Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-16
HER ONE ERROR.
OR
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
OR
CHAPTER Xxx.
OUTSIDE THE HEARsE.

Chob, with q low whistle; 'Well, that's
q long road, and, though it's all in the
way as far as / be going, tbs but
small part Of it, I'm thinking How
ever, if can give you lift-and Pm
sure the airs better out than inside of
this old machine-why, you're well
come, mistress; though you frightened
my mates we'll nighso out of their wits,
a bit since"
ooh, bless you and thank you, =
cried the woman, eagerly answer
ing him; ''you don't know from what
You have saved me and my poor child.
would never have dared to get in
there l vas wrong but was almost
mad with terror"
,s:WelI. well, I'm always sorry to see
q female in 81 scrape," said Chob
kindly, adding, soto voce, Though
it's little comfort Iyeh had Of EN- good
ness knows"
Now, then, let me help you, he said,
and mOtioned that she should ascend
to the box beside him.
But the woman drew back, nervous
ly 1--WE shall be seen UP there, Z she
said.
NAY, nay, I don't know who thee's
afeard on of a certainty" said Lax
ity, but Iftell thee we got the start
many a mile of any OF the Trouble
House folk, and we'll be at the end of
our Journey afore they could be hall
way. letting alone that there bean't q
horse in their stables as would go
without cart at his heels. Thee'd
stihe IN there, mistress; and see, ye
can put this ere about theeself and
thelittle one
And now we're off" said the good
natured man, as he gathered up his
reins you are going to London eh?" he
said, aloud; got any relations-frlends
there?;'
herepIied in the negative.
Its q sorry lookout for you, and
with-that little one upon your hands;
God knows it S a hard lot you've set
yourself. my lass, and you can't know
nor tell half the pains and crosses of
IT, A woman gets on but poorly,
alone anywhere; and it do not seem
natural wife should quit a good
home for nought, and cast herself out
upon the world-a hard world it IS,
too, Lean tell you. But you do not
look falselille, and as believe you,
and think q mans no man that treats
awornan i'll though it be small com
fort I've had Of ,em) this in a.
lower voice" why, [ will do all can
toward pntting you on your way.
She blessed and thanked him again,
assuring him how much he had al
ready served her.
could wish thee wouldst turn, and
make justsone more trial; go back
and
Never, never!" cried the woman
with q fierce energy that startled poor
LaXity.
IF You had known him!-ifyou had
but heard 1lin--if you knew what do!
Go back-go back" she repeated,
wildly, "look here'' and she held up
short, bright blade before the astonish-
ed ewes of the driver 'sWhen we lay
in the barn, when she was so weary
her feet could 90 no farther, and [
could not carry her-I heard his voice,
listened to what they said, thought
every moment he would beinupoE us.
And | would have stabbed him or my
self, ah! even her, evenher, sooner than
he should have taken us back-ah!'S
she shuddered and drew herself up
around her child.
God help, you, lass!' he replied,
''thee must ha suffered q deal to talk
like that 1t was a mercy you did
get away, at that rate, and it was
then YOU got into the hearse, was it?"
Yes They'd put logs against the
door; | heard them, and they meant
to come back for us; there were people
in the public-house, and hewas afraid.
When they had gone, got up, tried
to force open hedoOr, but could not.
| felt around the walls for some place
| could get out at There was a thin
place in the wall where it was rotted,
and boards had been nailed up; tore
and pulled them away-look heren'
She uncovered her hands, and showed
them cut and bleeding all over; one
finger. laid open, quite useless.
IIaXity uttered an exclamation OF
distress. and hastily pulled out avery
white handkerchief, rather stiff, and
of special appearance. Wrap it up,
wrap it up" he said, with q choking
tone
s'You pity them, said the woman,
coldly enough again, tbut he would
make it something to laugh at and
mock me for.
Chob clenched his teeth over what
l fear was a very improper sentiment.
~ did not feel it, she went on, Il
was only glad to squeeze myself out
through the hole; but, oh! to get this
poor child out-she never cried, never.
said one word, though I know it hurt
her,
II did not know what to do; | saw
the hearse, then the thought came in
to my head that [ would hide in it,
till he had gone. got in with my
child, and hid among the things. I
listened, and listened-oh, it seemed
so long, while the men were singing
and laughing l heard nothing Of
him; he waited,1 suppose till you
We're gone
''Then that was the fellow that sat
behind the settle in the corner cried
Laxity; there were two Of them, i'll
hammered scamps, grumbled at our
singing, and [ believe gave old Scraws