, 1889-01-27
MEG.

Incrc wns nothing rare or fine nbour
her. IN the contrary, there was n great
deal Of h animal in her face; n toucl
of the man in her pose, n bold suggestion
Of the woman in tho cheap jcwclry al
ears and neck, and an unmistakable all
OF the circus in her out ensemble. Hel
eyes were gray and full. Bold eyes they
were, that seemed to belong of right &c
the over full lips, and sensual curves OF
the ovcr fun figure. Her teeth were
white, and when the lips parted they
glittered, and that was all Of brightness
about her. Everything else suggested a
slothfil, easy temperament, thickness OF
mental fiber. dullness of moral perccp-
ton.
Suddenly her face was transformed.
She was undergoing one Of her rare sea
sons Of animation, and the face she
turned to the man before her was fun OF
play and life.
of snap In them, and when she laughed
the snap was communicated to her
whole frame, rcdeeming it from its low
sloth 70 something kccncr and higher.
But perhaps II was the mnn that sug-
gested keenness, and lent n phase Of his
own personality to her.
1.-the and tail and dark. with n why
strength Of physique, lac gave one the
impression of n panther, and n panther
just prepared to spring.
From his long, slender fingers 10 the
glance Of his eye, everything suggested
a%lcrtncss. Yet the suggestion was evil,
too, and marked him n, n man 10 bC dis
trusted.
There WIS n play of low cunning about
his eyes, and tho very dcviltry Of ical-
ousy lurked round his thin lips. As the
two stood together you felt irrcsistibly
that the elements Of domestic tragedy
were before yOu-the brute That would
not shrink from beating u woman-the
woman thai would tamely submit 10 be
beaten.
well" he said, roughly, ARE you go
ing to do that cigar businessy"
Meg shrank back, fcarfully; the vivac-
ity passed from her face and was sue
ceedcd 10y a gray shadow of terror.
The man laughed scoffingly.
"You'rc only II womanl Showing tho
white feather first OFF,
She glanced Mt him ddprccatingly, and
he returned the glance with an mir of
staggering assurance. Evidently she
was In his power, and both knew it.
Very well" he said, with an assump-
ito OF easy indifference; Il know Liza
will do it. Pluck enough about herr
The implied taunt took effect.
And what If there is?' Meg cried
tierccly. 'Shc don't know what sho Is
doing. She don't know what you are,
Jim. You'd shoot at mo in ono of your
ternpcrs just ~ soon Us you'd shoot at
tho cigar. And Liza don't know you,
and that's how shc amt afraid"
He was switching oil tho daisy heads.
and he paused 10 look ut her; 1t was n
cruel look, containing in 1t that implica-
ton of secret power.
He did not deny the charge; he simply
looked ut her, and Meg's face took on u
new expression of depreciation, while her
attitude became cowed and limp.
"And.its because YOU know me that
you should know better than TO refuse"
he said at last.
Meg glanced furtively at him, and
with II show of answered
doggedly;
"Weli, l don't mind. You can try if
you like, only not today"
This was not enough for Jim. With
the obstinacy of tho petty tyrant he
would test his influence to tho uttcrmost.
You shall do it now" ho said, pas
sionately, seizing Meg by tho arm.
c no tossed her roughly from him
with n rude Como on, now, to the van
She followed him, yielding involun,
tarily the obedience of the weaker to the
stronger. but he ooh no further notice
of her and continued his walk across the
field to the corner where the blue smoke
was rising from the circus caravans.
Tho sun was setting, throwing n red
Eluro upon tho gayly painted wagons
whose twinkling windows, touched by
the rays, looked like lurid eyes gazing al
the two approaching.
The glaro fell upon Jim walking jaunt
lily along, with his hands behind him
1t touched the slim, murderous looking
fingers, and-was it fancy that made
them appear red to Meg following be.
hindu
'Jim," she said, slowly, whats the
matter with your hands, You've got
blood on them"
He drew his hands from his back and
examined them, for it was one Of his
characteristics that he kept his hands as
white and delicate as n woman's.
"BahI" he exclaimed, what do vol
meant My hands are right enough"
So they were, and Meg was not quicl
witted enough to sec that tho red color
had been due to the rinse sky in tn,
west. She followed in silence, and wher
Jim climbed into his wagon sho walket
on to her own, thinking idly that ho wa
becoming too unreasonable and master
full for her. Nevertheless when, n few
minutes later, ho camo into the wagoI
she turned to him with no aversion OIL
her broad, impassive face.
She watched him carelessly us h
loaded a pistol, and she did not refuse {,
take the cigar he held out to her whei
his preparations were complete.
Put 1t in your mouth and stand b,
b door" he said coolly, retreating 4
h other end of the, van.
Nay" said Meg sulkily, 81 won't d,
II now; I've told you before. / won't d
it now"
The ring of terrified appeal In he
voice should have aroused what mani
BuckIen's Arnica saIve.