The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-06-16
.ouId help being interested in Mary. Some.

could h"lp being interested IN Mary. Somc
how Jim and | got 80 that we seldom
spoke oi our plan OF going to America. ant
when we did mention it, it was only half
heartedly. / would not have gone awaJ
now and left Mary's presence for "a fire.,
gilt to me OF Ri the worlds wealth: and |
studied many IN our over the best man.
ner in which to break the matter to jim
that l had given up going. And one day
when j had mustered up courage enough
to say TO him that / thought w
could do better in the old mill fol
a while yet, he quite tool my breath away
by turning suddenly and grasping my hano
in his, while he said it was just his
idea also. L was So surprised, foi
| knew that he had set his heart on going
and | could o fathom the reason for his
sudden conversion. But | was to happy
In the thought that neither OF US were to
go to wonder long over his change OF mind
Months rolled On and Mary and | were
piighted lovers. | had never said anything
to Jim about my great happiness; for the
love / had for Mary seemed to sacred a
thing to speak of even to Jim. / was in
Mary's company nearly every evening.
Jim and had been accustomed to taking
long walks together of evenings, but now
he strayed of alone, quiet and melancholy
1T appeared to me. / was sorry for him;
1890 'hhhip Nba MA 10 IL Ut8ItCU "
him was the cause of his downheartedness
L sometimes tried to rally him and Joke
with him about his reserved ways, but
he seemed rather hurt by my words,
and soon began to avoid me as much
as possible n to wander away by
himself into quiet places where he would
be apt to meet with no one. As
soon as my wedding day was fixed |
determined to tell Jim about our engage.
ment. When / revealed it 10 him he
started back as though surprised, and
then recovered himself he slowly reached
out his hand and congratulated me in a
husky. reserved tone OF voice, SO different
from his usual CHEEKY, good-natured
manner OF speaking that | noticed it aver
then. And then his eyes took on a lar
away look. and he turned from me in g.
way L could not understand 1t seem.
ed so cold and unnatural, when | had
expected such a different reception OF the
news. lsprang after him with the cry on
my lips: Jim, old boy, you don't bear
me any i'll will, do you?" He turned, and
l saw that his face was as pale as though
he were a ghost, but with an effort he
laughed the matter off by saying he was
taken with a sudden pain in his side. And
then he spoke in such a hearty way, like
his old sell, and talked so rapidly about
what a happy man | ought to be, hat |
soon forgot his strange words and stranger
actions. After this he never would remain
with me for d moment. He began
to neglect his duties a great deal, in one
Instance even having high words with the
superintendent OF the mill over som
work which he had carelessly
done. 1t was so different from his former
sell that everybody noticed it. L wonder.
ed ii his change toward ME was from the
fact that | had neglected his company for
that OF Mary. but | didn't like to say any
thing to him about it lest he might misun.
cerstand me and feel hurt.
One highland l shall never forget that
night to my dying day, for 1 still dream
it. and shudder always at it's remem.
brance. 1t was a Wednesday night, and
Mary and J. were to be married the follow
ing Monday. l was sitting by the fire at
home about ready to retire to sleep, when
some one knocked at the door. l was
on opening it to find Jim there,
it had been a long time since he had
been to see me. l invited him to walk in.
but he excused himself and said hat the
Wales had come in and tied up at the
dock, and that the superintendent had
sent Tor us to 60 to the mill for night
work. was not surprised at this, for we
we're frequently called on to finish some
work up at night for shipment by steamer
arrl wing at the wharf earlier thar expect
ID, so | old Jim to wait a moment and
would be ready. Throwing on my work
lDg blouse and hat / Joined him and we
for the mill.
1t was a very dark night, for a storm
vas brewing and the sky was covered with
Jim walked in front of me with
uttering a word, and | having become
to his late queerness OF man.
Ter, followed as silently.
We soon reached the edge OF the town,
then struck across the old familiar
through the meadows. In the dis.
ance the lights of the great mill shone out
its hundred windows like the eyes OF
/ dragon, and the lower story, with its red.
Y cleaning furnaces, seemed the NAV OF
great monster prepared to swallow
hose who came within it's reach.
All my old dread OF the mill came back
% me with tenfold force. You may call it
uperstition, if you like, but / shuddered,
~lesitated, and was hall inclined tt
urn back. Shaking off this strange
with an effort, I continued on. On
the building, | noticed that none
1 the other hands" were there, and when
spoke toJim about it. he quietly remark.
d that the superintendent had sent for
hem and hat they would be there pres.
ntly, Passing to our usual places. Jim
'ointed out some bars that were to be
into shape, and as the steam
Ias up and everything ready, slipped the
cit upon the pulley and stopped TIC lift
ne OF the bars into place. Suddenly. and
rithout warning, l received a heavy blow
pom the head; | felt myself seized by a
grip from behind and was forced
o the floor, lace downward, my hands
behind me, and before l could real
,e what was occurring l found myself
inc unnn INV h ocE fiaI oocnrolu RI tho |
nvil beneath the great steam ham ner.
tunned, for the moment, almost to the
ONT OF Inconsistencies, l yet managed
D turn my head sufficiently to see hat
i'm was standing at my feet. | shall new
r forget that awful sight. 1t was Jim,
~ old friend and schoolmate, but never |
efore had there been such a change in q
uman being. He vas bareheaded and his
les were ~bloodshot, the veins in his fore
cad stood out like dark cords, his face
as wildly demoniacal in his expression |
nd his mouth was filled with a white
fiecked with drops Of blood. where
had bitten through and through his lip
his excitement. l pray God | may be /
such a sight again. His close-knit.
erfect form was drawn to it's full height.
Ie had an arm raised, and the finger OF
is hand was touching the lever, which,
ressed upon, would release the steam
ammer for its descent. He leaned over
lie until | could feel his hot breath on my
neck and hist from between his set teeth:
You won my Mary from me with your
ways but she shall never be your
life. You shall die here the death that
on deserve. and l will bring her here to
,e what a handsome corpse you viii make
hen you have been crushed under your
hammer" and a fendlsh laugh rang
the rafters of the old mill. The
ruth flashed through my mind in an in
Ali now l knew why Jim had act
I so strangely of late months. He loved
with that intense nature of his. and
is unrequitted love had unbalanced his
ind. His maddened brain had conceived
ne idea of crushing me with my own ham,
Ter, the one at which had worked so
ing, and he had come to the mill, fired the
:gine, started the machinery in motion,
nd had then called for me with an invent
! 4.lo ~ ,s,l+ u4rly SoU If oil nnw |