The news., 1882-04-06

mtuu, anu nOdoed ana shook his hea(
in glee; then drew from his poke
two silver pieces and gszed on then
with swelling pride. Finally h,
asked m
@W by don't you cry, Joe Man
Why don't you cry9" esn
The blacksmith glowered on hin
from under frowning brow.
"I'd cry if 1 was you, Joe," sale
the idiot; I'D cry if Richard Ross
stole my gal.v
With sound that was half a roa,
of rage, and half a groan of pain, Joe
sprang upon him, and in an instant
had borne him to the floor and set his
knee upon the idiots breast.
In another moment he might have
killed the boy, but the idiots help.
lessness and terror made him pause
and recalled him to himself. A
thought struck him.
"Who told you to say that?" he de-
handed.
"Richard Ross. He gave me the
money for to say it,"
"The low hound shrieked Joe.-
"Heaven have mercy on his soul y
He released Crazy Sam. and went
about his work again quite calmly;
but the pallor of his face was awful
to see.
When evening drew on, he picked
up long, rusty knife blade, and fitted
it into stout handle Then be step
ped to his grindstone, and sharpened
and ground the rusty blade.
Ali but Joe was changed There
was despair and murder in bis noble
heart.
The night fell; and he stood knife
in hand, silently waiting.
Orchard Ross leaves her home at
ten" he muttered, "and goes on the
on the lonely road through the wood" "
When it came nine be could wait
no longer, but sped away to his am-
bush. Behind two trees, growing
close together, which completely hid
him; he crouched asd listened.
He had an hour to wait. The 81
lence was awful. No bird sang among
the trees, and the leaves hung lifsless,
stirred by no breath of wind.
Joe pressed his hand to his fore
head and found it burning hot. He
began to be afraid, he knew not of
what, perhaps Of his own soul. He
felt his murderous purpose weakening.
he rose and walked about the wood
and thought about his wrongs. This
gave him new resolve, and he returned
to his hiding place, and crouched
again. But again his terror was re-
newed, and the hand which held the
knife trembled. The village clock
struck ten, and At every stroke he
shuddered.
He heard footsteps on the road. -
Nearer, nearer, came the man for
whom he waited. For moment
Joe's mind seemed gone. Before bis
eyes he saw q great sea Of blood. -
From him fell great drops Of cold
sweat. Nearer the footsteps came
His brain cleared, and he could dimly
see the young mans form q few feet
from him. He gaEed through the
trees to the sky, and saw q single star
looking down upon him like the eye
Of God. With q shrek Of fear he
flung the knife from him and fed
from murder.
1t was over, and blood was not upon
his soul.
All that night he lay like one dead
upon the floor Of his little shop. The
morning sun, forcing it's way through
the dusty window, fell upon him there.
Miserable as the man was, it saw no
better sight than this crushed soul
saved from crime.
But someone brighter than sunlight
entered the door. It was Nellie. She
saw him there upon the floor and hel
blue eyes-flled with tears. She bent
over him and touched him gently.
Joe dear Joe r" she called.
He sprang to his feet, gazed on hel
celdly, and would have fed, but she
restrained him.
"JOe," she said, az have hoped
have pleaded have prayed have
won. Take me in your arms"
Not yet did he understand her, ant
she added:
"Father has learned to pity yor
and me, Joe, and says emay be hus
band and wife. Richard Ross ha
gone forever"
| So Joe took her in his arms, ant
all his repentance and JOY burst fortl
in food of tears Oriental Casket