Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-12-06
THE FLOOD.

was notable thing. The man had beer
found dead at his evening meal; the CIR
hal died on the same day. and they wer
buried side by side. This caused much
scandal, for the man was holy. and ths
girl. ~ many women said. was probably
evil altogether. AZ the graves, wher
the minister's people saw what was he
ing done, they piously protested. but
the Factor answered them gravely that
the matter should 20 on since non'
knew but the woman was as worthy o.
heaven ~ the man. Vending chanced
10 stand beside pretty Pierre,
who knowsi' he said aloud, looking
hari at the graves. ''who knows! shs
died before him. but the dead can
strike"
Pierre did not answer Immediately
for the Factor was calling the earth
down on both collins, but after q mo
ment he added. "Yes, the dead can
strike" And then the eyes % the twc
men caught aud staid. and they knew
that they had things TO say 10 each Other
Ia the world.
They t.cams friends. And that per
haps was not greatly 10 wendling''
credit, for In the eyes Of many Psrrs
was an ou,cast a. an outlaw. Maybs
some ~ the women disliked this friend
ship most, since wendling was . hand
some man. and Pierre was never known
to SEEK them, gooi or bal. and they
blamed him Tor the others coldness, for
hi. unconcerned yet respectful eye.
There's Nelly Nolan would dance
after him 10 the worlds end, said Shot
McGann o. Pierre one day. "and ths
WILDLY jerome herself. wild her famin
cheeks and the Wild fun In her eye,
croons like q babe at the breast as be
slides on, hi. cash ON the bar. aud over
on Gansonby's fai there's
There. many fool" sharply inter
icctel Pierre as he pushed the needle
ihrvugh button he was sewing on.
"i,edai. there's . pair % fools herr
anyway. say !. for the women nigh,
die without lift at waist or brush Of lip
and neither of yed lay. Heres To the
Joy u us. goddess. me ownr"
Pierre seemed 10 H. in,ently watching
the ne.dle point as u pierced mp the
button eye. and his reply was given with
q slowncss corresponding 10 the seda's
passage u the needle. "wendling. you
think. cares nothing for womeni Well,
men who ar. like that cared once Cor
one woman. and when that was over
hut. pshaw, ! will not talk. You
ar. no thinker. Shon McGsnn. You
blunder through the world. And you'll
trenlble A. much 20 wOman's thumb
In hfiy years as now"
"By the holy smoke" said shon,
Though tremble a, that. maybe I'll no,
tr.mble ~ Vending nj nothing At all. '
Here Pierre looked up sharply, then
dropped his eyes on his work again.
shon laI-ci suddenly into q mco.iin-ss.
Yes" said Pierre. "as wendling a,
nothing at alli Wslly'
"wsll. this. Pierre. for you that's .
thinker. from me that's none. ! was
walkin with him In the Red glen yester-
day. Suddenly he took 90 shiyerin and
.natched me by the arm. and q mad
look shot out of his handsome face.
'Hu.hr says he. Listened. There was
q sound like the hard rattle of creek
over stones. and then another sound b.'
hind that. Come. quick, says he. the
sweat standin thick on him, and he ran
me up the bank-for II was at the begin
min u the glen. where the sides were low
and there we stood pantin an stsrin
nat at each other.
What's that. and what's got Its
hani on We. for y'are cold as death an
pinchei In the face. an you've bruised
my arlny said I. And he looked around
him slow and breathei hard. then drew
hi. fingers through the sweat on his
cheek. I'm not well. aud ! thought
heard-you heard II; what was 1t liheY
said he. and he pcered close at me.
Like water said I; a little creek near,
and food comm far on Yes, Just
that said he: its some trick of wind
In the glen. but II makes n man foolish,
and an inch Of brandy would be the
right thing didn't say no to that.
And ON we came. and brandy we had
with wish In the eye Of Nelly Nolan
that'd warm the heart of tomb. And
there's cud for your chewin. Pierre
During this Pierre had finished with
the button. lie had drawn ON his coat
and lifted his hat, and now lounged
trying the point Of the needle with his
iorefinger. When Shon ended he said
with a sidelong glance. "But what did
You think Of all that, Shony'
Think! There II wasi What's the
use Of ihinkin, There's many trick In
the world with wind or with spirit, a'
I've seen often enough In ould Ireland,
aud it's not To be guessed by me-" Here
his voice got q little lower and trifis
solemn. "for. Pierre" spoke he. "there''
what's more than life or death, and sorrs
wan can tell what II Is. bu, well know
some day when
when we've taken the leap at the
almighty ditch" said Pierre, with q
grave kind of lightness. YES, 1t Is oil
strange. But even the almighty ditch
IL worth the doing-nearly everything
IL worth the doing; being young. grow
ing old. fighting. !oying-when youth
Is on-hating. eating. drinking. working
playing big games-all are worth II ex'
cept two thingv."
"Aad what are they. bedadr
"Thy neighbor's wife. Murder. Thoe'
are horrible. They are sure to double
on q man one time or another. always
Here. ~ In curiosity. Pierre pierce,
his finger with the needle and watches
the blood form In little globule. Look
ing at Il meditatively and sardonically
he said. There IL only one end TO these
Blood for blood IL . great matter. and
used 10 wonder II Il would not be terri
ble for man to zee his death advancing
ON him drop by drop. like that" and b
let the spot Of blood fall to the noor
"But now know that there IL punish
meut worse than that. Mon Dieu! wors
than that" he added.
Into Shon's face . strange look hs'
suddenly come. ayes. there's somethin,
wore than that. Pierre"
80, bieny
Shou made the sacred gesture Of hi
creed. ITO bs punished by the dead
And not zee them-only hear them.
And his eyes stesdied firmly to tn
Others.
Pierre was about 20 reply. bat thcr
came the sound Of footsteps through th
open door and presently wsndling er
tered slowly. He was pale and won
| IA his svss Ionked mt Nth n searchin