The Holly chieftain., 1898-12-09

hospitable arrangements for his board
er's comfort; jabbing miners pronged
iron candlestick, in which he had placed
| lighted candle, into beam of the
cellar timbering, and dragging forth q
soap-boX for seat.
"'T is pity he didn't miss two or
tree dozen av beer whilst he was clean
in up, or gallon nv good whisky. The
docther, honest man, he's good for free
lodgin's and grub and 'baccy, but he's
niver said beer to me vance since in it
come, and don't think it's maneness,
but touch O. precaution, seein' how
some folks exceed themselves that's
| oulder nor what l nm.
Its dhry supper we'll have, for it's
mostly canned stuff I'm livin' on, not
havin' the means o. conshumnin' me
own shmokc when I'm cookin'."
1t was after II o'clock, and all was vet
silent outside so far us the deaf md
dumb walls of the cellar reported the
sound of the night. Darcie was lying
on the pallet Of boards and blankets
that Mike had prepared for him. broad
awake. and staring in the darkness
His arm was aching steadily, and he
was thinking, thinking the black
thoughts of grief ut night, trying the
depths Of his pain, and finding it very
deep indeed. He had forgotten ali
about the doctors poppy and man
dragora. He stretched forth his hand
md felt Mikes shoulder, and shook
the honest sleeper beside him.
sclx
here in the dark" he complained in all
injured voice. us If Mike had several
times and persistently refused him the
small boon of candle.
whats the matter that We cannot
sleep?" Mike inquired. SIS your arm
lrurtin' We bad?"
Everything is hurting me-" Darcic
specified. my arm weighs ton, and
every pound is pulling on the small OF
my back. and there's sickish lump in
my chest that stiles me. Is it likely i.
can sleep?"
That's quare mess nv symptoms We
have. snags, dunno what to make
nv it. Whisper. Darcie!"-Alike coaxed,
lowering his tumultuous voice to sem
timental aside that might have been
heard, barring the Intervention of the
ccllar-walls, across the gulch. "Hare
We got it all fixed wild your CURL? are
ye in it?"
Don't talk to me-" Darcie groaned.
turning his face away from the candle.
"Sure, twas yourself that WINS talkin'.
What was / sayin'? Div1 word be
yond what's civil" Mike protested
rather sullSily. He lay silent, watching
Darcie's fuce till he could bear its
changed expression no longer.
ooh, bad luck to thin! What was
ye doin'. anyhow, that they fred yc
out, nm you no betther nor q sick
choild?"
"shut upl" shouted Darcie. II fred
myself out"
me! There's not thing I won't take
from We, the way ye are; so pile it on.
Eut what want to know is-and I'm
bound to know it, for I've me plans to
lny-will she be comm wild us whin
we're ready to put out o. this?"
"She will not" sad Darcie through
his set teeth.
II dunno what she's made OF, thin"
said Mike Indignantly. He felt himself
belittled in the person of his partner,
who had been foolish enough, surely,
and had risked enough for this particu-
lar girl to have met with oil possible
snccess. 'ThiEI Ammerykin girls is
hard us nails; niver seen wan O. that
srnall-waisted breed that had as much
blood in her as ye c'u'd squeeze out av
a. turnip. They sit rcndin' books and
huggin' the stove the whole livin' day.
There's no health nor naythur in thin.
G'way wild her; wouldn't break mo
pipe fer hcrl Let her shtay wild the
Duld man that's q dishgrace to tho
mother that bore him. Do ye mind how
she piped up the night lep' ncrost the
road? I hard ye, Mike says she,
and thought by the sob o. laughter in
her voice, and the trimble o. tears, that
she had womnn's feelin's--"
'sHcnver save us, Mike, wish you
could be quiet! suppose you can't,
though; your tongue II hung in the
middle" Darcie wound the blanket
around his sound arm, and dragged 1t
over his head.
tfo m coN1IsuBD.1
I