The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-04
The Hand of The Strangler.

dering why her neck should be so stiff
then she realized that she had slept "a
night leaning against the low, wild
mantlepiece.
Luckily didn't sot myself afire. " sh
said, for there was still "a hot heart {
glow match to IL. and lit candl,
though 1t was gray daylight. "Wonde
| how he isy' she said.
she carried the candle to the bed side
Liza touched the dark, unkempt hai
but she did not need the further eyidenc
| of its deadly chilli.
She stood few moments leaning owe
him and feeling, after all, the awe q
the presence OF death. She recovered her
self quickly, however. and rousing tn
child, partly rndressed her, wrapped al
old quilt around her, and carried her 4
IA neigh boris door.
Excuse mo waking you" she said
Can L bring in Maggie? My poor man u
gone"
Lord sake is heY Was ye aloneg"
i've been alone all night" said Lis
with little shake in her voice.
" Is he just gone.
NO. he died about-about two hour
agone."
Didn't you stop ths clockS"
No: l was all queer-like; and
couldn't wake you until 10 was light"
Poor thing-poor thing! Did he &C
of peaceable likel There I'm ready"
Very quiet holding my hand and
smiling, said Liza, determined not 10
confess that she had been asleep mt the
time Of the great change.
The days went evenly on after Samuel
/ Davidson had sunk away out of time in
70 eternity. The summer flowers perisned
and autumn blasts stripped the trees
! AT tho half-yearly term Airs. Davidson
moved Into little shop which was To be
let IN The neighboring town. She told
. int a.
was obliged To do something. and she
wanted work which would enable her to
take gcou care OF Msggia. The minister q
wife, who called before she left the quarry
cottages, aUpiauded the decision.
You are doing. your duty by the poor
orphan, she said. You Will get "a
blessing, Mrs. Davidson. hope you will
be very successful.
IN scrimued Tor capital to stock the
shop" " said the widow, with sidelong
glance at her Innocent pleasant face.
Nobody would believe the money it
takes. l could have laid out MagRie's
share to advantage for her, l expect
We'll. you see. 10 Is bound up said
the other.
II think might havo had interest at
least" pursusd Mrs. Davidson. 1T
would have kept her in clothes. any way
always "a help"
"Ah, but you see, IL was meant TO in
crease the provision, said the minister's
wife, rising to go. Struck by casual
thought. she added carelessly: IF she
were to be- taken iirst IL would come to
you in the end, and she departed.
The shop did not prove the source OF
fortune tn8t Liza had anticipated. In
the town. amongst the temptations of
displayed drapery and bakers deliCacies
she found her money slipping from her in
all manner of uneN Npecteu ways, and, on
al ~ in In
her till. With all her sufficient assurance
she lacked discrimination, and the glib.
commercial travellers talked her into un-
suitable investments. At the and of the
first year she found herself sadly behind
hand.
Il maze n mistake with beginning the
shop, she said, plaintively TO Joe u ib-
son, a middle-sged carusnter. who was
one of the train OF unaok nowledged ad-
mirers whom she had already gathered
around hor. ''It takes man To be at the
heod of a business. though ] could man
age the selling bit of it, II / could got
anything like my own money out of it
again. I'd give 1t up and seek house
keepers place -
You'll not so easily get that" said
the joiner, removing his pine. He had
como In to repair some shelves. and had
willingly fingered for "a cup OF tea. ana
the permitted m5ke afterward there.
why notY" said Liza flushing. II
always could get plenty of piaces-and
keep them, too. "
Its difforent now." said the other
laconioally. he pointed with the stem of
his blackened A. w. To Maggie, squatted
on the w'ndow-seat, and gazing aimlessly
into the darkness OF the street "Why
don't You send her to her own folksy
l can't-there's nome" said Liza
''Nob0dy'll care 20 have her about TO-
piled Joe. "She's a handful for you at
any rate-why. she cant hardly get
about. If she was your own. IL wouldn't
be so hard for you; still, she's nothing
but an object ana never will be. -
Liza sat silent knitting rapidly. She
suddenly realized wBv ali her admirers
siulJd of without Offering marriage. No
man was likely to wish TO saddle himself
with "A sickly ana mueuile child.
lt was wretChcd weather, and Maggie
showed symptoms OF feverish cold
Careful TO preserve her reputation for
Kindness and aim, st hoping that it might
Eo serious lii ess, Liza called in doc.
tor. VINO pronounced tue Ailn.gnt very
slight, and prescribe some simple medi
cine.
see that she does not get n chill" /" he
said 1T might he serious for so frail "a
constitution.
lhut night wien the shutters were up
ana tie deer licked. Liza won't up stairs
w wv Ihoih Ait oCCuIltu. MdpEle sICrt
in u small chamber She lit the candle,
and went to look at her. Tho child was
slepiDR qaite calmly. and tho flush had
faded from her face.
She'll no oil right tomorrow, said
Liza Tetulantiy.
suddenly "a horrible impulse seized her:
"A cruel idea crept into her sOu Sho sec
down the candle and slowly turned bsck
the blankets, cautious not To disturb her
slumhcr. The shrunken, soft lido limbs
of ;hn child were exposed. Not content.
she loosened the collar of her night dress,
and b1Ted htr small tEroat.
sac extlnguiSad the candle, and cross
ing 90 TITO window with "A steaithy step.
put her hand ast the bind, uniastencd
the SASH and lifted it gently.
An 10y wind poured in. The val8nccs
Of the bed ilappau softly and regularly,
aud evan tha uuor OF tho outer chanh hor
VibrHted on it's hinges with tho pressure
Ut tle draught Liza shiyerod in her
thick dress.
suddenly harsh coughs tnrtled her.
and with chilled hands sne closed tho
window and rekindled Eer candle Mag
gle was not awake; but sne turned In her
sioep and breatherd heavily. Her step
mother arranged the blankets quickly
tteu she hurried into her own room.
- saa.s "A HlN Il