The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-19
CHAPTER lila STAB IN THE DARK.

lila STAB THE DARK.
Rachel Wade was no coward. She was
not. indeed. above natural qualm or two
when q danger. suspected yet vague. how
cred near her; but once face to face with it,
she felt a fierce spirit of defiance arise
within her. which destroyed all sense of
peril.
When. therefore. she saw the murderous
passion in Coultas Storms face. heard the
Kissing breath between his teeth. and felt
his savage hand upon her, IL was anger. not
fear, resistance. not weakness. which made
her spring back q step with suddenness
which made him stagger forward. Bat she
did not attempt to run away. Folding her
arms and holding her head high, she
laughed at him defantly.
Come on,coward. and strangle me, If you
dare" she cried. mockingIy.
And. planting her feet firmly in the
ground. she offered him striking q pic
ture of stalwart defiance as o man could
hope to see.
Coultas uttered q groan. and skunk up to
her In shame-faced manner.
You've no call to say that" he said in a
hoarse voice. Its no coward thatll dare
10 tackle you, Rachel, lass though We be-
I'd as soon face tigress as ye when your
blood's up. an if wasn't mad tonight /
wouldn't do it now"
You've been drinking. s'pose,D said the
girl. shortly.
mo. haven't: nothing to speak of. I
were mad enough wTout that. If I'd been
drunk, besides. you'd ha' been q dead
woman afore now, Rachel. LOOK there"
And he suddenly drew from his pocket
and held close under her eyes an open
clasp-knife, long. aud strong, and glitter
ing.
For moment Rachel flinched as this
weapon was fiouIished in her face. Coultas
laughed with hideous satisfaction on see-
ing that 1t had some effect upon her.
Its brand new" said he. Il bought it
tonight down by g docks. and it's sharp:
I've been sharpening it pretty nigh ever
sInce."
Rachel. whose discontinue had only
been momentary, looked curiously at the
knife.
"Eh. but it's pretty thing she re-
marked. An now, the best thing We can
do WI IL is TO draw it across your own
throat COultas Storm"
The young mans hand. trembled as he
withdrew the knife from under her eyes,
and passed the fingers of his left hand low
iDgly along the blade.
"D'ye mean that. Rachelin he asked in a
low voice. Happen ye're right. nyhow."
He turned Irresolutely on his heel. and
Rachel, In q tone q little less hard adj
dressed him again.
Where are We going now. CouItasf If
It's back to the town. We can Just leave that
knife WI me. and Pill take care as 1t does
no mischief atween now and tomorrow
morning"
This speech aroused all Coultas Storms
passion sfresh.
Its cause ye're expecting that ginger
he
along here TO bid ye goodbye, and ye're
1earin' I'll give him his deserts" he said
angrily.
It's cause wish to save you from do
ing wicked act. an bringing harm and
shame to yourself. Coultas." said she.
earnestly, Jack Mennel can take care Of
himself, reckon"
Take care of hisselfi Ay, and good
u you was TO marry him. But We woan't,
Rachel. Ye wOan't go for to marry a man
rs snug and stuck oop as John Mennel.
while there's summon about as would give
his hearts blood for ye?"
..Or take NINE" added the girl, drily
COON. lass. COON; ye know well enough
as could never have harmed We. as no
hand of mine could ever have touched you
In mischief. love thee lass I love thee
with all my body and oil my soul. Doesn't
thou know what that means. Rschel7
Doesn't thou care to know itW
1t doant seem to me the sort o. thing
any glrl would care 20 know, that man
should show his love for a lass by threaten
ing TO cut her throat" remarked Rachel,
c0mposedly.
"Doan't Tel. thee was mad. Rachaelsn
said Coultas. plesdingly, "Doant be SO
hard. lass. doan't be so hard. Pm a deal
more Ike for TO do harm TO myself noe to
you: nor to Jack Mennel either. Won't
that comfort We now?"
"Of course not" answered Rachel stamp
Ing her foot impatiently. II doan't want
no harm to come TO anybody. An We may
say what ye like. Couitas. but ITS you as
have treated me bad. and not me you. For
lnever wanted ye to come following me
about an | never tried to keep ye AM
down at the bottom of your heart you
know it-now doant youP"
Aye" assented the young man gloomily
Its 81 as you say. But if We know how it
feels Tor TO see another mon take for
granted loike what you've been begging
Tor ioike dog. ye'd be kindo' softer In yer
ALI the fire seemed TO have gone out OF
him. He stood there before her, miserable
and ashamed. kicking ND little clouds of
sand and not daring to look her in the
face. Rachel began TO move impatiently
Well" she said. II must be getting
back home. And thank We for bringing
me out on fools errandD
she turned and he did not try to detain
her. CHANGING at him over her shoulder.
she saw this and relented a little.
she.
Coultas answered like q lamb.
Maybe ye'd rather be wPout my good
wishes. he murmured meekly.
oh. 1 can do WI EN-" cried the girl
lightly. Good night. Coultas.r
And she held out her hand. Coultas
seemed hardly able TO believe his eyes He
sprang upon the Outstretched hand hungrl-
~, pressed II. clung to it, until, with q
laugh, she dragged il away.
Good night. good night Rachel. Ye're
brave lass. and n grand lass. and yere
worth breaking mons heart about, any.
how"
.'And-and We woan't go for to do any
mischief to-any bodyp insinuated Rachel.
Coultas gave an I'm patient movement but
be shook his head.
No." he said, shortly. "Pll not toueh
your precious Jack" He looked lonrinrlv
at her and 1Odded. Honor briUhtW he
added simply.
And. thrusting his hands deem down into
bis pockets. he strobe away in the direction
of the town.
Rachel stood for q few moment ia vatch,ng
him as his figure faded into the dusk as -
hesitating whether she should not call him
back again. AT last she moved away in
her turn, but very slowly and in deem
tbougnt. NO woman Ia annoyed by the
violence Of o mans passion for herself. and
Rachel had inevitably begun TO compare
Door Coultas Storms domonstrative deyo-
ton with the calm airs of condescendipg
proprletorshIp of his successful rival. She
ieil 10 considering In what manner Jack
would have taken rejection at her hands
anu could not avoid coming TO the con-
clusion that he would have snffered verv