The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-27

A woman was riding quickly across q
rough half cleared paddock. She was
seated sideways on a mans saddle and
kept her balance with the ease born Of
custom. On two sides stretched heavy
forest. On the other two the country
swept away In gentle undulntions, heav-
ily wooded till IL merged with q low line
OF hills into the blue horizon.
About the woman the few hundred
acres Of clearing looked raw and uDsightly
-nsw 70 ices, blackened trees and logs.
stretches of land Uttered with felied trees
and scrub. drying for burn. Every
where was the first desolation OF clearing.
The horse stopped abruptly at the slip
rails. His rider pulled them down with
out dismounting and urged him into q
which lay in heavy shadow for mile or
80 and then opened out into clearer
country, where tall straight gums were
wreathed for their 20 or 80 feet of height
with new bushy sprouts. looking In the
uncertain light like huge fantastic hop
garden.
Suddenly thore was the sound of rapid
hoofs approaching. The woman pulled
up and her hand went quickly to her hair
to arrange n struggling lock. thence to
her neck to straighten her tie. and so,
with quick feminine touches, To belt and
skirt.
Round the turr of the road appeared a
man, who drew up hastily as ne saw her,
and so close that their hands met in
stantly.
II cot your letter yesterday" f" she said.
He smiled and Razed into her face. "It
Is tv o months since saw you. but you
ars coming away with me now"
She drew her hand away from him.
"No, / am not coming.
Not coming? Mary ~
Il would have written to you" she
went on, "but / had net your address.
But am not going with YOU.
"Not going! You mean not this mo-
ment but In a day or two
don't mean that i mean that am
never going away with you.
Never Good God What have
worked and waited forp WHAT have /
thought OF night and day but you always
your OF the coming TO me, of our going
away to forget all the past and begin life
again"
"Ahr she drew her breath sharply.
Don't. / must not think of that. 1t is
all over now. Everything is changed
now. l cannot go away. Alick was struck
by a falling tree dav or two sitter you
,ft and he'll never be able To walk again,
be doctor says. He will grow even
aore helpless as the years 20 by. "
"And you-vou are to stay aud nurse
him and work for him. Is that what you
nean"
She nodded. "What else could do?'
"Couldn't he be got into hospital
Or
And leave his wife fres to elope with
another man, she interrupted, with a
jnrrinR laugh.
''He has beaten and kicked you Drunk
or sober ne Ill used you. What duty do
you owe him? You love me. and could
make you happy. Come, dearl"
she looked away from him into the
wide. darkening Landscapes. "No, l will
not come There is only me TO look after
him. ] am young and strong, and what
ever you may say 10 Is my duty
cit is not, he cried passionately
"Iou love mo and gave me- your promise
Did lie ever show you any consideration?
We're you better treated than his
wretehed dogY'
Hush I" she interrupted sharply.
"Isn't IL hard enough without all thatp
You must go away. l know what l have
TO do. and 1 will do ii.
He leaned toward her and took her
ha3d. II can't let you CO. Mary. You
Hre mine. and / Will not let you go back
to that brute"
Her fingers frightened on his. "I am
going 10 do it. IL is hard, but there is
nothing else 10 be done. Who but | can
ook after him, feed him, nurse him?"
He realized, entirely against his will
that she was in earnest and no pleading
'ould turn her. AS her fingers Law in his
hs felt wild impulse 60 lift her from
e.saddle and carry her away. making