The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-27

never mind" A..
lie stood for moment looking across the
stark palmetto, over the dusty stretch OF
road, across the glare, to the town. Ills eyes
blinded and filled. ,.
said. ~ wish you hadn't, sc'p' Du' never
mindw
lie shook the negro gently oil, as II ne had
been child. There was nothing more TO say:
lie would 20 back to his work. As he walked
along, he suddenly said to himself: =,
"She did not smile this morning! Nor the
lady q! the telegraph Office, either. Nora
good many other folks. l remember now.
Lord" he added aloud, thought
breaking into one Of his -haf.unconsclous
prayers, which had the more pa'hcs BECAUSE
1t BEGAN with the rude abrupt.ic>, oi an ap..
parent oath-'I.ord! what in the name OF
heaven am going to do about IT," -.
with bowed head and broken face, he met
Doctor Dare. She WAS riding on her rounds |
upon a patient, Southern tackcy, ana she
was riding fist. But she refined up and con-
| fronted him.
"Mr. Hope! There is a hateful rllmor
brought from New York about you. l am
going to tell You Immediately. 1t Is SAID
"Wait minute" he pleaded, holding out
both hands. Snow. Go on"
ut is said that you are an escaped con-
yic,," continued the lady, distinctly.
at is false" cried the nurse, in ringing
voice.
The Doctor regarded him for moment.
~ NAV he wrong. Perhaps it was not so
bad. was in Il cruel hurry, and 80 was
Doctor Frank. Perhaps they said dis
charged convict" -,
"What else:" asked Zerviah, lifting his
eyes to hers.
"Thev said YOU were just out OF seven
years Imprisonment for granddaughter. lhcy
said you killed man-for jealousy, belie'e'
something about u woman: ,:,..
"What else:" repeated the nurse, steadily.
IL told them did not belteue one eeof" ~
it," cried Marian Dare.
"Thank YOU, madam said Zerviah Hope,
, after a SCARCELY perceptiblc pause; "but 1t
is true"
lie drew one fierce breath.
: "She was beautiful he said. 81 loved
her: he ruined her; stabbed him"
| lie had grown painfully pale. lie wanted
| to 90 on speaking to this woman, not 10 ae'
/ fend or excuse himself. not to say any thing
weak or wrong, only to make her under
/ stand that he did not want to excuse NM
G self; in some way, just because she eocs
n woman, to make her feel that he was man
$ enough to bear the burden OF his deed. lie
(. wanted to CRY out to her, "iOu are u WON.
n an! Oh, be gentle, and un1erstanI, i n',.
r sorry a man can be for u deadly SIM" but
II his lips were parched. lie mOVeu theu uI''
"; he could not talk.
Y She was silent at first. She was a prudent
e woman: she thought before she spoke.
J. "Poor fellOw!" she said, suddenlX lier
e clear blue ewes overtlowed. She held out hel
\. hand. lifted his, wrung it, dropped it. and
= softly added, swell, never mind" much a
:, II he had been child or u patient-m,lct
'. as he himself had said, "Nevcr mind!" u
re Scip.
,e Then Zeryiah Hope broke down.
\. az haven't GOT u murderer's heart" III
Of cried. at has been taken away from me
at 1 amt so bad-no,c. l meant TO De
ne " "MusI" she said: "You have and yo'
TX shall. God is fair.' :.
st Eyes" said the penitent convict, in
We dull voice, ''GOd is fair. ana SO ne iet rev
Do tell OF me. I've got no fault to find wit
g. Him, So nigh ~ can understand AimiSh'
God. lie means well. guess He'll pn
nj me through some way. But l wish Sci
hadn't told lust now. l can't help bein
v. sorry. It wasn't that wanted to cheat
ii, butH-he chOked-''the SICK folks used
like me. Now, do you think I'd ought !
he 90 on nursing, Doctor! DO you think
N. ought to stop!" >,;o
is the woman Of science, in her usual PUSHES
or. and restless; that affects the patient. u
nd hack To yOur work ~ fast as you can. Al
lly me no more foolish questions"
She drew her veil; there was nm tlnprOie
A.. sional moisture on her long, femlnln
lashes. She held out her hearty hand.gras
81. to him, touched the tackey, and galIope
the "She il a good woman,'' said Zervia
half aloud. looking down at his cold finger
to sShe touched me, and she knew: Lor'
ok. I should like to have you bless her"
hot He looked after her. She sat her nor
Ors finely: her gray veil drifted IN tne nCt VIII !,
The His sensitive color came. lie waicneu IL
the as il he had known that nc shou'd new
hts see her again on earth.
ne. 4 ruined character may be as caIlous as
too paralyzed limb. A ruined and repenta
men one is in itself an Independent system OF sc
he sitye and tortured nerves., 49,.
had Zeryiah Hope returned to his wor
and shrinking under the fOreknOwledge OF
IL fate. lie felt as il he knew what kind
me. neonle would remind him that they had 3
own come acquainted with his history, anu WI
the ways they would select to do It.
title lie was not taken by surprise wnen III
THAT who had lifted their hats to the popl
amt nurse last week, passed him on the street
yiah day with cold nod or curious stare. WI
face women who had reverenced the sell'sacIl'
her and gehtleness OF his lie as oal! women aHnna
can =" man. shronk from him as il he were son
His thing infectious, like the playue-he kl
orn. Il was lust. though he felt it hard.
real His patients heard OF what had happen
mt sometimes. and indicated . feeling OF rec
,ung That was the worst One said:
rem, 81 am sorry to hear you are not the
fore. we thought you,' and died in his arms
had Zerviah remembered that these TIL
love mist be, He reasoned with himself;
'ercy went into his attic, and prayed II a'' o
ding " Lord, 1can't expect to he treated as II
head, never been in prison. I'm sorry y, n III.
!, for so. Perhaps I'd ought not TO- L" Try
, and to care too much"
hind More than once he was sure OF being
'olor, lowed again. suspiciouS!y or c9l'ousay.
occurred to him at last tnat 'i,,S "as
likely to happen on pay -oays' in 0s p ,,S,
ne TO him. But when he turned, was us'
II his some idler. and the fellow shrank and
then to his heels as il the nurse had the fever
1t in. In point Of fact. even in that deatn'st'
and on town. TO be alive was to be a. able to
:. BY ain AZ we'll people, and rumor, wearied o
him. mrnotonous fever symptom, found div
lance inc rest in this shattered reputation.
a fog 2.-,,,h HONE was very much talked q
thin, :: Ta,h",,n. sp much. that the Relief {
little NV, vM"y haa,d n,cstioned. and experie
rised, u m.;., .m~;oty r. seemed mistake to
inted. O"'C as,," "h man Il seemed severi
min ~ s!. saT ~, rohIo a career. Yet who
Not usst N. ,ss,.tor comntenance the muir,
n his waa VIA. s hn cen.hio Of shielding beneat
indow m.sn' - 70 n;,vv T The official mind was
ready. Paexeu. Ms n,;.en to the ministrstit
decide O"s Re.. '.hn hsI 60 skiiifully deceive,
y. a., most intelligent guardians OF the p