Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-01
CHAPTER. vi.

hSIe0ed 10 MS narrative with
panied feeling at my heart, and a shud-
/ dering sensation as of icy cold ran
through my veins. Why, had fancied
that ell who beheld Nina must per-
force, love and admire her. True,
when this old man was accidentally
knocked down by her horses "a cir
constance she had never mentioned
to mel, it was careless of her not to
stop and make inquiries as to the ex-
tent of mis- injuries, but she was young
and thoughtless; she could not be in
tentiOnally heartiess. I was Mortified
to think that she should have made
such an enemy as even this aged and
poverty-stricken wretch; but l said
nothing I had no wish to betray my
self He waited for me to speak and
grew impatient at my silence.
Say now, my friend!" he uueried.
with a sort of chi1dieh eagerness, did
I not take a good vengeance? God
himself could not have done better!"
81 think your wife deserved her
fate" said, CURLY, "but [ cannot say
[ admire you for being her murderer
He turned upon me rapidly, throw
ing both hands above his head with
frantic gesticulation. His voice rose
to kind Of muffled shrek.
Murderer you call me-ha! ha! that
is good No, no! She murdered me!
i tell you died when I saw her asleep
in her lovers arms-she killed me at
one blow A devil rose up in my
body and took swift revenge; that
devil is in me now, a brave devil,
stIcDg devil! That is why I do not
fear the plague; the devil in me
frightens away death. Some day it
will leave me'-here his smOthered
veil sunk gradually to a feeble, weary
tone: yes it will leave me and I shall
find a dark place where I can sleep:
do not sleep much now" He eyed
me half wistfully.
"You see.' he explained, almost
gently, my memory is very good, and
when one thinks Of many things one
cannot sleep It is many years ago,
but every night see her; she comes to
me wringing her little white hands,
her blue eyes stare, I hear her short
means of terror. Every night, every
night" He paused, and passed his
hands in 4 bewildered way across his
forehead. Then. like o man suddenly
waking from sleep. he stared as though
he saw me now for the first time, and
broke into low, chuclIling laugh.
"What a thing, what thing it is,
tho mpno~~vl" he mrttered. Strange
strange! See, I remembered all that,
and forgot you! But [ know what you
want-a suit of clothes-yes, you need
them badly, and I also need the money
fer them. Ha. hal And you will not
have the fine coat of Milford Inglese!
No, no! understand. will find you
neutrality-suspicious., patiencei"
And he began to grope among a
number of things that were thrown
in confused heap at the back of the
shop. allie in this attitude he looked
so gaunt and grim that he reminded
me of an aged vulture STOPPING over
carrion. and yet there was something
= pitiable about him too. In way
was sorry for him; d poor half-witted
wretch. whose life had been full Of
eIch NORWOOD. What q differ
ent fate was his to mine. I thought.
I had endured but one short night Of
agony: how trifing it seemed COM
pared to his hourly remorse and suffer
ing! He hated Nina for an act OF
thoughtlessness; well, no doubt she
was not the only woman whose eXis-
l terce annoyed him; it was most prob
e able thCt he was at enmity with all
4 women I watched him pityingly as he
searched among the WORKOUT gar
Il ments which were his stock-in-trade
: and wondered why Death. so active il
: shifting down the strongest in the
: city, should have thus cruelty passe5
a by this forlorn wreck of human
2 misery, for whom the grave would
It have surely been a most welcome re
d lease and rest. He turned round a
d last with an eXulting gesture.
n l ''nave found it," he exclaimed
a "1he very thing to suit you You arr
a perhaps a coral-fsher? You will lik
9r fisherman's dress. Here is one
d. red sash, cap and all, in beautiful con
lie d1tionl He that wore it was abou
e your height; it will fit you we'll as
u iIted him: and, look you the plague i
is not in it; the sea E ked through