Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-03
MATTHEW'S RETRIDU-
TION.

David Mel,Otte aud Rose Briefly,
two lovers, had a sad parting David,
from misfUrt,ineas to crops and cattle,
being compelled to 20 elsewhere tO
carr his living. The next day, while
she and ',er father were IL, tho woods
gathering G.gots by Incident, the old
inan, clnmhering over the rocks,
suddenly stumbled and fell, breaking
ono Of his legs. She WIS sobbiOy
bitterly, when a Young man came
hastily driving np u hill, aud he was
recognized as Matthew burns, to
whom Rose piteonsly spoke Of her
fathers sui misfortune. Matthew
helped get the old ,nau to l,is cottage,
and obtail'ad !, doctor, who said that
for six weeks Brierly would not l1
ahlo lo leave his bed. The,euIO,l
Rose grew terribly sal, and, amidst
her sobs, said: Alas! we shall starve
to leathp
Matthew replied: No, no listen,
Rose. What you need now is u
husband Marry me. | will look
after you md your poor afflicted
father
y cannot, Matthew Burns; love
another, David Mcinotte.'
"Then you'd lind another wo,Oan's
husband,' said Matthew, cO'ly.
'1)avid was marricd yesterday, to one
Of the factory girls Vt Glencoes mills
Rose WIS terribly shocked still IN
amontl,'s time she yielded, ,nnd became
Matthews wife. lie was kind to her,
ID spite of his scOwIin. brow.
Winter passed, and u, fine day
III spring David MelnOtte returned
and tho disclosure was made that he
had not married, while Rose had the
sal tilings to communicate tl'at she
had been joined in wcdlock to another.
David Forgave her, bnt his heart was
troubled. Still, while he was IN tho
ncigl,bOrl,ood he showed u marked
kindness M Matthew. Tho latter
watched Rose like Il lynx. There was
u ruined mill below one Of the noun
tain torrents. It was q low structure,
crnmhling will, time. iio gathered
fagOts in bundles and stacked them
clOseIy around the mill one day. The
next evening he met David near the
place.
"David," he said to him, how clear
the mir Is to day. W. are over u mile
from home, and ] have seen Rose
hanging clothes on tho bushes round
my house,
Where did you stand 2 asked
David, quickly.
'On the top Of the old mill there
David instantly splang oitllis horse,
and climbed on the mill.
Look right over the mound Of
stones ; 'lo yOu not sec my house, and
Rose among the bushes in the gal,lcn7'
asked Matthew,
4 cannot quite make out. sec the
house hut Is that Rose standing like
one detected under the trres9'
Curse you--yes! Aud now lOol,
nenrcr--lOwn ut You feet
David lookeddo and saw volums
Of fame and smoke rising around him
'Matthcw--Matthew he cried;
shall be burned to death =
1mcan you shall he, and your bones
crisped. Aye, look ut Rose--look
your last. II will bc the lust time You
will see her mourning under the trees
for you"
Matthew galloped away. David.
flesh began to shrink from the heat,
but while in agony lifting his eyes h
heaven, I'e saw tle bending bollgl' Of
q tree leaning toward him. lie man
aged to grasp it, drew himself out
and 50 crcpt out Of IL living grave.
In the meantime Matthew had
reached home, and like u deliriOus
man, rushed toward Rose, and fianti-
calIy exclaimed "You are mine fol
the rest Of your lifew
"TI'at may not bc very long Mat
thew" she replied. ''Sce how thin
my arm is; and am SO weak ] can.
not lift the milking pals when they
are but half full, or put pile Of fag-
gOts at once upon the fire."
Matthew soon after went ont Of the
doc, in tlc darkness. As he stood a,
the wood-l,enp u hand was laid upon
his arm. lie started and looked up
into u face black wit, smoke and sci
in stern lines, out Of which cleaned
Davil's Mclnottc's Accusing eyes.
"a wrath, " he cried, dropping the
faggots and springins away into the
darkness. The tall figure followed
him Will, swift strides. Matthew,
with u scream, fed over the common;
he cleared the rocks and trees will
frantic bounds. On he ran breath.
lcssly. He g'zed behind him and saw
the supposed wraill, near ut hand
lie cleared u rvinc, and upon til,
other side grasped ut bushes to assist
his foothold. But the rOats tore ouI
Of the damp soil. He clut|'ed in vain
llc reeled, and IN a n,oment more biz
fall sounded among the jagged rocks
and rushing waters below.
The moon coming ont showed t.
David Melnotte tle body Of Matthew
Burns II broken heap below. liz
rushed to the neiyllbors for assistance
and the remains were carried home
It was a pitiInl sight to see his wife
She tainted with horror; and then sI,'
lay for weeks as weak as a babe. Al
thought she would die. A new beant,
seemed givenler--ll,ce exceeding love
illness Of great suffering paticntl,
borne. She was bOlstere,l IN an cas-,
chair upon the hearth one day, wIlel
David came IN IIn atmiyI,twev En.l