Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-05

| IL looked greatly their superior. As much
so, indeed, as did Judith, in her simple,
shabby dress of russet-brown merino, with
the flowing lines almost antique in their
simplicity and. severity. She was a beauti-
ful creature, with q certain natural grand
eur and grace of movement that seemed to
date back to some early and unsophiscated
period of the world, and was as much out OF
character with the present time as an epic
or symphony. It did not take long for
her to finish her domestic duties, and then
she returned to'the freside.
Bill had followed her with his ewes all the
while, and now they rested again on her face.
These eyes were the only noticeable feature
in his pale, characterless face They were
deep set, and of some dark indefinite shade,
neither black nor brown, and they shone
like stars when the freight fiiekered on
them. Every now and then they wandered
to the purple mark on Judith's brow, as
though irresistibly drawn to it. After they
had kept silence for long time, "Judith, +"
he said, in low, deep voice, Eye know it's
not for the want O. will that aa Gamma think
of owt to help YEP"
81 know all that, Bill, dearl Don't fret
too much if any harm comes to me. You
are the only one who has tried to make
things better; you are the only CLEAN Of
brightness in my life, and Ilove you for it,
do, indeed, dear!'
els there nothing to be done?" cried the
eyes. I have one refuge left when it
gets past bearing" replied the woman,
slowly. "You'l not tell of it, Bill, or
he'll take it away from me?"
She drew q small phial out of her breast,
and held it up to the freight. 1t was full
of a clear, greenish-colored liquid. Bill
held out her hand, but she shook her head,
and replaced it.
"I won't trust you, you're too fond-of
me-"
''what is it, lass? Poison?"
Judith nodded.
''ChloraL I've not lived with fine ladies
for nothing, yousee?"
Bill jumped up and began pacing the floor
excitedly,
sBut. Judith Oh, whatever must aa do?
Judith, ye'n not do that; say1 yell not,
for ma sake? Ye must hear the truth now.
Aa Gamma live without ye!''
As the last words burst out, he knelt
down by Judith's chair and put his arms
round her in q way half protecting, half
appealing, and she felt his heart beat tu-
multuously close to her own. Some re-
sponsive emotion thrilled through her, and
she stopped and kissed his forehead. At
the touch of her warm lips the young
mans blood turned instantly to flame, and
the pent-up passion within him broke
bounds. He frightened his hold upon her
and kissed her lips, her hand, her bruised
forehead a hundred times. ooh, judith,
Ga Gamma live without yep' he murmured
over and over again, in voice broken and
hoarse with overwhelming passion.
The woman seemed little afraid of the
tempest she had raised, even while her
cheeks flushed, and look of eager triumph
came into her eyes. For one moment she
yielded to his caress, and then she with
drew herself and stood upright.
bill, dear, try to be calm" she whis-
pered, entreatingly. she may come in at
any time now, and you know what he is.
Do try to be quiet, for my sake"
Bill, making tremendous effort, re-
gained his self-control, but he was all
trembling and shaken. He sunk
his face in his hands He was a good
lad well brought up and right principled;
and this terrible temptation which had
seized upon and mastered him made him
loathe himself, even while he succumbed to
1t. But he recognized the truth when she
first told him how impossible it was he
should ever love in such q way. Her
description of her own past state of mind
had awakened him to his present one, and
it needed only touch to finish what was
then begun.
Suddenly the door was flung open and
Dick, the husband, staggered in, three
parts drunk and the remaining part
wicked.
''Oh no, ma lad, aave catched ye this
time! Aa wonder ye're not feared to maxi
up tie yer big brothers wife, ye young
deevil! But awll let thee know what's
hot mi hat 30
efterp'
The bully was in a quarrelsome mood and
seemed somewhat surprised when his words
evoked no rejoinder. Bill still kept his
head down, and took no notice, though his
pale cheek flushed and he bit his under lip
seriously.
SIS that all the supper we've got for ye're
goodman, ye lazy hussy? What for haven't
ye cooked me somethin' nice and tasty, in
stead of sittin' me down to yer bloomin dry
bread and cheese?"
He cut himself slice of bread as he
spoke and Bill, glancing up at him, noticed
that the blade Of the. big bread knife
cleaned as though 1t were new one.
~ had nothing to cook, and no money to |
buy anything" replied Judith calmly.
Dick gave great laugh.
'Nothin' like short commons to bring |
down a proud spirit, ma fine madam! If We |
were better fed ye'd kick over the tracesl'
The woman made no answer. So long as |
he confined himself to words she cared lit |
tie what he said.
"And what do you two get to talk about |
all the time aa's away? BlacKguard me,
aa' II warrant, and wish aa was out O. tn |
road. Come and sit on ma knee, lass, and |
make him envious O. ma bonny wife"'
Judith gave him defiant and contempt |
uous look.
81 shall act no farce for your pleasurer'
"What Ye refuse? Aw'll fell ye to |
the ground if We dinna mind"
Once set agoing, he poured out a flood of |
abuse, and then, rising, made for his in |
tended victim. But Bill was beforehand |
with him. The young fellow placed him |
self in front of her and stood, with flashing |
eyes, daring the bully to do his work
eye shall not lay a finger on her this |
neetl will Kill. you frst!''
The village policeman and a pitman of |
horticultural tendencies were having quiet |
gossip over the merits of their respective |
dahlias, when they were startled by the |
sound of voices quarreling, and stopped to |
listen.
''Hoots, man, it's nowt out O. tn COM
mon," said the dahlia grower, after a
pause ."Only that brute Dick |
FELTON, landed home drunk, and in one of |
his tantrums, and then the wife catches it
hot, ye knowI''
''We'd better get round to the front to be
ready, case anything happens" replied the
guardian of the peace, and the two men
walked through the opening which led to
the street. As they went they heard Bill
Felton's loud-spoken defiance, then imme-
diately following it a deep groan came, a
shrek, and the sound of the fall of heavy
hndv Fnp1inu now moro yio1rs thew