The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-28
The Coming
OF
Molly PeeVy,
By WILL N. HARDEN.
Copyright lsV6 by Bacheller, johnson and Bachelor

IL tWt SlutS IL, Ht Siii,
desperately. You say it will be sin
against a dead woman. What about it
being u sin against living man: You
can save me from the dogs Ii YOU want
TO. If you don't marry me, the Lord
only knows what will happen. I've just
got so much mortal strength and no
more. ! can stand out against tempta-
ton when life is worth living, but that's
all. | am as weak as u rag tonight
She covered her face with her hands.
Her breast rose convulsively. A low sob
escaped her and then a little moan
She got up suddenly, and without a
word shambled into the candle-lit room
behind him. She eytinguished the can
die. Her footsteps ceased and the
room became so still that he could hear
the clock on the mantel ticking. He
leaned against the wall. hardly daring
to draw his breath.
Something told him she was on her
knees beside her bed. and he folded his
arms and bowed his head. He tried to
resolve to be a better and stronger
man: but he could think of nothing ex-
cept her bowed figure and her sobs.
Ten minutes passed, then he heard her
coming. She advanced to him from the
darkness and laid her hand on his arm.
Her hair. which had always added such
a charm to her face. had become un-
fastened. and made her look 81 much
younger. She held handkerchief
balled in her hand
Go away. Joel. and let this be your
last visit. after tomorrow at dinner
she said. 81 have decided. 1t has been
like dying hundred deaths. but can't
be the cause of your breaking that
promise. | admire you for making it
to her, weak and sickly as she was, but
| couldn't no longer if you broke it. a
promise is promise under Heaven:
there amt no ifs and ands about 1t: it
is just so. If you'll let me, I'll take the
children and bring them up, I'll never
marry. and they would he a comfort. \
man by hisself can't do justice tn chill
dren."
He turned away.
Keep EN-" he said. huskily. AS
soon as my crop is in, I'll sell out and go
west. | don't think we ought to be so
nigh each other"
He passed through the gate and en-
tered his house. She stood motionless
on the porch. She heard his heavy
boots ringing hollowly on the bare
floor. and watched the light i'm his VIM
dow till it went out. Then she Went to
bed
The next day about noon the hack
brought Mrs. Molly Peevy and her little
hair-trunk and car9et-bag to his door.
Joel and his children were standing
70 nd lat Nor
Ann and her sister came out and shook
hands with the visitor and invited them
all i'm to dinner.
A tempting meal was spread in the
kitchen of the two sisters. and Mrs.
reevy could not hide her satisfaction
at the sight Of it,
I'm as hungry as bear" she said as
she took her seat at the :able. IL
hain't tasted bite since before day,
except a piece of cold liver and some
buttered bread, and nothing makes me
as hungry as jolting vehicle
All were seated and had turned up
| their plates. when Matt Digby appeared
a! the door
May ! come in?" she asked with a
smile. II just couldn't wait to come
I L
do. Mrs. Peevy? I'm glad to see you
looking so hearty"
Mrs. Peevy extended her fat hand and
smiled and nodded, but did not rise.
She was trying to remember where she
had met Matt and If she was a relative
of Mary Ann or Mrs. BatsOn.
| Matt sidled along the wall and sat
! down on u closed chest in the chimney