The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1889-03-28

as 10 the import Of the words. But
Hester had rallied and drank her tea.
and the next morning she saw her
husband go without tear
It cannot be said that Mayhem was
in his most genial mood that day ;
but he made supreme effort AZ last.
as he saw that his companion was
growing silent, and perhaps regret
ting the proposed excursion. For
Tad measured everything by what he |
was going to get out Of il. II never
occurred to him that he was called
upon to make any effort. So Mayhem
exerted himself to such good purpose,
that on the third day Ellerslie was
quite in good spirits, and he showed
out most innocently the worst that
was in him-his egotism, his utter
unconcern about others, his tyrannical
narrowness, his impotence of OppOsi-
ton, his cold heart.
"IIe is devill' said Mayhcw, be-
tween his teeth. "She is chained for
life to a devil"
aFoR LIFEl" the words seemed to
echo in the air, They were rowing in
sort of golden haze on Lake Luz
gauo. The water was as smooth as
glass. There was something intense
lly delicious in the air, as soothing as
some opiate; but all Mayhew's pulses
were bounding fiercely.
"For life l-only for life, and death
would free her!" something seemed
kissing in his ear. lie could have
sworn the voice came from without
and not from within. lie looked
around. Tad was gazing after a boat
in which some dark-eyed girl had
smiled coquettishly at him.
II must follow that up" he was say
| ing. laziy. II think have made an
impression
"The curw thought Mayhem. ale
has won a woman with the finest ma
ture in the world, but he would not
hesitate at an intrigue with pretty
peasant. He does not know what
faith and honor mean. How easily
could free my poor darling from her
chains! Oh, how they gall her!
have seen her vince. have seen her
shudder."
Tad's back was still towards him.
He was leaning in the direction Of the
vanishing boat, and kissing his hand
MAYHEM gave him a sudden push.
"What the deucel" he cried, and he
turned, recognized murder in his
] companions eyes, and they clinched
1t was only a moment. As he wal
? pushed over, Mayhem put his hanC
on Ellerslies mouth and was bitten
Then he shook him off as a venomoui
reptile. There was heavy splash
Tad never rose again. Mayhem
looked about tor moment, then up
set the boat, and as he touched thu
water, cried for help. 1t was the bcs
way. II completely deceived thu
fishermen who hurried towards him
They righted the boat and drew hin
in.
"There-there is another!" he fal
tered
"Ah, signor, we have not seen him
lie did not rise, answered the men
and then Mayhem closed his eye
again and looked exhausted. So tn
good fellows rowed him to shore
looking about for his companion o.
the way, but III vain. Once warmed
aud dried, Mayhem told his storv-th
one he had suddenly arranged. n
one questioned It, There was no on
to witness against him. lie left di
: rections about the body if ever found
: and then started on his homewar
journey alone. lie telegraphed once
as sort of preparation: ''Bad news
!; -an accident-Prepare for tn
worst"
Ifhe could have left the task to
another. he would so gladly have e'
IN capped lie had always been BRAY
70 man. but he found himself timid as
child now. The strange crime SCENE
"a to have transformed him. He treu
bled at a shadow. Once a hat ill
Tad's on some fellow-traveller's hea
IN made him turn sick and faint. VIII:
to if he was not dead what if he aro'
II, ont Of that watery grave and was
I'd confront him with his terrible crime
r. lie asked for Hester at the doc
I'd lie dared not see the mother, and wi
ness her grief for her only child. /
Mt knew Hester's feeling could not
f? grief. There would be the shock
he the horror, there could not be grief.