New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-26
THE TWO SALOMES.
XVIII.
.IyD NOW THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN
Us"


Gerry lie had helped her to her feet and now
l,1 her hand drawn through his ann.
II should think we did remember you, " he said
o, last. "Wc would not 20 any farther than the
scrub. We waited for you there. Salomc was
continually saying WE ought not to have left
yor. Finally she declared must come back
and find you-and here ! am"
"Bnt where is tic chi!d?" Mrs Gerry was
aron icproying herself that she should be so
woakly grateful for this attention. She found it
difficult TO refrain from tears She held herself
stiN that she might not lean on Moorc'S arm az
she listened TO the young mans reply
I'VE met Miss Nunally by tie old market She
wanted to say something to Salomc. Just then
we saw you. and / came right on. Shall we
cit down here while Mrs. Gerry"
Though she appeared so well able to stand,
Moore had sense that the woman on lis arm
was ready to drop.
"Oh, no. ] have been sitting hero and rest
ins," was the reply. 1--WE will GO
She faced about with her prim. concise move
ment. her hand still within Moorcs arm.
He turned also. Then with an narticuate
exclamation he bent over her. literally lifting her
in his arms Size had strength to say:
IL can walk we'll enough before she lost
mower TO say anything.
Of the battery supporting his burden. he saw
Salome hurryng toward him. 1t was she who
insisted that her mother should be taken TO the
cabin. She said she knew her mother would be
moro coutcnted there than in any hotel or olg-
ipg-house in tie city.
So the three were driven out in carriage
lob Maine, ut sight of that carriage with its
two horses. began to consider whether he could
not charge something in the way of toll for
its passage over his land. II took great deal
of tobacco to enable him to carry on this process
Of thought and il was also such a work OF
time that the carriage had gone back to the
city, its driver taking a message to a physi.
cian before Mr.. Maine had come to any con
clusiOn.
Mrs Gerry had recovered consciousness almost
Immediately. She had protested against having
a carriage She said she could walk perfectly
well II was ridiculous extravaganza in Moore
and she herself could not afford it.
Moore laughed in that infectious way of his
He said he a rising young business man. and
that Mrs. Gerry had no idea of the amount OF
money he made.
But Salome did not laugh. She sat by her
mother with her arm about her. watching heI
face with diated. anxious eyes. Ii did occur
to the girl that she ought not to let her anxiety
display itself with such emphasis, and she tried
to conceal il, without the least success.
She was continually glancing at Moore and say
ing in an eager. explanatory way:
You know she is very tired. 1t is only be
cause she is so very tired
And Moore would answer that he knew that
very well. When she had rested a day or two
things would be all right again
Then Salome would ask pteously:
"You are sure of that? You sure of that ?
And Moore would declare that he was as
sure as of his own existence.
Mrs Gerry was really obliged to lean back
on the cushioned seat. And she could only try
to smile in reinsurance at her daughter.
She laid herself down on the bed in the
cabin She said she would lie for an hour OF
two and rest.
Mrs Job Maine who had not walked a quarter
of mile for years, and who had often an
nounccd that she had never been used TO walk
ing when she resided with that first family OF
Alabama of which she was an adjoining member
this lady was now so moved by curiosity tha'
she traversed on foot the distance between hel
hut and the hut occupied by the Gcrrys.
She arrived in painting state and sank down
Immediately in a chair by the door. She had not
known why these two women had been away foi
time and she did not know why they had
come back Her husband had wondered if h'
could not charge more for the cabin if his ten
ants allowed il 10 be empty. He said house
akiuder run down when it was left empty
Mrs Maine sat in her chair while these thought:
went DULY through her mind. and While sh'
watched the three people before her
Moore had made fire in the fireplace undo
the impression that fire must be necessary
He was still crouching there and coaXins the SLOW
blaze with bits Of fat pine.
Salome had found the bottle Of whiskey which
for
brought some, weakened with water, and was nov
sitting on the side Of the bed watching he
mother as she slipped the liquid.
Mrs Maine shifted audbly The odor o
whiskev had power 10 bring faint hint OF al
expression TO her fiat, straw-colorcd Face
She shuffied her bare feet on the floor.
Il thought I'd curm over N inquire how yo
was she said. though it's my day fur thu
shakes n I'm jist draipcd er whiskey. he
Job thought las nigh: &c was gwinc ter have
thur shakes N her swallcr"d thur whisAey
every burned drsp lie swallcred.'
The woman sighed so heavily and so osten'a
tously that Mrs. Gerry sad In whisper 70 he
daughter:
Give her cup Of whiskey'
The girl obcyed But she did not try TO conceal III
d;sar., clio woman o citd in her She turned awal
her head that she might not see the stun swai
lo,ve1 Rut she heard it as it went rapidly dowi
the womans throat.
Mrs. Maine did not find it convenient to leave
Having come and having seated herse1 shc 'ci
that she was rather more comiorfaoie o'an I,
she were AZ home She drew ont snuu SUCK
which. being half chcwed, wos now IN al i"e%
state for chewing She moistencd IL In her mou'i
and then skfully inserted 1t III niue pup
bag Of snuff, which never was aIo"eo ~ ~.
her person With grunt OF Satisfaction" '"' NV
pus the prepared stick back IN hcf mouth .,
Il mounts we'll he right hyar' IL Sou s,'Ou'
ased 'omans help" she sdlo slahci - az IT.
Moor. now stood up in trent of the fire IL
va STARING ~ Mrs Maine There was iaug
l.nx