Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-16

wiped it dry again with an old cotton rag
she had tied round her throat They en-
countered few boats, and the men supposed
it was Jem lying fat in the boat, as usual.
When they got to shore, Black. Sue fastened
the boat and started to run for her mothers s
aid; but Neil sat up in the boat and called
her back. Gladly she hastened to him, and
jumping lightly into the boat, threw her
arms around him, pressing his shaking form
to her breast.
"Stopl" said Neil, pushing her off sud
denly; help me to get up. want to go
and tell them all whut I've done. Air the
men all come back?" said he, looking at
her for the first time.
mot yet, Neil; not yet," she said,
trembling.
"Then tell me when they do" said he,
getting up without her assistance and leav-
ing the boat. She followed him to his hut,
and kindled up his fire, and brought more
wood and laid it down, and then she left
him alone.
The next morning, Black Sue, fastening
to Neil's door, was arrested BY the crowd
pressing around it. and their tell-tale faces
as they saw her come among them told her
that something was wrong. The men stood
directly in front of the low door, and the
placard over the door.
Black Sues eyes caught at its meaning.
The large, irregular letters were easy for
her to read out They ran as follows:
81, Neil Blame, drowned Jem Maynard.
pushed him from his boat into the river.
and never saw him again. 1 am ruined
man. can never go on the river again.
Last night as 1 stood at the door and looked
out, thought in every white wave / saw
Jem's poor face. 1t followed me back by
the fire till had to get up and go down to
the bank, and there / saw it again. The
Lord forgive me if leave you all like a
thief in the night but couldn't bear to see
the river by daylight. Goodby; remember
the widder and the orphin. They're not in
a strange land. "NEIL BLAME"
FEBRUARY TO-
The men got out of her way as she pushed
by them. She sprang to the top of an old
box that had been Neii's resting place OF an
evening with mis- pipe. She reached her
hands up to the bold placard, and tore it
down with one sweep as it it were cobweb
of last nights spinning. Holding the torn
paper above her head, she cried aloud, while
every man and woman looked up into her
white face: ut is not so; it is not true. l
was in the boat, as you all know. Most of
You will believe me. Father hated Neil, you
all know that. He tried to quarrel with him
last night, but Neil would not do it. He
took everything from father, till at last
father struck him in the face with his fist,
and he fell back in the boat, and father,
getting hold of his collar, staggered and fell
back'ards into the river. He pulled Neil
after him. That's how it was"
Clasping her hands over her face she sank
down on the box under her. They all
watched her in breathless silence. She
stood up in a second and observed them
fercely. Let not soul of you believe
what this thing says" and she tore it into
bits which few among the women till they
shrank away from them like poisoned
shreds; she is not guilty. Would L stand
before you men and women and say he was
not if he was? if knew he WASP"
Neil Blame is not guilty" she cried.
"God in heaven knows that"
Over the crowd of men ard women she
cast one proud, defiant glance, and they
lowered their heads as she stepped down
from the box, and stood back to let her pass
to her own hut.-Drake's Magazine.