Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-05

-SUlIl Su0uU-MulIC0UL WaCCloQ, Witt
curiosity, some strange preparations or
the part of her husband.
He carried some suitable bedroom
furniture from one portion of their house
into that where had been their " best
room, and then, bringing from the shop
some nails and hammer, he nailed up
the door of communication that had been
cut between the two portions of the
building.
His labors finished, he stood upon the
doorstep OF that portion wherein Mill
cent sat, and, speaking to her for the
first tlme-not harshly, but with dignity
and firnness-he called her by name.
She came to the door.
"This is your part of the dwelling
that is mine, he said, designating them
by slight motion of the head.
What is 1t, Van Rensselaer, ?" Mill
cent asked, showing a little alarm in her
voice.
g It is not necessary for you to speak, p
was the reply. CT shall never enter
| your portion of the house. You must
never enter mine. [ askno explanation,
no excuse, no nothing-only silence.
We are divorced, except that all I have
shall be more than divided with you and
them. Eight years ago / took you-an
orphan-frOm Farmer Skaters, where
| you were a slave to the whole family,
from the latest born to the half-crazy old
grandmother. Where could you 90. de-
serted and humbled? I promised to
protect you, and will''
Millicent had tried to speak while he
fo INIT hn h17c loI lo,,
imperative gesture.
AS he turned to 60, she sprang out
toward him, with her arms outstretched.
He repulsed her rudely, and, lifting her
by the arm, carried her into the house
and closed the door upon her.
She sank upon the floor, frightened,
weeping Historically.
Ranse walked out of the yard and on
down toward the shop. It was cold and
gloomy there. The fire was gone out in
the forge, but not more completely ex-
tlnguished than the fire in his heart.
He raked up the ashes, then laid
away the hammer and nails; and then,
as if moved by mighty impulse he sank
on his knees by the side of his anvil.
His utterance was choked with sobs
and his frame quivered. Had any one
been listening, he could have caught
but five words, repeated over and over
again:
"Give me- strength, o Lord Give
me strength, O Lord p
Sleigh-bells iingling over a horse
driven with considerable rapidity, and,
passing within a rod of Ranse, carried
their measure of sound to his ear, but
did not interrupt what, without exag-
geration, might be termed his agony.
but they brought his relief.
| He rose from his knees strong in
spirit and composed, and, once more
taking his hammer in his hand he re-
turned toward his home.
He looked up the street. Standing
hitched to his post was a horse and
sleigh that he recognized.
His calmness and composure forsook
him instantly. The new Ranse disap-
peared as though it had never been; the
old Ranse returned.
He shut his teeth tightly together,
and there spread over his face that black
look that, his companion said always
came when some more than ordinarily
wicked deed was to be accomplished.
He stopped a moment and turned and
went back to his shop.
The half of the blade of a scythe, with
a handle attached to it, hung beside one
of the joists. He took it down and felt
of its edge from heel to point. His
heavy eyebrows setting down over his
eyes and the corkers Of his mouth turn
ed up with a wicked leer.
Carrying the horrible weapon in his
hand, he went again up the street TOWARD
his house, with the old stride that for.
merly characterized him. The horse
and sleigh still stood at the post. Fou1
or five strides brought him to the door,
which he roughly pushed open with his
foot.
He entered the room.
Mlllicent, weeping as though her heart
was breaking, sat in a low chair, leaning
her head upon the table On either side
of her, few feet removed, sat two men.
One was the Reverend S. O. Sly and the
other an elderly gentleman. The garb
of both bespoke their calling. They
hastily arose at Ranse's sudden appear
ance.
He placed himself between his wife
and Mr.. Sly. With his right hand he
slightly raised the wicked tool, with his
left he pointed toward the door he left
open, and his eyes fairly burned as they
looked upon the reverend visitor.
There was a dignity, yet fierce
physical desire in his attitude, like that
of man who felt that he had been
wronged. and who was eager to right
himself. If his wife had stirred it is
certain that he would have struck at
once.
The same rapid communication III the
village seemed to have been at work
again announcing the presence of Mr..
Sly. 1t was singular how many persons
were called in the direction of Loops
house. One on his way to the corner
stopped; another joined him, and thence
forth they seemed to spring up from the
earth. 1t was like an act in drama.
The door stood wide open, and every
ones laudible curiosity could be album
dainty gratifed.
The Reverend g q Slv raised his