The National tribune., 1891-12-31

minutes of his time after his arrival, for he
was never great talker, but he sat and list
ened 10 Clariss as she answered all his ques-
/ tions at length. She related in the most
minute detail everything that had come 10 her
4 in her strange experience, but she did not no.
tice his cOnVBlsive start, nor the dark sc0wl on
his face when she reached that part OF her
! story about her mysterious visitor and the
dead child But when their meal was served,
he ate so little and appeared so nervous, that
/ she playfully chded him upon his want Of
appetite after his long days ride.
Never since that golden morning nearly six
years before. when he fust sot eyes on
Clariss as she dipped mp the sparkling water
/ from its rocky bed at her fathers door 10 hand
him drink. had Dick Curtis ever spoken but
| gently 10 his wife now he looked up darkly
at her, aud hsrshly replied:
What conssrn o yOurn eZ ct. ef don't eat
like ez war a barr Pears ter me hev larned
ter TUX keer O. mysel 'thout yer bevin' emmy
call ter lOr bout ct; yer tung Jess goes like er
mill! Ef I'd knOw'd yer war goin' ter quar-.
reliu bout my eatin' an sich, I'D a staid in
ther woods; yer fault fndin' rifles mel"
Then, giving a fearful dig with bis heavy
boot into Tige's ribs, who at that unlncky mo-
ment happened 10 come shifting toward him.
he turned around on his chair and commenced
10 GIL his pipe, while the dscomfted dog re-
treated, bowling, TO his pile Of furs in the cor
ner.
Poor Clariss was so completely dumbfounded
at the sudden change in her husbands manner
that she simply dropped like wet rag on the
fioor SO outrageously had the shock affected
her.
DICK LOOKED BEwILDERIEGLY AROUND
whom he saw his wife fall, like a man who had
suddenly awakened from horrid dream, aud
did not know what 10 do, he was so thoroughly
frightened. But IN moment his better nature
and love for his wife ressserted itself, and
frantically rushing 20 where she was lying. he
lifted her In his brawny arms and placed her
tenderly on pile Of butfalO-robes all the while
dad-burning" himself for "dern'd fool
his only approach TO swearing-and pouring
into her ears his penitence for his nnWarranted
conduct
Clariss, at these evidently sincere manifesto
tions Of his sorrow, opened her eyes and sat up
clinging to him in her deep agony; she WAS
ashamed. disgraced, and crushed; she trembled
like poplar; for such an experience had never
before come 10 her in all her young life, either
at her fathers or since her marriage, and Dick
was really alarmed at her condition.
:" Thar, Ciss," said he sOOthingly, as he tOyed
with her golden curls, patted her head and pet
ted her in his rough way-though it was as
honest and sincere as IL he had been the very
impersOnatiOn Of grace-"Thar, CisS. don't TUX
on so; dad-burn the rotten luck! / didn't
Il "A i
OuRbtRht Ter be let liv for treatin on yer so
j dunno wat ales me: kin yer tellp amt
wantin yer ter cry, Clariss; wat kin do ter
make yer fOrgit all this hyar tantrum o. mine?
j jess despise mysel fer them iawin words an
III be dad-burned ef yer shill har emmy more
on 'em."
Dick could not be eloquent, but he meant all
he said, and Gariss knew il. So her sympa-
thetic heart and loving nature went out TO him
In urrH L. al..Nl I.
Yet, notwithstanding his sincerity, he lacked
the moral courage 10 tell his wife that it was
remorse for his unwarranted murder Of that
womans husband which so disturbed him,
coupled with the fact that she had been
BOUNDING HIS TRAIL
ever since. lie knew perfectly well what her
visits 10 the cabin fOrbOded, but afraid to dis
close il TO Clariss, had cOwardly vented his rage
on the unsuspecting girl. All that night he
tumbled and tossed on bis bed, for he felt that
It would not now be prudent for him TO remain
at home while that squaw lived. His soul re-.
volted at the idea Of shooting her aud thus rid
himself Of her presence at once; he thought
that il he could go of again she might wear
herself out following him. and then her blood
would not he on his head. But what excuse
could he make to Clariss after his earnest pro-
testations that he would not leave her again ?
SO sorely puzzled was he over the question that
he could not sleep.
When after breakfast next morning she saw
him busy himself with his horses aud pack
animals, she wOnderingly inquired why he
was making such elaborate preparations, and
where be was going.
Dick answered his wife evasvely, though he
was gentle as ever. He told her that be had
met some parties while at Rayado who wanted
him 10 join them on a buffalo hunt down on
the Plains, but that at FIRST he had refused. and
given up the idea until he had slept over IT,,
and had concluded 20 90, thinking there might
be some big money in IL for him. He had Just
time TO oyertake the outfit at Hole -in-the-
Rock II he started at once and he must light
out right away! He was soon ready 10 leave,
and Carlss bade him an RdectiOnate aud un-
usually dem0nstrative farewell: but her heart
was Sore for the seeds Of doubt in bis sincerity
had implanted themselves in her heretofore
too con6ding nature
lt was just fairly day-they had risen very
early-when Dick mounted Kaintuck, whistled
90 the deer-houndg, aud was of as the sun
guided the upper edge Of the canyons walls
Clariss stood outside the gorge IA WAS her wont
on such occasions but she could not help think
ing Of his strange conduct, for which she
yalnly essayed 10 divine a cause. and when She
saw him mere speck on the crest OF the giddy
mesa in the fun sheen Of the morning light
aud he soon passed out Of sight-shs retreated
10 her lonely room, soul-sick and despondeut.
".
Dick, either purp0sely or forgetting 10 do SO.
did not tell his wife how long he proposed 10
remain away, and now nearly three weeks. un-
eventinl thus far, had passed and still no sign
or word came 20 the suffering girl. Late ono
night, hOweFer.-it was that Of the third Sun
day alter Dicks abrupt tdeparture,-Clariss had
long since retired and was slepping peacefully,
when she was suddenly awakened by fearful
howl in concert from Buck aud 1'ige, who had
madly rushed 20 dhe door which they were
nov scratching aud gnaWing vigorously In
their frantic efforts 10 get out They had evil
donly tried the window first but Dick had
barred that before he left by mailing some
rough-hewn oak Stats across the lower half OF
the frame, la order 10 prevent repetition OF
1 Their last disastrous cscapade, 30 they were
driven 20 the only legitimate exit Ia their de-
I spair and rage.
Ciariss ordered the dogs 10 be quiet. which
mandate they whiningiy obeyed. while she got
0ut OF bed and going 20 a lOop-hole IN the wall,
looked through toward the timber aud list
enod. IL was intensely dark: there was no
moon, SO She could discern nothing, but hold
ing her ear TO the opening. heard, or fanciod
she heard, light iOOtstep that was rapidly re-
coding She patiently stood there for some mo-
mcnts, her heart beating violently,
WAITING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS;
but The dogs now dropping their great carr
and retiring Of their Own accord 10 the nile @,
fun In the corner, began 20 curl themselves q
alter the manner Of their normal habit when
going 10 sleep, she knew that whatever had
caused their nprOar nad vanished so she too