Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-01-18
LIZ "


A gift from Thy outstretched hands.
..LIZ."
"Mhere have YOU DIn this time o
night 2" he growled, showing his teeth
like a wild animal. "a pretty time fur
an honest girl to he prowlin' round the
country"
He came near to her, raising his arm
as if he would strike her, but she
looked him steadily and definantiy in the
eyes. ats no matter; L am used 10
looking ont for myself.
Then, IN a sudden fit of rage, he pick
ed up a gnarled manzanita stick and
struck her. Its aim as sure. 1t hit her
on the shoulder, and the blood oozed
through her thin calico gown. He look
ed at her as if afraid to speak. Her face
turned deadly pale, while the red blood
slowly dropping, stained her dress. \
look of hatred flashed in her ewes, then
she turned away silently, and wiped off
the blood, while he went into the next
room, as if afraid to meet her gaze.
The next morning she went to her
work as usual, but he sneaked OF down
town before she was up.
.'Harry's Liz has struck a good streak
to-day" the miners said, as she found
an unusual quantity of dust, but she
never needed nor answered then.
Dick Beech sauntered down about the
usual time IN the afternoon
How does il go, Liz?'
She vouchsafed him no answer.
Liz, what's the matter? Sulks to
day."
Still no answer.
Don't he hard on a fellow. It's so
confoundedly hot / wanted sight of
YOU to refresh me.
She lifted her ewes for the first time,
and looked at him with a peculiar,
searching expression and answered:
81 should think You could find re-
freshment nearer home. Nancy Brown
is good enough for some folks to look
"Oh, jealousy. thy name is woman =
he laughed. why, Liz. your little fin
ger is worth her whole body, But You
know" he continued, ,stroking his NOUS
tache, ga fellow has got to have some
fun"
.NOu, VI NIL sOu,
Dick Beech, if you were false to me. i
suppose I'm not good enough for the
like of you; but none of them Will love
yor any better"
81 wish you didn't have such an aw-
full temper"
And. privately, Mr.. Richard Beech
did think he was too good for poor Liz
Byrnes.
What is that stain on your dress ? II
looks like blood. Has anybody hari
your
No" sic answered, looking away
from him. Il only fell down on a stone
and cut myself"
Liz, if it were not for your father,
We would be married.
yes" she said drearily.
"But l never could stand him"
s'The knights Hugo read of stood
everything for the ladies they loved.
They killed giants, overcame dragons.
They were strong to stand everything,
and, Dick, they would have waited pa
tiently, with brave hearts. Poor old
Dad he would not trouble. 1 am proud
of him. You don't know him as do.
"In the nineteenth century, Liz,
knights are not so plenty as blackber'
ries. The Round Table Is roEance,
after ALL
But" she sad earnestly, the colol
mounting into her cheeks like the rosy
alpine glow over SUBMITS of the noun
tains in the eventide, people don't need
to fight battles with their hands, old
Hugo saws. The beasts are In the hear
we must conquer. Sometimes i feel az
if lion was IN mine, and its hard worE
to keep him quiet.
Life is long enough without so mucl
trouble. L will see you again.
Liz nodded Goodbye" cheerfully
and her heart felt lighter as she wen'
home in the evening. The cabin was
deserted, no signs of her father any
where. but she lighted fire and triet
to cook an evening meal, and being tire'
from her work, she laid down on her co
and fell asleep
When she awoke it was dark, and th'
moon was shining in her face. Sh'
looked ont of the door, down the Ions
aisle of pines, but he was not there. Sn'
was there for hours, it seemed; nntil a
last she saw his familiar form approach
ing. His gait was very unsteady. Ll
rose, and said to him:
"Don't cross. Go up to the bridge.
But he answered her with an oath
and stepped on the narrow, enclose'
aume. which was just the width OF
plank. Liz started to go to him, but h
waved his hands wildly, commandln;
her to sspo back"
Her heart beat fast as she watches
with strained eyes through the darknes
and saw his form swaying from one SID
to the other. He reached the middle
She breathed more freely. He stopped
and commenced gesticulating. Throw
ing his arms up, he missed his balance
and fell: and Liz heard slckenm
sound as he struck the rocks below. Sh
stood on the bank alone, as one petrlheo
At last she screamed and scramble
down the steep declivity as rapidly a
possible. Her cries reached the ears
passing miner, and ne hastened to tn
spot and peered down into darkness Wit
his lantern. Liz was sitting there, hell
lessly holding her fathers head on he
lap and beseeching him to stop.
Liz wrung her hands, but she coul
not cry, and her eyes burned like hr'
The miner obtained assistance, and the
bore the ifeless body to the cabin, an
proffered their rude help, but she pc
ferred to be alone,
She grived for him passlonatel.