Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-06-17

up in the midst of whirlwind of snow,
that hid even the road and the passage
under the trees.
There was no help for it. The boys
drove the wagon under the shed and un-
hitched the horses. Then they came
back to the kitchen, where we all sat
watching the storm. 1t grew darker and
darker, and at last Mary lit the lamp and
put the supper things on the table. ]
lay and watched them with that awful
faint feeling on me.
Atlast ! spoke out the thought that
WAS on my mind:.
7 wish had drink Of that whisky,
boysp'
Mary dropped the plate she was carry
ing and looked at me so queerly that ]
was ashamed of myself for speaking ]
wished had bitten my tongue off before
/ had let her know Of that part Of my
load.
t'No, / don't, boysl I was only fool
ing, / said, as quickly as 7 could; but
they looked at each other eagerly and
then at me. In few minutes they started
out to feed the horses.
"Oh, what made you tell them about
it9'' Mary almost cried as she came over
to where l was lying. We were great
friends, you see. 1t wasn't for the old
mans talk or the water alone that I had
stopped there SO frequently.
''They ara good fellows-they won't
drink too much. You will be safe with
theml" said, but she would not believe
me.
s'If can't trust my own father alone
with such stuff, how can I trust themg'
she said; and she was right, for Charlie
and Ben both showed by their manners,
when they came in, that they had found
the jug. Their eyes were bright and their
voices were little thick They were
lavish in their attentions to me, but they
hendled my leg with singular roughness,
and Ben nearly fell over the lounge.
After supper they made another trip to
the barn and came back surly and ugly
They took their seats by the stove with
their hats on. When Mary went past
them with pile Of dishes Ben tried to
catch her by the arm. couldn't stand
that.
"You miserable scampp' I shouted, and
tried to get up from the lounge, but my
feet gave way under me and | fell back.
could not move.
Bring me that gun,n said to Mary.
| do believe I would have killed them
both if could have got that gun in my
hands, But, before she could stir, Ben
rose with fearful oath and walked un-
steadily to the corner where the gun was
standing. He raised the weapon in his
drunken hands. could hear the lock
click as he walked up to me and pointed
the gun within six feet Of my head. /
tell you, boys, if you want to see death
you want to look into the muzzle Of a
loaded shot gun with drunken man at
the other end. Could this be the friend
who had carried me 50 tenderly but a
few hours before2 What cursed thing
this whisky must be that could change
him thusl
He held the gun in front Of me for q
moment and then dropped the muzzle to
the floor.
"Come, Charlie,s he said, thickly.
'1et's go and get another drink 2
He reached the door and opened it,
The wild, biting storm blew directly into
his face; with snarl of rage he raised
his gun and fired both barrels at the
open door, Then clubbing the weapon,
he struck desperately at the snow, and
then rushed out into the storm as if fight
ing some unseen enemy. Charlie followed
him, yelling at the top Of his voice, and
Mary quickly closed the door and bolted
it.
Charlie brought my miserable jug with
him. He put it down beside the stone
with wild laugh; then he glanced
eagerly around him. Where is that
gals" he demanded, roughly. He stag
gered to my side and repeated the ques-
ton.
+ "She's gone" / answered, trying to
raise myself on my elbow.
'sYou liel' he shouted, in his thick,
brutal voice. ssYou lie! She's here
You've got her hid somewhere bring
her outln
He started as if about to drag me from
the lounge, when suddenly new thought
seemed to strike him.
Bring the jug here, ReEs and we'll
make him drunk"
Ben unsteadily poured out a quantity
of the whisky into dipper and brought
it to the lounge. With cursehe caught
nae by the arm to pour the drink down
my throat
Inever can tell just how did it, but
somehow | brought my sound leg up
against his breastand kicked him as hard
as could. He staggered back, and fall
ing upon Charlie, carried him to the
floor.
Then they began to fight. They
seemed to forget allnbout me, and at
tackled each other just ike dogs. Over
the floor they rolled like brutes, kicking,
striking, tearing and biting, with hor-
ribIe sounds which no one could sup
pose would come from any human throat.
At times they fought up against, my
lounge; once they fell across M broken
loo Thnn thev rnlled nver fhn Honr ,,r