The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-12-24
SCRANTON MISSISSIPPI. FRIDAY. DECEMBER "a, 1897.
II aint never doubted IT," he an
swcrcd sUftly.

II aint never doubted It," he an.
swcrcd softly.
II was happy, and contented for two
long years. 1t was like heaven, and
y0u were happy, too, JOhn?"
"IIappy" he said. "Ah, yes! No.
bOdy'll ever know how mucll."
"And then little Dora WIS born,'
she went on, land somehow all our
trouble began right there, for II
seemed rs though her baby hands
took hold Of our hearts and pushed
them apart, a little ut first and then
more and more. Well, things got
worse, and when she died almost be.
licvcd you weic to blame In some
way-don't know how. Oh, It's awful
To think about, but l couldn't help
feeling that way! Will you ever for.
give me for it?"
81 never laid 1t up against ye," lie
answered. Il rcckOned 1t was natural,
and l knew sc wasn't well, so l tried
to forget all about that part Of our
life, and done it-aln,Ost."
1.-The rest OF my story Is harder to
tell and harder to listen to. You re.
member that Willis came buck and
hunted US up. He came at the worst
time for all OF US. l was set against
you and half wild about baby's death
and reckless to everything. He found
that out and kept pleading with me
and urging me to 60 away with him.
/ ought to have sent him away, but
l-didn't. 1t was as though some
cyil spirit put the words into his
mouth, and ! listencd-God help me,
l listened"
She started to her feet and stood
facing her husband, her arms raised
to her head In u wild gesture.
II was no fault Of mine that did
not sin against you In deed as l did in
thought!' she cried. III 1t had not
been for some accidcnt-I don't even
know what IL was-I should not have
been here now. l went to meet him
here one night. We were to drive tn
Oakley and lake the train for some
place, l waited, l don't know how
many hours, but he didn't come. At
last l crcpt home and found you
asleep. In the morning when you
were away u letter came saying that
an unforeseen accident had happened,
aud hc would let me know about
it som. l never heard from him
again."
She paused and looked at him fear
fully, as though expecting u violent
Outburst OF anger, but he said moth
ing, aud ut last she spoke again.
"Won't you speak to me?" she cried
trcmulously. Haven't you been
listening? Have done wrong to tell
you? Speak to me for Gods sake! ]
can't bear it,"
The words were lost In o storm Of
sobbing, and she threw herself down
on her knees beside him, hiding her
face with her hands On the arm Of the
old fashioned chair.
Don't take on 50, Eunie," he said
gently. "Ye'll be glad all the rest OF
yer life, l think, on account OF jest
what yc're cryin' about now. Look
up, my girl, an may be can finish
the story for &c. Yc say ye never
knowed why he didn't come that
night" he said. II could a.told ye
why"
"YOu?" she cried.
"Ycs," he answered. "Jcst ME. He
staid away because l told him he'd
better, and he knowed l meant what
l said. Did you think | was SO blind
all them months that l didn't see
what was happcnin'? Id a.knowcd 1t
II l had been miles away. for there
amt never any trouble 10 yer heart
but what l don't feel 1t. ! jest STEP
ped In an talked to Willis. lie un'
dersuod, an that settled It,"
"Then you've known?" she inter-
ruptcd brcathlcssly. you've known
all this timer"
lie nodded cheeriully. "All this
time" he answered.
"Eut you never said word to me
YOU never acted as though"
"Its always harder for me to talk
than to keep STILL" he said slowly.
"Surcly ye'vc found that out long ago.
| cOuld't a.said u word without maxim
things worse, most likely, SO I thought
the best thing to do was t. jest wait
an I've been waitin'."
"Waitlng" she repeated. "Wait'
Ing for what?"
"For what's happened, Eunlc," he
said softly.
The woman was clinging to Ills arm
and weeping cOnvulsively.
"'Tweren't yer fault, little girl" ht
said. "lts Jest happened that way
There amt no need to cry about II
now. Tho time for cryin's all gone
past, an l don't think it'll ever CONF
again"
Talking TO tho newspapers, and f0
the American people, Democratic
House Leader Bailey says: II shal
keep u watchiul eye on opr Republi
can friends during the session and se'