New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
But I bain't afeard."

the drinks upon him."
Her dark-gray eyes filed with tears But I
bant afeard. Dave" shs reiterated. Il bain't
afeard"
lie looked at her with great tenderness. II
dursn't. dear heart: dursn't." he said, and his
voice shook.
"Ther wud ba the times atween whiles," she
urged.
Turning from her. he caught hold of tree
Dough and stcadied himself. Lass. lass. don't
put me in mind o. en-
You Amt loving me the zane you did. or
zee wudn't need no minding." she exclaimed
brokeny. And l amt fallen off in looks"
She came around the tree. stood in front OF him.
and unbinding her kerchief shook her thick
chestnut hair about her shoulders. See. DaYe"
she continued, its vine and long for all it loses
In the curl; and my voot too. Dave. she kicked
of her shoe" It's wonderful arched. and deal
smaller than the young ladies' up TO the great
house. My arms. Dave"-she slipped back her
sleeve-'they might be che's they're that
bedimplcd."
Stopping abruptly. she burst into tears. "Oh.
lad. lad" she sobbed. you bain't looking you
bain't 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 mould there came down the wind the sound
Of childrcns laughter hearing it. the man and
woman fell trembling then apart
They stood staring at each other ike two
people guilty Of a crime
There ba them that might ba born arter
u.s." he said hoars ly.
She watched the sudden hardening ~ his
mouth. Must us mind on em?" she pleaded.
must us mind on 'emr'
Il cud niycr fo'ce no chile O. ours 10 bear wat
rye been foccd to bear ne answered. "'twai
ba devils wark-I cudnt do IT."
Her face grew white and hopeless. Il can't
feel FOR the chilIer ! aln't 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 abrupt cry. he
turned and left her.
She flung herself down and wcpt-through the
trees her waiiing followed him. yet his heAr'
cried out so loudly that he knew no, II The
wailng came from her lips or his own Long
he wandered in the wood but when night fell
returned again to his cottage. Pushing open
the door. the moonlight streaming in after him.
the cork withdrawn. was a bottle u spiris-the
air recIcd with the smell Of II, He did not know
whose hand had placed the bottle there but his
harsh thirst demanded stalking and forced him
forward Cldtching n, his throat striving 70
,c,, the ,hlrs, from IT, he advanced. the bottle
giis,cning in the moonlight. looking AZ II IL
were alive lie cast an agonized glance round
the walls. seeking help from familiar things.
and his eyes fen on his gun. n sob II relief
broke from him. ne took down the gun. loaded
II hurr.cdly. the smell Of the spirits dripping
on to his lips he licking II down. He snateh'i
the bottle from the table. shouldercd his gun.
and went ou,-up through the woods. past 'h'
broken slile. where the coarse grass lay pr'Ssen
close 20 the earth and Phnbe had iiuhg hefSeli
down and vcpt with averted face ne pas"'h
the spot. and entered deep into the heart 81 me
wood At last he stopped. about nm the trees
grew close and thick. no eye but Hods cou'u
see his shame He leaned his gun up against I
-, branch. The moonlight edged itself between
the trees. and he held the bottle up.
80 yer have got the best o me a, last" ne
said: yer have got the best o me at last"
The bottle elisiencd. he brought 1t nearer his
Inns his thirst pressed FOR quenching. the thirst
that he would sake before he shot himself
Eyer smiling devil" he burst out. with sudden
derceness. yer reckon 20 catch me. 90 ee No.
by hell, yer don't: I'll die wiout tasting 'ec.
and ne dashed the bottle into fragments al MS
feet moment later he had flung himself /
upon the ground. striving to lick up the spirits
with his tongue.
dog that ba. dog that ba.' he sobbed /
mo better than dog-no better than dog
Sick with shame and horror he reganed his /
feet: he took a piece OF cord from his pocket