Wichita eagle., 1890-02-06

mornin'. You'd better take oooK, 1
reckon; she seems to be your favorite.
She's good mich cow, anil give more'n
enough milk for you two"
For few moments after the bride
and bridegroom had driven away Farmer
Compton remained where she had left
him. Mrs. Compton sat in the entry
alone. She rose firmly and went to kim
die fire in the chimney. Her husband
approached her as she knelt in the ashes
on the wide hearth.
"Never mind, mother" he said, plain
lively, II haint hungry. Les make out
with cold snack this time. It's been
many a year sence we've gone 'thout
warm supper, but I don't feel much like
eatin', an reckon you don't nuther."
Nothing reluctant she consented. They
sat in the door and watched the sinking
sun draw, away his gold from the
clouds, and saw the cleaning darken
the low lands and drape the hills in
gray. They sat closer together than they
had sat for years before.
Berry began his married life in much
more exemplary manner than was gen.
orally expected of him. His cabin was
well equipped for occupany. He straight
way went to work to bring his soil into
fit condition for the planting of crops.
Winter passed; spring rolled brightly
on. Martha was happy. Her husband
was, indeed, very kind and attentive,
and she loved him more than ever, and
secretly enjoyed the knowledge that her
friends were now finding out the errors
of their prophesies concerning her well
fare.
But, alas! this happy time was short.
vote in local election. He did not re-
turn as early as had been his wont when
he went to the village. Martha stood in
the door, anxiously awaiting him until
night had fallen. She heard the clatter
of horse hoofs, and he rode up, his horse
foaming with perspiration. He alighted,
leading the animal bunglingly to the
stall.
The young wife shrunk With instinct
i've dread into the cabin. Once before
her marriage she had seen precisely that
unsteady walk, that languid dropping Of
head and shoulders. She knew well
what it betokened. She made haste to
place the supper on the table. She could
not 60 to him as she had been accus-
toned to do. This he noted with quick
ened sensitiveness on his entrance.
Throwing himself clumsily in chair,
he glowered at her as she shrunk before
him. The consciousness that he had
broken his promise of total abstinence
was uppermost in his mind.
ga man cayn't tech drap 'thout you
a-thinkin' at he's gwine to take to it
reg'lar," he said, with a thick tongue.
''Fhe's reason in everything. A man
haint wuth that''-trying to snap his
fingers-'that cayn't drink on partic-
ular 'casion like this 'thout making a
hog O hissf."
With the table between her and him,
she stood, pale and quivering in every
fiber, unable to answer him.
Lost yore tongue, t seems. 'Lection's
over, Pete Grogan's our next sheriff;
stayed till votes counted out. You kin
eff you want to. won't make you be-
lieve what I'm a-tellin' you"
Berry" she said desperately, moving
a chair to his place at the table, supper
is ready. Come before it's cold"
Don't want no supper" he said, tes-
tily; ''ain't gwine to eat at no table whar
I'm looked on like brute. Cayn't tech
drop with ole friends wuz fotch up
with 'thout the whole world bein' up
set."
He rose angrily and staggered out of
doors. She heard the gurgle of a bottle,
and when he came in she noted the
bulge of capacious whisky flask in his
pocket. He resumed his chair without
speaking.
Hours passed by; he was becoming
more deeply inebriated. He sat, an
inert human mass, with lolling head
waggling, now and then, on his breast,
and was in great danger of tumbling to
the floor. The last pine knot was flick
ering in the chimney. When it expired
darkness would fall. She shuddered at
the situation. Something must be done:
she must get him upon the bed.
She touched his feverish head with her
cold hands. He paid no heed to her,
breathing very heavily. She pulled at
his arms:
Berry, she called gently; Berry, git
on the bed!"
He raised his head with infamed eyes
and bestial growL She tried to raise
him again, praying inwardly. He got
to his feet and plunged toward the door.
With all her strength she endeavored to
pilot him to the bed. Maddened by the
restraint her hands put upon him, he
threw back his arm with brutal force
and struck her in the temple. Then ne
plunged into the darkness without and
she fell to the floor.
The grayish light of dawn stealing
over the hill tops into the cabin fell on
the face of dead woman. A few hours
after sunrise a neighbor chanced TO look
in at the door and discovered her.
Immediately he summoned his wife
and daughters, and sent a bearer of the
tidings to the Comptons. Before the
mother and father arrived, Berry Brad !
ley's BODY was found In the river, not far
from the cabin. In his blind wander |
ings he had fallen into the stream, and
drowned helplessly. In consideration of
the circumstances attending his death, |
and the death of his wife. ii was deter
mined that his remains should not be !
brought to his cabin.
There are few things in human nature !
more nblirne than the patient fortifude