The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-16
WON AT LAST.

worked.
But timo goes by for young and old. II
seemed but little while till Nellie became
almost a woman. and 10 was no longer
proper for her to 90 to Joes forge; but,
to be sure, he could go to her.
And now, not to linger by the way, Joe
lad learned to love her with the love Of
manhood, and she returned his love. They
would have been very happy but for Nel-
lie's father; the old man would have hor
look higher than blacksmith. So when
Richard Ross--young, handsome and rich
came to tho cottage the old man smiled
and encouraged him.
This Richard Ross was not worthy OF
Nellie. For nll his riches, his heart was
merest drcss beside the pure gold of Joe's.
When he passed the shop, the sturdy smith
brought his hammer down like an angry
giant, for, you see, this Richard Ross was
stealing his life away.
Yes, stealing his life away. Joe's ruddy
face grew pale; II the torture continued
long, death would DO the end. You may
Judge from this how much he loved her.
Still he went to soc her. II ne found
Richard Ross there, he left hastily, and,
rushing back to the forge, worked like
mad till midnight.
One evening Nellie's father shut the
door In his face with a"I don't want you
coming here any morer
Joe knew how obcdient the girl was,
and the words struck him like sword.
The next day he received note, SO sad,
from little Nellie. 1t said she loved him
still, but he must not come again. Her
father said so. He commanded her tolis-
ten to Richard Ross; she had never dis
obeyed her father yet; she could not do 30
now. "But will plead and pray, dear
Joe, and you must hope"
But Joe did not hope. He gave her up.
He felt angry with her, too, for her obedi-
eDoe to her fnther.
Time went on, and the blacksmith grew
paler yet He grew morose, too, and un-
like himself, and the village loungers no
longer loved to gather at his forge The
name of Richard Ross maddened him.
Once he caught one by the throat for say
ing Richard and Nellie were to be married
soon.
One day the idiot of the village, "Crazy
Sam" stood Watching Joe. The lad had
something on his weak mind and nodded
and shook his head In glee. Then he drew
from his pocket two silver pieces and gazed
on them with swelling pride. Finally he
asked:
"why don't you cry, Joe Mannf Why
don't you cryf"
The blacksmith glowered on him from
under frowning brow.
I'D ory II was you, Joe," said the
idiot. "I'd cry II Richard Ross stole my
gal"
With sound that was half roar Of
rage and half q groan Of pain Joe sprang
upon him, and In an instant had borne
him to the floor and SGT his knee upon the
idiots breast.
In another moment he might have
killed the boy, but that the idiots help
lessness and terror made him pause and
recalled him to himself. A thought struck
him.
"who told you to say thats" he de-
manded.
"Riohard Ross. He gave me the money
for to say It,"
"The low hound" shrieked Joe. "Heav-
en- have mercy On his soulP"
He released Crazy Sam and went about
his work again quite calmly, but tho PAL
lor of his face was awful to see.
When evening drew on, he picked mp
long, rusty knife blade and fitted 1t into
stout handle. Then he stepped to his
grindstone and sharpened and ground the
rusty blade.
All, but Joe was changedl There were
despair and murder In his noble heart.
The night fell, and he stood knife In
hand silently waiting.
"Richard Ross leaves her home at 10,"
he muttered, 'and goes on the lonely road
through the woods
When It came 9, he could wait no lon
ger, but sped away to his ambush. Behind
two trees, growing close together, which
completely hid him, he crouched and lis
tened.
|. He had an hour to wait The silence
was awful. No bird sung among the trees,
and the leaves hung lifeless, stirred by no
breath of wind.
Joe pressed his hand to his forehead and
found 1t burning hot. He began to be
afraid, he knew not Of what perhaps his
own soul. He felt his murderous purpose
weakening. He rose and walked about
the wood and thought about his wrongs
This gave him new resolve, and he return
ed to his hiding place and crouched again.
But again his terror was renewed, and the
hand which held the knife trembled. The
village clock struck 10 and at every stroke
he shuddered.
He heard footsteps on the road. Nearer,
nearer, came the man for whom he watt
ed. For a moment Joe's mind seemed
gone. Before his eyes he saw q great sen
of blood. From him fell great drops Of
cold sweat. Nearer the footsteps came
His brain cleared, and he could dimly see
tho young mans form few feet from
him. He gazed through the trees TO tho
sky and saw single star looking down
upon him like the eye of God. With a
shrek of fear he flung the knife from him
and fled-from murder.
1t was over and blood was not upon his
soul.
All that night he lay like one dead upon
the floor of his little shop. The morning
sun, forcing its way through the dusty
window. fell upon him there. Miserable
as the man was, IL saw no better sight
than this crushed soul saved from crime.
But some one brighter than the sunlight
entered the door. It was Nellie. She saw
him there upon the floor and her blue eyes
filled with tears. She bent over him and
touched him gently.
"Joc, dear Joel" she called.
He sprang To his feet, gazed on her cold
To- IA k.v A<.I lat sto ,Q<l