The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-05-28


twenty-five cents; you can spare it.
| A man who doesn't drink has but
little real need for money, anyway
Let me have twenty-five cents and I'll
| do any sort of work you want me to-
"WIll you help me fix mp the address
I've got to deliver at that political
gathering?"
Eyes, will"
"And swear you'll never tell that
you helped me?"
eyes, I'll do that, too"
"And you will draw up a paper
swearing that you didn't write the
the address | delivered last month at
| Oddfelows? / want you to do
this, for l have heard it limited around
that you had q hand in it,"
eyes, I'll do anything"
Dan was about to turn away after re-
ceiving the money, when he caught
sight OF a woman crossing the court
yard
"Who is that" he asked.
"Mrs. Burkley, the widow we have
employed to teach our school," the
mayor answered.
where did she come from?"
From Wilson County, believe.
Did you ever meet herr"
~ think not" he said, and hasten
ed toward u doggery on the opposite
side of the street.
CHAPTER II.
On hill O. short distance from the
village, hill shaded by poplar trees,
was an old school-house, originally
built oflogs, butnow, weather-board-
ed and white-washed. The Widow
Burnley had just told the children
that they might go out and play until
she called them, when the door was
darkened by reddish apparition.
The widow uttered q befitting little
shrek, and then, realizing no serious
cause for alarm, said Come in"
She would not have extended this in
vitation had she not wanted to set an
example of courage.
Dan Miters stepped into the room.
de stood for moment, looking at
the widow, and then said: Don't be
afraid of me. / saw you yesterday
and didn't know but you"
us it possible!" exclaimed the wom-
an.
"Ihat is what was going to ask"
Dan replied, seating himself on
bench Twenty years make great
change In appearances, even though
hearts some times remain the same"
"Have you come here to reproach
me? Children" she added turning to
several youngsters that showed dis
position to loiter about the door,
run along now and play"
The children vanished, and the
widow, after looking about to see if
they werein hearing, said: Ihave suf-
fered too much to bear reproach now"
"But don't you think that you are
deserving of reproach?" he asked.
No | acted as | thought best
promised to marry you, and while you
were with me, you did exercise so
strong an influence that l thought
loved you but when you were gone,
knew that didn't. | saw that was
charmed by your mind, but not
charmed by your heart. Another man
came. He was not bright, he had
many foolish words, but love is ex-
pressed in words that are foolish.
You awoke my admiration; he thrill
ed my heart. Then l wrote and told
you not to think of me again. was
buried in the roses OF my own happi-
ness. How could Think of your"
and you married that mani"
"Yes.'
"And were you happy?"
For a time. Then the dew fell off
the flowers. What could the flowers
do but wither? We went to q distant
town, and there he deserted me-"
sis he still living?"
"He was hanged"
do you love his memory" mo
for | have learned to think, and
thought is dagger to foolish love"
Ibid you know that 1 was
here?"
mo; some one told me that you
were lost at sea-"
"Did you sorrow over the news?"
''No; did not love you"
did you not hear something
"Not until year ago, and then
heard that you were alive and ahope-
less drunkard"
Weren't you moved at that?"
~ was moved with pity"
"And would your pity sink deeper
into your heart if were to tell Won
that / am the most hopeless OF ali
drunkardsg Look at me. Look"
lie opened his coat. al have given
my old shirt to a negro for a drink.
Does your pity sink deeper?"
"Oh, please go away, George, 90
away. You distress me nearly to
death; My Godl I have suffered
enough"
"Ah, but not for me. You have
suffered because your own heart has
been wrung; you have not suffered be-
cause OF my degradation and despair.
Mary, you still have it in your power
to save me. With your help I can
Kill my appetite. / can do something
Tor us both. Be my wife and atone
Tor the awful wreck you made years
ago"
George ] have always been true to |
myself. don't love you"
Couldn't you learn--couldn't there
be progress
There could be progress, but that
progress would be toward hatred"
he looked at her in silence. He
look up his old hat, which had been
iropped on the floor, and turned il
found and round in his hand. He
ooked down at his shoes, from which
lis toes protruded. He got up with a
'tagger, gazed at her a moment. and
hen an expression like that which fol-
ows the swallowing of abitter draught.