fiAnt
measured beat about ss loud as the tap of q
woodpecker; and for while this was the
only sound in the room.
"I am sure don't understand YOU" sAid
Matte, at last, ''but please CO." It was On
the tip of her tongue to say, "Go TO your
wife !" but she pulled up in time.
"she liked me the best of all--Mollis
Croxton did-and you was pretty, but she 1
was handsome. Her skin was as brown s
as berry, and big black eyes, such
as a man, if he once secs, be never iorgets.
The FIRST time ever see her was in the
sugar-tree grove, when they were boilin' the
sap, and they was playing King William
and she took me out into the ring to kiss
her. From that time / knowed she liked
me, and l think il was because was 90
wild and fearless. Well, she went ON grow
in bigger and handsomer, till she was az .
tall as wasj and, of course, the boys came
around her. and your Tom among the rest.
But there wasn't one o. them she thought ss
much Of us she did o. me, and mebbe that
was the very reason didn't care SO much
for her but moro for you, who didn't like
me at all. And the end was that, spite u
all the talk about Mollie Croxtoni married
her just as soon as heard youlmorried Tom
Foster"
Joe, please CO." said Matte, alter listen
ing with what patience she could command.
" If you ever cared anything for me, don't
let my husband come lack and find you
here"
He stood up instantly and crossing 10 her.
took her hand and looked down into her
face with his gray, glittering eyes.
You're right, Matte; it aint proper for
me 10 be found here. You was always a
good gal, and people shall never have CAUSE
through me TO say a word Agin you. Goods
by" and he dropped her hand and turned
away.
At the door he paused and looked at hoE
again, over his shoulder, ana 50 went out.
An hour after daybreak Christmas HoFn-
ing, Tom Foster, tired, haggard, very pale
made his reappearaBce. Breakfast was just
ready, and, amer hasty ablution, he sat
down to his coffee aud slap jacks and some
slices of fried venison, emPlied upon HE
plate, from the smoking skillet, by his wife
in silence.
" Well Matte, have you nothing 10 say9''
he asked, presently, after eating bit with
an evident wsut Of appetite. " You didn't
even wish me a Merry Christmas. Great
ioings to day, hear. A shooting match
lown at Billy wright's for a whole beef.and
Tom Walsh is to run for purse Of money.
md to night there's another dance down AZ
. What's the matterf"
"Nothing. How is Doyle?"
Doyle! Oh, he is getting all right AgAin.
lie passed a quiet night, considering. Aud
'ou, Matte. were you lonesome hero By
-ourself2 suppose no one stopped ?"
She got up, with her head lowered and
eep fush, and went to the other side Of the
Dom.
No, was not lonesome-and no one