The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-05-18

In snow and drinking with Sam
Sloan that difference was not in favor
of the latter. just shade of sorrow
was mingled with the anger in hel
voice as she added: "It seems, David,
as though no savin' grace could keep
you out of the broad road that leads tc
ruin"
Eyes, was always a powerful han
at blackslidin'. Seems as though
couldn't l4lp it, some way. Guess I've
blackslid more'n a hundred times. But,
Polly, you've managed to git along
with me some way for good many
years thout really gittin' tired of me
till now. Mind, l don't say but that
you're right about it. l amt no call tc
find fault with what you say. You al
ways could see your way clearer'n
most people. 1 don't want to be no
burden to you, nor stay where
amt wanted, When 1 git my boots
creased I'll put my clothes in the car
pithag, an git my other hat from up
stairs, an then start for Carbonvillc.
Jest as like as not l can git something
to do in them mines'
Polly looked frigh tened at this, and
paused in her work of drying the coffee.
pot, and opened her lips as if about to
speak; then, seeming to change her
mind, she set the coffeepot on the pan
try shelf without word.
The boots were put on, with some
difficulty-owing to the lame back
and the carpetbag was soon ready
David's wardrobe was not an extensive
fho,, l,a
he come back with 'tthe other hat
Polly saw, as she took sidelong glance
that during his absence from the
room he had placed something
heavy in the breastpocket of his
coat, and carefully pinned up the
pocket. They had never owned pis.
tol. had never h ad any use for pis,
tol; but could Sa m have loaned David
one? 1t was hardly possible, and yet
what else could it be? Sam could Ger.
tainly be expected to do anything he
ought not to do Before taking up the
carpetbag he asked Polly if she
thought she could milk the COW. The
flies bothered SO they made the COW
"res'less like" he said. 'An' Polly,
don't forgit to cover up the tomatoes
tonight, for onless it should come on
to be cloudy there'll be frost as sure
as preachin'."
Then he crossed the kitchen to the
mantelpiece, pretending to look for his
pipe, Which he knew was in his pocket,
and on the way back hung up the boot,
jack and put away the can of grease.
Seeing then no further excuse for lin.
gering, he took up the carpetbag and
went out. He stood for a moment tc
gaze far away, hesitating and shrink
ing from something new and strange
which he seemed to see in all the world
beyond the doors zone, AS he closed
the gate lie turned and looked back to
say: "Goodby."
Polly hung up the dishpan, and then
looked after him in utter amazement
She was in earnest, or thought she
was, when she said she was tired OF
him; but she had never thought he real
ly would, or that she wanted him to GO.
During all the years they had lived to
gether his careless easy ways had
fretted her, but never had she felt quite
SO discouraged. .The "carousin' OF
the day before had been too much for
her naturally hopeful and happy dispo.
sition. David's intentions were good,
always good. He was not a drunkard,
not even what would be called "a drink.
ing man." but the days were always
too short for him, and Sam Sloan's free
and easy ways and persuasive tongue
had always had, and perhaps always
would have, an irresistible fascination
for him.
Still angry, and perhaps a little con-
science stricken, Polly hurriedly put
the little kitchen in order; then taking
her sunbonnet and shawl from their
nail behind the door, she prepared to
go out TO her days work. After lock-
ing the door, the key, from sheer force
of habit, was put in the usual hiding
place under the doorstone More mis-.
cradle than she had ever been before,
and half blinded by tears, she walked
to the village.
She did her work as well as usual,
but in an almost mechanical way; her
thoughts all day either with that lone
ly traveller on the road to Carbonville
or in the little, still house she had left
in the morning.
1t was after five o'clock when she set
out on her way home. The sunshine
and bright sky of the morning had
given place to dark clouds and rap
idly shortening twilight. A cold, driz.
cling rain was falling Polly had al.
ways indulged in fancies about the rain,
but would hardly have acknowledged
1t in those words. The rain inspired
the hymns she sang When it fell in
great wind-swept sheets she had been
wont to see, in imagination, great
army of soldiers marching to BATTLE
with waving banners, martial music,
and all the pomp and circumstance Of
war. Then her voice rangout-as well
as that thin, piping treble could ring
with Hold the Fort" or, "Onward
Christian Soldiers And. busy
about her household duties, she
marched triumphantly between cook
stove and pantry, with step that was
SO like, yet so unlike, a military step,
that it was but just saved, by her al.
most pathetic sincerity, from being
ridiculous. When the thunder of bat.
tie was over and she heard in the winds
and sobbing rain only the sighs and
plant of the wounded and vanquished,
she sang, in a quavering, sympathetic
| voice:
"Come ye disconsolate, where'erye languish."
When soft summer rain fell wit h the
soothing, dreamy sound of a lullaby
she sang, in voice more even now:
MY peace like river grows deeper and
deeper"
| Tonight, true to the old habit. as she