Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-04-01
"Why don't you cry. Joe Mann

"I'd cry if l we're yen, Joe" said
the idiot; ara cry if Richard Rosa
stole my GAL"
| With a sound that was half roar
Of rage. and half groan Of pain,
Joe sprung upsn him, abd in an in
slant had borne hin to the floor and
set his knee upon the idiots breast.
! In another Instant hs might hsvs
killed the boy bat thai the IDIOTS
helplsssness and terror sads hlN
pause and called him to himself. A
thought struck hin.
Who told you to say that 2--hs
demanded.
"Rioksrd Rss. He gave me the
money for to say it,"
1.-THE low hcuad r. shrisksd Joe
"Hssven have mercy on his soul T.
He released Grassy Sam, and wsrt
about his work again quite calmly;
but the pallor Of his face was awful
to see.
When evening draw on, he picked
up . long, ru,ty knife blade. and
fitted it into q stout handle. Then
he stepped to his grind.stons, a nd
shArpensd and ground the rusty
blade.
All ] but Joe was changed There
was despair and murder in his noble
heart.
The night fell; and he stool, knife
10 hand silently, awaiting.
Richard Ross lsave. her hons At
tsn," he muttsrsd. land goes on the
lonely road through the woods"
When it csne nine he could wait
no longer, hut sped away to his am
bush. Behind two trees, growing
close tcgsthsr, which omTlstsly hid
hiu. hs crouchsd and listened.
He had an bnur to wait. The 81.
lsncs ~ssswful No birds Gang among
tne ;,ees. a 4 ihs i.svrs nung lif..
lsss, s.lrsd by no breath oil wind
Joe pr s-sd mis- hand to his fore
head snd found it burning hot. HI
began TO be afraid, hs knew net G.
! what. perhaps Of his own soul. Hs
i,E nis mur,sefous purpose weaken
ing He rore aad walked about the
road and thought unon bis wrongs
TLis gavs him 4e~ resolve, AID b,
b returned to his hiiisE place. ant
crouohsd again. But again his terror
WAS renewed, and the hand which
held tho knife srsmbled Tie village
: clock struck ten, and at ever stroke
he shuddsrsd.
Es heard foot steps on ihs road
Nearer. nsater, came .hs man fe
whom be waited. Fer a m7men
, Joe's mind seemed gone. B fore hi
eyes he saw great sea Of blood
From him fell grsss drops Of so''
4 sweat. Nearer the Footsteps sane
Hiu brain cleared and be could diml,
sea the Young mans foym 8 few fes
a
: from him. Hs gazad through sh'
trees to ths sky. and saw singl
star looking down upon him like th'
eye of God. With = shrek Of fss
!; he flung the kaifs from him and f.,
3 --frsm murder.
1t was over, and l'lcod was no
, upon his soul.
, All that night hs lay like oas dsa'
. upon the floor Of his Iii tls shop. Th
: morning sun, forcing its way through
the dusty window, fell upon hin
p there. Miserable as the man was.
SAW no better sight than this crushs'
soul saved from crime.
But some one brighter than th
sunlight entered at the door. 1t wa
t Nellie. She saw him there upon tn
floor and her blue eyes filled wit
tsars. She bent over him ant
! touched him gently.
"Jos | dear jon |" she called.
J He sprung to his fset. gAzed on he
coldly, wonld have fed, but shs re
strained him.
: Joe" she said II have hoped,
! have pleaded have prsyei--I hav'
won. Take me in your arms"
Not ytt did he understand her ant
she added:
Father has lsaraod te pity you and
me. Joe. sod says va may be hus
baud and wife. Richsr Ross hal
! gone forever"
, So Joe ,ock her in his arms. ant
ali liza repentance aad Joy burst forth
in food of tears.
. --.----------------~.se
FooD FOR YouBa AND OLD.-Foo>
Asd me ;,cine fof young and old, pre-
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