Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-10
JANEY.

JANEl.
"The springs is mine l bolght 'em an
paid for 'em Curse their titles They're
mine Ye amt bright, but we know that,
Janey! Why don't ye answer me, girli Hev
ye gone dumbi"
The dull face grew little duller with fright
and shrank away from the light Of the candle
that fared upon the table between them.
{" / always s'posed they was your'n, father
everybody said so. II they take 'em-n
{" Ye s,posed it, did ye' Ef ye had yer
The mans voice grew thick and hoarse with
passion.
"Take em-they're mine Who said they'd
take 'emi heard their lingo in town to-day
it's a Uel Dye think I'll let 'em walk over
met !, D, y, think one fool in the family amt
She covered further back into the shadow,
and looked at him with her dull, affrighted
gaze.
The man leaned forward until the light of
the candle fell upon his flushed, passionate
face.
"rve seen i'm in town to-day, and I'll see
lin ag'in-d'ye hearl Curse his white hands
an his lies; he's comm out here tomorrow.
y, ye needn't turn white about the gilsl Pm
goin' to burn grease-wood brush on the
clearin want We to slam the door in his
face-d'ye hear me2o
"Yes, father"
Eff ye speak civil word TO him-d'ye see
thatW he pointed to the low, open doorway
"them as stays about me don't parley with
thieves-ye can take yer bundle an go.n
The girl looked out into the night with a
slow, terrified shudder.
"Why don't We speaks Where's yer spunkl
Hain't We sperit enough to hate man that
wants to steal yer bread and butterp'
81 dunno i'm, father; how'll l know i'm
"Know 'iml You don't know a thief when
10 int ami lt,1i ~
Tim out TO yel"
The man got up with a low, brutal laugh,
and took gun from the corner.
did We fill the cartridges"
"Most Of 'em; the caps stuck in few T;
they're in the can with the shot"
Bring 'em here ~
She brought them and then crossed the room
with heavy listless step, and sat down in the
doorway "Not bright" her father said. Per.
haps not. Dull enough to want a caress now
aud then, like faithful dog; but not quite
brute enough to cry out under blow. The
lights in the village below were the same to
her as the stars above them. The wild i'm
| mortelles on the mesa waved in The night air
like ghosts Of spring blossoms, and sent their
dry, honeyed fragrance all about her. The
mountain breeze lifted her colorless hair and
blew soft against her coarse red hands. Poor
Janeyi Did she sit there because the summer
night was sweet to herl i do not know. The
hound at her feet might have been indoors il
he had chosen. A bat darted obliquely past
her. and then back again like a shadow.
She got up shiyering, and wentinto the house.
The man looked up from his work with gruff
oath.
"There was a bat, an l was afeared, so l
came in. Dye want me."
want YET what 'u'd wantyer ferl G'long
to bed"
OF course 1t is only an untamed brute that
snaps at those nearest him. when he is hurt.
You and !, my good neighbor, from the sub
lime heights OF our philosophy, have doubtless
learned 70 trace our ills back through endless
complexities to their origin, and hoard our
vengeance for the real offender. But this man,
Luke Delmar, toiling the next day on the
warm, odorous upland, soiling his hard hands
with halfburnt brush, and pausing now and
then to wipe his brow, and add sooty strain
to his frown-this man was not Of our kind.
"Curse 'im!" he muttered; "it's easy talk.
ing; where was he when | grubbed an brung
the water out on the other clearin'! Ef the
lands his'n, why amt he out here burnin'
brushs Curse his deeds, an his flaws, an his
big words: a lies lie ~
The sun rose higher, and drew pungcnt,
spicy odors from the growth of the mesa.
Yellow butterflies hoated in the still air. like
stray flower petals, and the serene southern
moon came on with its warm luxury of rest
| and languor. Still the man on the mountain
| side toiled on, muttering his sulen curses
bearing his brand from one fragrant heap OF
vouring flame with a fierce, half-envious ire.
At last he paused, wiping his forehead, and
turning his logged gaze toward the valley.
| Somebody was walking up the wash into
the little canon. Somebody, who walked as
| you walk my neighbor, erect, swinging his
cane lightly stopping now and then under the
| struggling sycamores, to lift his hat and look
about him. Choosing his way among the
powders, as the canon narrowed and noting
the rich, sickening smell of the laurel, which
| he grasped to aid his ascent. A hard man
| y, no; man who wore a mountain blossom
In his coat, and drank in the fresh highland
air with keen enjoyment. One who glanced
| at the poor mans cabin, with a shrug of pit,
| for the unlucky fool who placed IL there, anc
then smiled down at the frightened minnowi
darting wildly In the shallow pool at his feet
| What did it matter to him IL his coming dis
turbed the quail in their MONDAY covertl OF
startled the rabbits and squirrels, and sent
| them scampering into the chapparel. Would
| you have him stay away because these wild
creatures were there before himl Certainly
not. A man has right to take his own pro-
yided he gives 1t away afterward as you ant
direct, my good neighbor; and this mar
| gave large sums, every year, to make beggars
| more beggarly. A hard mani By no means
| over on the hillside pair Of angry eyes 'yas
| watching him furtively.
| Course his fine clothesl' Kissed Luke
through his set teeth; ''who gives him leave
to come on my land' Ell he wants to see me
| why don't he go TO the house an asks Wha
business has he got prowlin' around tn,
springs' They amt his'nl"
wounded animal looking up to confront
one OF his kind, and finding himself face e
face with apolished weapon, feels perhaps a,
Luke Delmar felt before the law But the
man up the canon, admirng the painted woot
OF the manzanita, and thrusting his cane into
the lush, green moss beside the spring, felt nc
such bitterness. The little cavern was coo
and shadowy, even in MONDAY. High above
the line OF verdure, on either side the noun
| tain rose bare and sunburned in the white
transparent air. He stood still, and listened
TO the drip OF the water into the brown pool
:" A man must have stratum Of granite 4,
him TO talk Of q submerged dam here" he sale
70 himself ''and yet this must be the place
IN send Pemberton up next week. I'll like I,
have him spared this"
The day wore drowsly on. Great, scar spotl
thickened on the mesta, and the Afternoon
breeze blew the ashes In little clouds towart
the canon.
He haIn't come out yit," said Luke, nurs
ing brand behind his hard, blackened hand
reckon he's fell asleep, up by the falls IT,
hieves as sleep while honest mems at work.
He laughed sneeringly, and knelt down
guarding the pale, mounting flame. Tn
greascwood cracked, and gave out It's sweet
oily smell. A burning leaf, wavered 10 tn
ground, and tongue OF yellow fame sho
through the dry grass, leaving is ashen trail
Luke stamped IL out with his feet.
ut 'u'd be bad job II the Gre 'u'd git int
the canon, In this breeze; the underbrush'
drier m timber; It wouldn't stop short o. VI
falls, an"
He startled suddenly and looked over hi
shoulder. The flames mirrored itself in hi
eyes, and gave them a dull red glare. All thu
snilcn rage that was IN him surged TO his fac
and hardened there. The brute grappled wit
the human, and prevailed.
The FIRE crept steadily along the bridge o
withered leaves, and caught the grasses tia
| whispered on the canons edge. Pale autum,
= WOWcrc nodded MI hool poI a., that 1nv