Middletown transcript., 1881-04-29

i dashed against the sharp rocks, or car.
ried swiftly down the dark ravine to a
t death as sure and cruel if not as sud-
: den.
, ''There, you internal Canuck," said
the man, ''you bet you've done your
r last lovemakin'. I'll take that little
business off your hands, he added with
an ugly laugh.
''But first you'd better repair that
bridge"
1t was Maria with her lantern, sud-
denly turned full upon him.
He uttered one fearful oath, and
shrank, trembling like coward that he
was before the girls cleaning eyes as
she held her light aloft.
Il know what you have been doing,
and what it is for. Now, go to work
and make it safe again.
"I'll be d if I do grOwled
Jake.
The only answer was the click of a
revolver that her little firm hand held
steadily enough. She knew how to use
it; Jake was well aware of that. More
than once he had seen her bring down
her game, with skill that many an old
hunter might envy.
''If this fails, have something else
at my belt. Do as l tell you | would
kill you as l would wild beast that
threatened me.n
"She'd do it, the little Spanish devil. y
''I'm tempted to do it now''-click.
"Oh, how quickly could send you
down there where you meant to send
him; [ can hardly keep from doing it,
I hate you SO but I'd scorn to have
such dirty blood ON my hands. Now
go to work.
Stung through and through with her
contempt, cowed and mnerved by the
threats that he knew were not idle ones.
Jake set about the work, and it was
soon completed.
Now go home y she said sternly.
There was no choice but to obey, and,
still under cover of the girls revolver,
he went before her like a convict driven
to his dark CELL
''I'll release you in the morning, . she
said, as she drove him into snug out
building, fastening the door securely,
left him to his meditations.
The rain had ceased. Up through
the green canons floated the mists of
the morning. Tinged with rosy light,
they sailed away through the blue ether.
Up rose the sun, shining grandly on
the mountains, and through those
floods of gold came the doctor, and Bat
caroling his gay song, proud as trou-
badur home from the war going to
neel at his lady's feet.
''By golly, we're save dat baby" he
cried, springing through the open door.
"And how is Jake? A bet he's been
most sick of lonesome without me. Eh,
where is he, dat Jake 20 he shouted.
But Jake did not appear.
''And thou, Maria, my little one,''
he murmured in his own language that
she had learned in childhood, "hast
thou no smile for me? Those beauti-
full eyes, have they nothing to say to me
this morning? They were so eloquent
last night, my heart was aching with
joy. Look at me, Maria-but thou art
pale. Vert thou troubled for me, my
little love ?''
Swiftly the color rose to cheek and
brow, slowly the long lashes were up
lifted, and from dewy eyes and parted,
rosy lips smiled the glad welcome home.
Jake, just then appearing at the door,
saw it all, and with stifed groan of
jealous passion and defeat he turned
and fled half-blinded with rage, he
knew not where-to get away from
that maddening sight, that was all his
thought, away to the mountains where
he could crouch like a wounded wolf
and howl out his despair.
Crash! down through the treacherous
bridges of poles and bark Down, down,
the shuddering depths he whirled, and
the stream, scorning to bear such bur-
den, hurled him from side to side upon
the jagged rocks, where the long ferns
trailed their broken plumes and the ivy
wound its poisonous bands.
They'll never find me, > he thought, ]
''but it's right-it's just. It's what s
was going to do to him, curse-no, 1 {
can't die cursin', and with bleeding,
untaught lips, he tried to pray. go, t
Lord-I don't know how,'' he whisper '
ed family, 'but didn't He say forgive =? |
What was it mother used to make me t
say? If 1 should die-my soul to C
sake - Ii
His head dropped lower, his lips k
were still. The water swept across his S
breast, the long ferns waving, brushed v
his bleeding hands, ard through the
laurel branches the sunshine fell upon
his gastly face. 4
Jake, my poor fellow, look-hope f
your heyes-you amt dead, don't it il
Sacre, wake up, mon gar" cried Bat, n
in an agony of terror and compassion, a
rs, with trembling hands, he dashed t.
-he water in his face and rubbed his G.
hands, and from Jake's pocket-fask Ia
poured whiskey down his throat. At "
asst Jake slowly unclosed his eyes and n
.eebly moved his lips. a.
''Dat right, by golly, swear if you n
want to, but keep you heyes hopen W
ley'll scare the debble when they're b,
shut. Now, how you think I'll got you hi
lout of dis? Here, embrace me, mon tC
her; put your harms rom my neck, m
'omme ca-ho hone! You are more a
leavy dan black oak log, but keep to tc
ne-now, hup we go. Dere," laying ol
II e |