Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-02-05

| lOu II uC Will bCllAC OuT Ohu lltllC
kitty. 1t lays 'twixt you'n mo-not
you'n the dog-and I'll have.it out with
ye, and soon, toow with a threatening
shake of his fist.
l heard no more of the matter; but
few days sfterward Jake was absent from
school, for the first time, and missed
him, as | said in the beginning of this
sketch. made inquiries of the scholars.
but no one knew anything about him.
Tim Carnes was also absent, but thought
nothing of that, as he was always irregu-
lar in his attendance.
My oldest scholar among the girls
jimmy by name-Ashe was the brightest
and most advanced pupil had
The other girls both hated and ad-
mired her, seeming to regard her superb
ority as a reproach and insult to them
selves.
Judging from her appearance jimmy
must have been at that time eighteen or
twenty years Of age; but she did not
know how old she was, nor did she
! care.
"What's the oddsl" she said, with a
shrug of indifference, when | questioned
her in regard to the matter.
She had the pale, sallow complexion
common to her class and her speech
and manners were uncouth enough,
but there was d charm about her,
after all. There was wild grace and
freedom in her movements, magnetism
in her dark eyes when she turned them
full upon you, consciousness of power
in her saucy, defiant ways, that fascin-
ated all who came in contact with her.
myself was strongly attracted to her;
what wonder then that Jake and Tim
Canes 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
began to wonder, if jimmy had any
thing to do with their absence. Evi-
IDENTIFY there was something wrong with
the girl ;she seemed sullen and depressed,
and sat in her seat frowning, silent;
and when I questioned her she shut her
teeth tiercely together, and answered not
a word.
But soon there came change; one
afternoon I noticed that she was terribly
restless and excited, and her great eyes,
no longer defiant, sought mine contin-
ually, with an expression of mute APP
peal, 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 l thought
best to wait for her to speak. When
the scholars were dismissed she lin
gered behind, and as the door closed on
the last one she sprang forward, and
throwing herself at my feet, with tears
and groans and incoherent cries, made
known the cause of her wretchedness.
'Tve killed Jake, marm! I've killed
Jakew she moaned, rocking herself
wildly to and fro.
"How-how is thatw l asked, re-
coiling 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 ter
see it go on. Then few days ago
they begun again-and | might a
stopped 'em with word, and I didn't
i Somehow couldn't. But I wish l
had Oh, how l wish l had! If
it was only Tim dyin' now,
instead O. Jake, I wouldn't care!" she
muttered tiercely. 81 alters hated Tim
-allers!"
but, jimmy" saidI, wishing to divert
her, "are you quite sure Jake will dief"
"Oh, yes marm, they say SO and l fear
it here" laying her hand on her heart.
made inquiries as to the nature of Jake's
injury, but could gather nothing 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, che seemed
all at once spiin to get killed"
Perhaps you would like to go to
him!'' | suggested.
"Oh, Iwould, would" she exclaimed
eagerly. II hain't seen him yet hung
round the place all last night, fearin' to
to go inside Yes, will go! she cried,
with sudden vehemence, her pale cheek
uuSHllS, anu IL Win tOO. OhC
grave shall kiver us-me and Jake!"
An idea occurred to me, 81 have had
some experience with such wounds" l
said II might do something for him,
Shall l go with your"
"Oh, yes, yes. Come" She hurried
me out and led the way along cross
road through the woods.
Never good walker, soon began to
feel weariness, and Jimmy noticed that 1
Jagged behind.
"Mebby you're a tired, marm," she
trampin' myself. I'm used to it. Lem
me kerry ye, num-" And before could
demonstrate she picked me up and shoul-
dered me as if had been sack of corn.
"'Pears like it'll do me good, " she NUT
tered as she strobe along seemingly little
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 corner of the room lay
Jake, his immense proportions sharply
outlined through the scanty covering.
Tige, the dog, crouched at his feet, and
took no notice of our approach
A handsome rifle and brace of pistols
hung against the wall beside the bed; for
the cowboy of the Southwest is seldom 50
poor that he does not own handsome fire.
arms.
AS we entered, the old woman, who
proved to be Jake's mother, got upon her
feet with great difficulty, and came to-
ward u.s.. But jimmy laid her finger on
her lips and glided swiftly past her to the
bed.