The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-06-21
"You shud ave thort o. that afore, ,

his coat, Dave, Dave" she cried, you
don't love me arter all. and you swore
me true down by the wishing WELL
81 didn't love zee then the zane as loo
now by deal" he answered, taking her
hands in his.
"Oh, lad, can't fathom zee" she said,
with sob.
Sweetheart, tits the drink I'm afeard
of; 'twull have me wan day like did my
vather and brothers afore me-
''But bain't afeard."
81 might be cruel hard on zee, lass"
he said, pressing her hands tight against
his broad chest. "a man can't answer
for hissulf when the drinks upon him"
Her dark gray eyes filed with tears.
But bain't afeard, Dave" she reiter-
ated. 81 bain't afeard."
He looked at her with great tender
ness. 81 dursn't, dear heart; dursn't,"
he said, and mis- voice shook
ether wud ba the times atween
whiles," she urged.
Turning from her be caught hold of a
tree bough and steadied himself. "Lass,
lass, don't put me in mind o. 'em."
you amt lovin' me the zame as you
did, or zee wudn't need no minding,"
she exclaimed, brokenly. "And l amt
fallen off in looks" She came around
the tree, stood in front of him, and. I'M
binding her kerchief, shook her thick
chestnut hair about her shoulders.
"See, Dave" she continued, "'tis vine
and long for all it loses in the curl. and
my voot, too, Dave'-she kicked eff her
shoe" tits wonderful arched, and
deal smaller than the young ladies' up
to the great house. My arms, Dave
she slipped back her sleeve-"Ghey
might be chile's, they're that be-
dimpled.'
Stopping abruptly, she burst into
tears. ''Oh, lad, lad" she sobbed, "you
bain't locking, you bain't looking
lie iet go the branch of the tree, took
her in his arms and drew her close up
against his breast. He put back her
head with gentle force and kissed her
mouth and eyes, her throat and bosom.
As they stood. molten in one mold, there
came down the wind the sound of chill
dren's laughter; hearing it, the man
and woman fell trembling, then apart.
They stood staring at each other like
two people guilty of crime.
There ba them that might ba born
arter u.s." he said, hoarsely.
She watched the sudden hardening of
his mouth. Must us mind on emp"
she pleaded; "must us mind on emp
II cud niver fo'ce no chile o. ours to
bear wat I've been fo'ced to bear" he
answered.; "'twad ba devils wark-I
cudn't do it,"
Her face grew white and hopeless. 81
can't feel for the childer; l amt no
mother yet" she said, brokenly.
Desire shook him; he looked at her
slight form that seemed to tremble into
womanhood before his eyes, then, with
an abrupt cry, he turned and left her.
She flung herself down and wept-.
through the trees her wailing followed
him, yet his heart cried out SO loudly
that he knew not if the waiiing came
from her lips or his own. Long he wan
dered in the wood, but when night fell
returned again to his cottage. Pushing
open the door, the moonlight streaming
in after him, he entered the small
kitchen. On the table, the cork with
drawn, was-a bottle of spirits-the air
reeied with the smell of it. He did not
know whose hand had placed the bottle
there, but his harsh thirst demanded
shaking, and forced him forward.
Clutching at his threat, striving to tear
the thirst from it, he advanced, the bot
tie gistening in the moonlight, looking
as if it were alive. he cast an agoniz-
ing glance round the walls, seeking helm
from the familiar things, and his eyes
fed on his gun. A sob of relief broke
from him; he took down the gun. load
ed it hurriedly, the smell of the spirits
dripping onto bis lips, he licking it
down. lie snatched the bottle from the
table, shou,dered his gun, and went out
up through the woods, past the
broken stile, where the coarse grass
lay pressed close to the earth, and
Phoebe had flung herself down and
wept. With averted face he passed the
spot, and entered deep into the heart
of the wood. Al last he stopped; about
him the trees grew c,ose and thick; no
eye but Gods could see his shame. He
leaned his gun up against branch; the
moonlight edged itself between the
trees, and he held the bottle up.
80 yer have got the best O. me a.
last" he said; yer have got the best O.
me at last
The bottle giistened; he brought it
nearer his lips, his thirst pressed for
quenching. the thirst that he would
Stake before he shot himself.
Yer smiling DEVIL" he burst out,
with sudden fierceness. yer reckon to
catch me, do zee. No, yer don't; I'll die
wi'out tasting 'ee," and he dashed the
bottle. into fragments at his feet. A
moment later he had flung himself upon
the ground, striving to lick the spirits
with his tongue.
Dog that 1 ba, dog that ba,' he
sobbed. NO better than dog-no bet
ter than dog"
Sick with shame and horror, he re-
gained his feet; he took piece of cord
rom his pocket, made a loop in it, at
aching one end 10 the trigger of the.
gun. lie pressed the cold steel barrel
Up against his hot beating heart, and