The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-03-24
placing the rocks, working with fiend-

1sh energy.
Course him." he said, between his
teeth, "Tll fix him so that no doctor
can't save him.
And so, with muttered curses, with
the hoarse, believing torrent beneath
and the shrieking pines above, the work
was done, and the timber left in such po-
sltion that one attempting to cross upon
it would cause it's fall. It was horrible
to think of-plunged into that hell of
waters and whirling debris, to be dashed
against the sharp rocks OF carried swift.
ly down the dark ravine to death as
sure and cruel if not as sudden
"There, you Internal Canuck,'' said
the man, "you bet you've done yer last
loye-makin', I'll take that little bust
ness off yer hands," he added, with an
ugly laugh.
J "But first you'd better repair that
bridge"
It was Maria, with her lantern sud
denly turned full upon him.
He uttered one fearful oath, an,
shrank trembling like the coward that
he was before the girls cleaning eyes
as she held her light aloft.
- I know what you have been doing,
and what it is for Now, go to work
and make it safe again"
'sPll be blamed if J. do" growletl
Jake.
The only answer was the click of a
revolver that her little firm hand held
steadily enough. She knew how to use
| it; Jake was we'll aware of that More
than once he had seen her bring down
her game, with skill that many an old
| hunter might envy.
:" If this fails, [ have something else
at my belt. Do as [ tell you, OF I will
kill you as I would a wild beast that
threatened me"
"She'd do it, the little Spanish
fend.'
I'm tempted to do it now click,
ooh, how quickly [ could send you
down there where you meant to send
him. I can hardly keep from doing it,
/ hate you SO; but I'd scorn to have
such dirty blood on my hands. Now go
to work"
Stung through and through with her
contempt, coWed and unneryed by the
threats that he knew were not idle ones,
Jake set about the work, and it was
soon completed. ~.
"Now go home !" she said, sternly.
There was no choice but to obey, and,
still under cover Of the girls revolver,
driven to his dark cell
''Ill release you in the morning."
she said, as she drove him into d snug
out-building, and, fastening the door
securely, left him to his meditations.
The rain had ceased. Up through the
green canons foated the mists of the
morning. Hinged with rosy light, they
sailed away through the blue ether. Up
rose the sun, shining grandly on the
mountains, and through those floods of
gold came the doctor, and Bat caroling
his gay song, proud as q troubadour
home from the war going to I1neel at his
lady's feet.
by golly, we're save dat baby" he
cried, springing through the open door.
" And how is Jake? A bet he's ben
most sick of lonesome widout me. Eli,
where he is, dat Ja-k-e?" he shouted.
But Jake did not appear.
"And thou, Marie, my little one, he
mr11mured in his own language that she
had learned in childhood, "hast thou
no smile for me? Those beautiful eyes,
have they nothing to say to me this
morning? They were so eloquent last |
night, my heart was aching with Joy. |
Look at me, Maria-but thou art pale. |
Vert thou troubled for me, my little |
love-"
Swiftly rose the color to cheek and !!
brow, slowly the long lashes were up
lifted, and from dewy eyes and parted
rosy lips smiled the glad welcome home.
Jake, just then appearing at the door,
saw it all, and with stifed groan of
Jealous passion and defeat, he turned
and fed, half blinded with rage, he
knew not where-to get away from that
sight, that was all his
thought -away to the caves Of the noun
aims where he could crouch like
wounded wolf and howl out his despair.
Crash down through the treacherous
bridge of poles and bark Down, down
he shuddering depths he whirled, and
he stream, scorning to bear such a bur
len, hurled him aside upon the Jagged
ocks, where the long ferns trailed their
broken plumes and the ivy wound its
poisonous bands.
"They'H never find me-" he thought,
but it's right-it's just. It's what [
Tas goin' to do to him, curse-no, I
ant die cursin','' and, with bleeding,
lips, he tried to pray. "Oh
lord-I don't know how" he whisper
d family. But didn't he say forgive?
What was it mother used to make me
ay? IF I should deny soul to I
ake-Jesus' sake
His head dropped lower, his lips were {
till The water swept across his breast,
he long ferns, waving, brushed his I
feeding hnads, and through the laurel
ranches the sunshine fell upon his !
hastily face.
"Jake, my poor feller look-hope a
our heyes-you amt dead, don't it I
apre, wake up, mon ga cried Bat, in {
n agony of terror and compassion, as, {
18th trembling hands, he dashed the v
alter in his face and rubbed his hands, t
nd from Jake's pocket-fask poured e
Risky down his throat. At last Jake I
owly Enclosed his eyes and feeblv