The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-23
"You shud ave thort O. that afore,"

She caught hold of the two lapels of
his coat. Dave, Dave" she cried, you
don't love me arter all, and you swore
me true down by the wishing we'll"
81 didn't love zee then the zame as do
now by DEAL" he answered, taking her
hands in his.
"Oh, lad, can't fathom 'ee," she said,
with a sob.
Sweetheart, it's 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 filled with tears.
"But l bain't afeard, Dave" she reiter-
ated. 81 bain't afeard."
He looked at her with great tender
ness. 81 dursn't, dear heart; 1 dursn't, "
he said, and his voice shook.
"Ther wud ba the times atween
whiles," she urged.
Turning from her he caught hold of a
tree bough and steadied himself. Lass,
lass, don't put me in mind O. EN-"
You amt lovin' me the zane as you
did, or zee wudn't need no minding,"
she exclaimed, brokenly. "And 1 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, tits vine
and long for all it loses in the curl, and
my voot, too, Dave"-she kicked off her
shoe" It's wonderful arched, and a
deal smaller than the young ladies' up
to the great house. My arms, Dave"-
she slipped back her sleeve-"they
might be chile's, they're that be-
dimpled."
Stopping abruptly, she burst into
tears. "Oh, lad, lad" she sobbed, "you
bain't looking, you baint looking"
He let 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 EN- ?"
Il cud niver fo'ce no chile O. ours to
bear wat I've been fo'ced to bear" he
answered.; "'twad ba devils wark-l
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 seemedto 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 wailing came
| from her lips or his own. Long he wan
dered in the wood, but when night fel!
| lSbul llCN ~ LIS COlldSG. 4 uSuluS
! open the door, the moonlight streaming
| in after him, he entered the small
kitchen. On the table, the cork with
| drawn, was 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
+nl,, ! 9.
the thirst from it, he advanced the bot
| tie gistening i'll the moonlight, looking
as if it were alive. He cast an agoniz-
ing glance round the walls, seeking help
from the familiar things, and his eyes
fell on his gun. A sob of relief broke
from him; he took down the gun, load
| ed it hurTiedly, the smell of the spirits
dripping onto his lips, he licking it
down. He snatched the bottle from the
table, shouidered 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. AT last he stopped; about
him the trees grew close 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.
$50 yer have got the best O. me a.
last" he said; yer have got the best O.
me at last"
The bottle g,istened; 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 l ba, dog that ba," he
sobbed. mo better than dog-no bet
ter than dog"
Sick with shame and horror, he re-
gained his feet; he took piece of cord
from his pocket, made a loop in it. at
taching one end to the trigger of the
gun. He pressed the cold steel barrel
up against his hot beating heart, and
! Mo l., 4