The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-05-11

father was out of the house-when l
heard voices IN the other room across
the passage. It was Matty and my
sister talking together.
Maity was the dwarf. He had a
long Welsh name, but we called him
"Matty" In the general way, because
of his rough hair, and didn't seem to
mind the joke.
1 knew his voice we'll enough. 1t
was not exactly unpleasant, though
deep, with sometimes sort of crack
in 1t, but anything like It sounded just
then ! never heard before.
1t made me sit up and put my pipe
down pretty sudden.
al love you!" he says to lIetty.
"Pvc loved you ever since I've seen
you; won't you marry me? I'd be a
good husband to you"
Sbe went into light kind of scorn-
full laugh.
"Marry you?' she says. "Why.
Matty, you must be dreaming? OF
course WON'T
And then | guessed she gave her
head toss, with way she had.
l got up and went step nearer the
door, for didn't know how he might
take it, them dwarfs being uncertain
creatures.
lie was silent minute, then he
says:
'Tm stunted and crooked, l know,
but / love you better than any other
man will ever love you, and I've a
comfortable home to offer you"
elf you had twenty homes /
wouldn't have you," she answers
quick. $50 do say no more about it."
/ think he moved around the room
after that. for his voice sounded near
to me. He spoke short and savage
like: "Jim Marwood's the man that
stands between you and me. Do you
think I've been blind? Do you think
/ can't see that? Jim Marwood has
got your heart; and do you think you
will ever marry him while I'm alive?"
l got n shiver down the back, and
felt round for my stick, for his tone
was awful, and didn't know what
he might do next
Hetty never was the girl to be cowed,
and she flashed round on him the next
moment like gunpowder.
"It is Jim Marwood that has got my
heart, and l have his, and I'm not
ashamed TO say it before you or any
man. ] know you've got your cottage
and your garden that You arc so NOR
tai proud of, aud we shall have to wait
for years; but you needn't think you'll
frighten me out of marrying him, for
you won't; and if l don't marry him,
III never marry such a miserable,
wicked, ugly wretch as you! So don't
flatter yourself would"
And she gave kind of sob. and
burst out at the door, and rushed upon
our little flight Of stairs, and l heard
the door bang and the key turn in her
lock sharp and passionate.
l waited, still as death, wondering
how he would take on, and hearing no
stir kind of squinted round the door
post into the passage.
There lie stood in the dusk facing
towards the open entry door and the
starry sky. A desperate, hideous,
cvil-looking thing, with his monstrous
head and shaggy hair and his little
twisted legs. There was that dull,
tranced look in his eyes, and he was
staring before him like I had often
seon him do in the mine.
"She shall never marry Marwood
while Pm alive. God made me same
as him." l heard him mutter to him
self, and then he went out.
saw him no more that night, and
I didn't let on to Hetty that had over
heard them. The next day we were
all underground as usual. Somehow
or other Matty and Marwood and ]
found ourselves always pretty close
together. He seemed 10 me to be
hanging on to jim in way l didn'I
like. hearing what had heard, and
kept as close to both as well could,
keeping my tools ready to hand, and
watching the dwarf out Of the corner
of my eye.
Jim never looked taller, nor hand
somer, nor straighter than he looked
that day. Happy he was as lark,
whistling over his work and laughing
| l;.x1 koo tal Ia