Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-02-19
shrug Of indifference, when questioned
-, ~,

shrug Of indifference, when I questioned
her in regard to the matter.
She had the pale, sallow complexion
so common to her class, and her. speech
and manners were uncouth enough, but
there was q charm about her after ALL
There was q wild grace and freedom in
her movements, . magnetism in her
dark eyes when :she turned them full
upon you, q consciousness of power in
her saucy, defiant ways, that fascinated
all who came in contact with her.
myself was strongly attached to her;
what wonder then that Jake and Tim
Carnes became her abject slaves!
! had often amused myself watching
the three, feeling about the same kind
of interest half amusement, half fear
in their fierce rude love-making, their
jealousies and quarrels, that / would in
the gambols of trio of wild animals.
The days passed on, but my two big
boys came to school no more. At last
I began to wonder if Jimmy had any
thing to do with their absence. Evil
IDENTIFY there was something wrong with
the girl; she seemed sullen and depress-
ed, and sat in her seat frowning, silent;
| and when questioned her she shut her
teeth tiercely together, and answered
not word.
But soon there came a change; one
afternoon I noticed that she was ter
ribly restless and excited, and her great
eyes, no longer defiant, sought NINE
continually, with an expression of mute
appeal, such as we see in the eyes of a
dumb animal when in pain.
My heart ached for her, but I had
been so often repulsed, that thought
best to wait for her to speak. When
the scholars were dismissed she linger-
cd behind, and as the door closed on the
last one she sprang forward, and throw
ing herself at my feet, with tears and
groans and incoherent cries, made
know the cause of her wretchedness.
''I've killed Jake, marin! I've killed
Jake" she moaned, rocking herself
wildly to and fro.
':How-how is that!'' I asked recoil-
ing from her instinctively.
''Why, twas me Jake and Tim fit
over, that day they came IN kivered
with blood! l set 'em at it, and laughed
to see it 60 on. Then a few days ago
they begun agin-and might a stop
ped 'cm with a word, and didn't
didn't! Somehow couldn't. l reckon
the devil wouldn't let me. But I wish
had! Oh, how I wish had! If it
was only Tim dyin' now, instead O.
Jake, I wouldn't care" she muttered
tiercely. II alters hated Tim-allers!''
:But, Jinny,'' said I, wishing to d.
vert her, "are you sure Jake will dep"
"Oh, yes, marin, they say so; and I
fear it here" laying her hand on her
heart: l made inquiries as to the nature
of Jake's injury, but could gather moth
ing definite, except that it was wound
from pistol shot, and that for some
unaccountable reason he had made
scarcely any show of defending himself;
according to those who witnessed the
encounter, she seemed all at once
spilln' to get killed."
J. perhaps you would like to 20 to
him. ( suggested.
''Oh, would, would!' she exclaim-
ed eagerly. Il hain't seen him yet l
hung round the place all last night,
fearin' to go inside. Yes, I will go"'
she cried with sudden vehemence, her
pale cheek flushing. land I'll die with
him, too! One grave shall kiyer us
me and Jakcr'
An idea occurred to me. II have
had some experience with such wounds, :"
said. ''Imight do something for him.
Shall go with you?'
"Oh, yes, yes. Come" She hurried
me out and led the way along cross
road through the woods.
! Never a good walker, soon began to
feel WEAKNESS, and jimmy noticed that I
Jagged behind.
''Mcbby you're tired marm," she re-
marked. Il dom mind miles O. trampin'
myself. I'm used to it. Let me kerry
We, num- And before could remon-
stratc she picked me up and shouldered
me as if I had been a sack of corn.
'''Pears like it'll do me good,' she NUT
tered as she strobe along seemingly lit
tic encumbered by her BURDEN
At last we reached the miserable hut
that Jake called his home. We pushed
open the door and looked in. A very
old woman crouched by smoky fire,
and on a rude bed in q corner of the
room lay Jake, his immense proportions
sharply outlined through the scanty COW
ering. =
Tge, the dog, crouched at his feet,
and took no notice of our approach.
A handsome rifle and brace of pis-
tolls hung against the wall beside the
bed; for the cowboy of Texas is seldom
SO poor that he does not own handsome
| firearms.
As we entered the old woman, who
proved to be Jake's mother. got upon
her feet with great difficulty, and came
toward us, but jimmy laid her fingers on
her lips and glided swiftly. past her to
the bed. #5,s
Clasping both hands tightly behind
her, she leaned over Jake, softly calling
his name. ~
! AT the sound of her voice he opened
/, his eyes and gazed wildly about, without