The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-16

/ Ills hFalfi anu Atfp-S eChtat N'AN1 tNi'
ing in his ears Beauty Paul swung him.
self into his peaked saddle and sent his
horse full speed down the hill to Ffol-
liott's saloon.
Ii was for Rube's sake that the fol-
lowing Sunday Paul dressed himself in
his best, brought a two wheeled cart
gay with bells and bright colors 10 Ma
rvs door and asked her TO drive out
with him.
The day was fair, and Beauty Paul
amused her with stories of Rube, and
when they came to an end he told her
of his own home ia the heart of a green
country i'm England. He made her
laugh with his tales of college life and
shudder with his descriptions Of the
campaign in Egypt which he had gone
through. Only he did not tell her how
he. an English gentleman and gallant
officer. came to be loafing and drink
ing and gambling away his days and
his health in Great White canyon.
Paul Harding-degraded a. he was
and lacking in reverence for women
nj least had too much respect for the
little postmistress TO tell her that black
page in his life.
The day was an entire Success, but II
left bitter after taste in Mary's mouth
when she heard the next morning that
Paul had spent the night at FfoIliott's
drinking and brawling till dawn.
The next Sunday Mary shut herself
within her log cabin, and neither the
blue sky nor the gay cart and smartly
caparisoned horse nor Beauty Paul
himself could wheedle her out She
would not be seen, she said sternly,
with one of Ffolliott's lot. She, how
ever. relented and forgave him on his
promise TO amend for her sake.
As weeks and months went by and
the green of the canyon changed to
red and gold Paul found that if he was
to look after Mary he had TO give up
the saloon.
And indeed for a space Ffolliott's
knew him not till one October MORN
ing his allowance-the money which
bought his family freedom from MS
disgracefal presence = arrived from
England. For the next week Ffolii-
otis was pandemonium, with the
Beauty as presiding demon.
Mary heard OF it and refused to
speak to or look az him. Then il was
that he flung himself before her one
dav and prayed her To save him from
that, from which he was powerless to
save himself-from drink and dice and
bad companions. And she did what
other good women have done before
her and will do again. she placed
her hand in his, and with her heart
full of RGbe Halse she promised To
marry Paul-for his souls sake.
All through that long, bitter winter
she held TO her promise. At Christ
mas he broke from her control, and she
did not speak to him for days, but she
ended 10y forgiving. When he was
with Mary he vowed to reform, never
to set foot i'm Ffolliott's again, never 10
taste whiskey nor look again at Il card
But once beyond the sound Of her low
voice. the touch OF her small hand,
and his resolutions melted like the win
ter SHOWS
The eve of her marriage day arrived
and with it Paui's allowance from Eng
land. The occasion and the Oppor;u-
nifty suggested a carouse and Paul in
formed the boys he would be standing
treat at FfolIiott's that night for the
last time. The bar was soon crowded,
for the Beauty was just the song sing
ing, story telling, wniskey drinking
scamp who would be popular among
the wild crew, especially a. he stood
treat - long a. the bartender would
stand him.
Paul was full of liquor. He had
drank Mary's health with every one Of
the boys in the place, and he was also
/ full Of luck for once In a way. y pile
of gold lay 6eiore him on the table,
and he WAS just proposing another
round in Mary's honor when big Bill
Re1fern strobe in and was greeted with
shout of "Hello, Bill. Gou back?
What luck, pard.
Luck, my lads? | leave luck to fools
and deadbcats. I've been working,
ana thank God Ive worked for some
thing. I've put my sweat aud muscle
into the ground, and I've struck ore.
None of your dust or packets, but a
vein a broad rs an ox's back and as
long as a river, and 50 I've cJms back
with Rube-"
Paul looked up with start. His
eyes flashed, and he seemed to grow
sober in minute as the situation pre-
sented itself. Here was he drank in =
gambling hell on the eve Of his mar
riage with Mary, and Rube had come
back.
'What did you say?'' he muttered.
Il said Ruhe and had come back.
But don't let me detain the game, gem
tlcmen."
''The game is upr' cried Paul, with
an oath, a. he struck the table and
made the money jingle.
Had bad luck, eh:" said Bin. ''Sor-
ry for you"
Keep your sorrow 10 yourself and
your partner, Rube Halse."
''Corae. come" said Bill good hu-
NOR DIS, ,have drink. I'm stand
ing treat, and, as TO Rube, here's hi-
health and Mary's."
"I'm standing treatr' shouted PaIl,
springing up. "Have drink with
mer' And with this ne flung his liquor
in Bills face and made rush at
him.
a pistol flashed, pale blue puff Of
smoke died in the hot air, and Beauty
Paul lay stone dead on Ffolliott's
floor.
Some of them went up to the poStoi-
flee TO break the news TO Mary. There
was light in the window, and by il
they saw Rube and she sitting talking.
Quietly and with bowed heads they
left the cottage and returned
% Ffolliott's without fulfilling their