News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-01-05

I
but [ heard the screams again, and this
time discovered that they came from
the house next door. and hurrying into
the public entry which was quite I'M
garded, l came at once upon the scene
of action. A woman was struggling in
the arms of a filthy and degraded look
ing brute, who reeked with whiskey
and was clad in rags that were scarcely
deserving of the name of garments.
"Lct me go I" she cried. "Take the
money-take all [ have-but let me
go!"
And the next moment had levelled
the brute to the ground with blow,
and had stood between him and the
woman.
Apparently I had not hurt the fellow
much. After lying motionless for a
moment he scrambled to his feet, gave
me a furious look, appeared to medi-
tate an attack upon me, changed his
mind, and staggered out at the door.
'He is gone" 1 said to the woman.
"You are safe; but has he robbed you?
Shall follow him and detain him
She answered by clasping both hands
together as though in prayer.
"Ah, no, for Heavens sake, she said.
''Let him go. The farther the better.
He has taken only what mean he
has taken nothing. Thank you, thank
you; you have been so good, so brave,
so-Oh, thank you!"
And with these words she turned
from me and hurried up the stairs. As
she passed the flickering gas-jet in the
hall its lights fell full upon her face, and
7 fhn4 I1
had watched all day through my study
window.
"Stayl" I cried, MADAME, please
permit me. One moment" but she
was gone,
1 saw her again next morning, how
ever.
She sat at her window again, but this
time she gave me smile and a bow,
1t was not etiquette, [ know. It was
perhaps very wrong, since we had no
introduction whatever, but we soon
became friends. From smiling we came
to speaking; having spoken [ begged
leave to call. After that love had his
OWN way with me. To win and wear
my treasure became the hope of my
life.
She was, as | had fancied, of Cuban
descent. At once SO soft and spirited,
she was all for which [ had ever hoped
in my ideal wife.
One day [ resolved that would no
longer delay my happiness. I would
ask her to be my wife, and if she accept
ed me, as 1 had little doubt she would,
we would be married at once. True,
we would be poor, but we had youth,
health, and industry, and we need
not fear but that all would be well with
us.
1t was O calm August evening; the air
was sweet and sensuous; floods of white
moonlight lay across the pavements and
'mellowed the city streets into certain
beauty.
Ihad bought handful of red roses of
an o.d woman who sat at the corner, and
was taking them to my love. As [ held
them in my hand their fragrance ioated
about me. [ shall never forget those
hours in which all life's beauty seemed
concentrated.
I sought her presence. I gave the
roses into her hands. [ sat down be-
side her. The only light in the room
was that Of the moon There was no
one near to listen; and there, holding
her white hand in my own, 1 told her
of my passion and asked her to be my
wife.
She listened to me without O word,
and when had done speaking she lifted
up her black eyes, swimming with tears,
and looked me in the face.
"Henry," she said 81 have done very
wrong; [ have allowed myself to be hap
py; l have tried to forget how it must
end. love you even as you love me,
but L cannot marry you. l am already
married. l have been wife since I
was sixteen years of age, and l am now |
twenty-five. My husband Is the man
from whom you rescued me on that |
night When [ first learned how brave |
and kind you were. He comes to me
now and then to take my earnings from
me. On that night he was more intox-
icated than usual, and had .endeayored
to beat me.
ooh, Henry, pity me, pity me Do
not blame me if [ have given you grief. |
[ suffer more myself, far more
How altered the night seemed as I |
went out into it Its beauty was gone.
it's sweetness vanished. / wandered
ulOLlS IIlC obIC0U NHICu lttl IINeTWHl0. |
and came to the long wharf at the foot.
1t was late, and the place was deserted
by the throng of poor people that habit
ually came there i'll the early evening
for fresh air. [ sat down upon its edge
and looked into the water. How long
md weary seemed the time before me
And perhaps, after all, there was no
hope. The wretch to whom Isabelle
was tied might outlive her.
Was it not better to end ALTO die
hen and there and be done with love
md pain forever? 1t almost seemed
30. And below me the river, dark, deep
md silent, swept on toward the sea. If
leath were only n long slumber, as
'ome men believed, why not
My thoughts were disturbed by q
tumbling step. l looked up. Through
he moonlight staggered the figure of
a bloated, hideous object.
lie was singing to himself the words of
. low song, and, even had | not been
hidden by a projecting beam, might not
AVE seen me. Coming close to the
pot where l was hiding, he sat down on
egs over the SIDE, and, drawing from
lAo DOoOlll u DOGblC ttIlIl oOIllC. SLCuoI
craps of food, began to cat and drink.
saw his face distinctly. | knew the
agged black hair mixed with gray-the
tubby beard, the red swollen nose, the
hapeless figure. 1t was the man / had
rappled with in the hall of the house
ext door. 1t was Isabelle's brutal,
husband.
He was drunk already. He was drink
ng more fiery liquor. He was in a
dangerous position for any but a man
With steady head. Left to himself
he was possibility that he would
all into the water. Once there he must
rown. / was the only person i'll sight.
would leave him to himself
/ arose and crept away. A little on /
OOked back. On one side / could see
he street; on the other, the wharf In
he first policeman walked his rounds.
ucking at his bottle.
There seems to be q Providence that
watches over drunkards and keeps them
afe where sober men would perish; or
his policeman may spy him out and
axe him into custody.
Safe! All, yes, he will be safe enough;
he bad penny always comes home again.
| turned and walked back along the
lock. He did not hear me. / stood be
llnd him; he did not see me. Then 1 :
ave him a sudden push with the palms
# my hands against his back, and then
le was there no more; and darker and
eeper and more silent than before the
lver seemed to flow toward the sea.
On my way home passed the police
nan. He gave me strange look. For
moment | thought he was about to i
pproach me. and he followed me little