Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-30
HAND TO HAND.
) a,ssoul nlRDrSs DAVIS,
fcupr1shtea.1


"Un ous side the charge OF . great church.
wealth, and the woman be loves; on the
otAsr-me.n There was nothing beyond
that Tonight must end e one way or tho
other. The drumming Of his fingers grew
sloWer on his knees, till he sat like block
s1arinx IN the fre. The gnswing hunger
tsorin9 81 his ncsh made his brain clearer.
ne was to be hung on his boy like a mill
seune 10 drag him down, till one or other OF
them diedi What IL he were dead nowi
Great gain would follow; and as for loss
The major rose mechanically, the eyes un-
der his grtxxly brows growing strangely keen
and glittering. ~ don't know that I'm Of
much account--if one took stock Of me-" He
passed his hand with queer chuckle over his
big, hungry, rheumatic body; then glanced
hastily toward the pile of MSS. on which
NO publisher had drawn for months, proudly
conscious for q moment Of the genius which
had been his birthright. ~ never made my
mark, though" !" he muttcred. He repeated
that once or twice.
The stock was taken.
He stood quiet a moment, and then sopped
his face with his ragged white handkerchief.
IT was strangely composed and grave He
went to closet and took down from the or
derly shelves q bottle full Of dark brown
liquid, from which he half filed . goblet,
which be placed ready on the mantel shelf;
then, rs though doubling its efficacy, he took
out tiny vial full of white powder, and hid
Il in his pocket. Unlocking a desk, he took
out an old leather covered Bible, yellow with
age, and began turning over the leaves, TO
find the family record"
"Born, Jan. 81, John, only child Of Richard
and Mary Standish.n
He read 1t over, as he had done every day
since he gave the boy up He fancied God
came as near TO him in those words rs he
could in any others in that book. II
was the only page which be ever read She
had written them there.
"She knows whether I've loved her and
you, Jack, y STOPPING to kiss tho faded writing
"Your old father shall never be a weight on
you, boy" He opened knife and cut the
leaf. II was loose now; he held 1t In his
hand and stopped over the fire irresoluts
After all, his real hold on life for a good
many years had been through that page; as
IL began TO crisp, he glanced up quickly at
the goblet, then out of the square dormer
window. Lights were beginning TO CLEAN in
the houses beyond the Schuylkill, the sky
warmed red as cinnabar in tho frosty sun.
set, while wisps of feathery smoke from some
passing steamer wavered across it, The
world gave him q friendly look-for the last
He threw the paper in the fire, put out his
hand for the goblet--when there was sud
den soft furry behind him, and two nervous
little hands were clapped over his eyes. The
ncxt thing was hearty kiss right on his
mouth.
"Why, Madelinel childi is IL your
"Of course II is not mel there are SO many
pretty girls stealing in to kiss you without
leavei Oh dear, I'm quite frozen, Uncle
Danf'
She looked as IL she were; her chubby,
dimpled face was blue, and the rimy drops
stood In her eyes. She perched herself up on
the majors chair, beating her hands in their
wooden gloves together. "If you only could
unlace my boots. My feet haven't had bit
of feeling for an hour Five miles did they
tramp. didn't want to break the note for
car fare. Its the half yearly pay day, you
know. Just look at it," fumbling in her
bosom under her sack and bringing out warm
and crisp q bright new note. ~ couldn't
sleep until we'd both seen IL and--gone
halves" winking with both eyes and laugh
ing all over in the most ridiculous, lovable
way. The major had taken of her shoes,
and stood with them In his hands looking
down at her. She was 30 alive with beauty,