The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-12-13

his coat. Dave, Dave" she cried, you
don't love me arter all. and you swore
me true down by the wishing WE'LL"
II didn't love zee then the ZANE as lido
nov by a DEAL" he answered, taking her
hands IN his.
"Oh, lad, 1 can't fathom zee" she said,
with a sob.
Sweetheart, tits the drink I'm afeard
of; twill have me wan day like did my
vather and brothers afore me-"
But l 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. Il d~ursn't, dear heart; 1 d~ursn'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 zame as you
did, or zee wudn't need no m~inding."
she exclaimed, brokenly. And | amt
fallen off in looks" She came around
the tree, stood in front of him, and, un-
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
rnw r4Of TOO Du-ar ~ Isl-~I E -
shoe-"'tis 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 a chile's, they're that be-
dimpled."
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 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 a crime.
There ba them that might ba born
arter us" he said, hoarsely.
She watched the sudden hardening OF
his mouth. Must us mind on emp"
she pleaded; must us mind on emp"
81 cud niver fo'ce no chile o. ours ia
bear wa 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; 1 amt nc
mother yet" she said, brokenly.
Desire shook him; he looked at her
sight form that seemed to tremble into
w~omanhood 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 il the waiting cam.
from Der 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 all
ree.ed with the smell of it. lie dsd not
know whose hand had placed the bottle
there, but his harsh thirst demanded
shaking, and forced him forward.
C!utching at his threat, striving to tear
the thirst from it, he advanced. the bot
lie gIstening in the moonlight, looking
as il it were alive. He cast an agoniz.
ing glance round the walls, seeking heir
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 hurriedly, the smell of the spirits
dripping onto his lips, he licking il
down. lie 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 this
spot, and entered deep into the heart
OF the wood. Al last he stopped; about
him the trees grew close and thick; nc
eye but Gods could see his shame. He
leaned his gun up against a branch; the
moonlight edged itself between the
trees, and he held the bottle up.
80 yer have got the best o me a:
last" be said; Eyer have got the best o
me at last"
The bottle giistened; he brought il
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 tc
catch me, do ZEE. No. yer don't; I'll die
wi'out tasting ZEE" and be dashed the
bottle into fragments at his feet. A
moment later he had flung himself upor
the ground, striving TO lick the spirit.
with his tongue.
Dog that 1 ba, dog that I ba," h,
sobbed. mo better than a dog-no bet.
ter than a dog"
Sick with shame and horror, he re.
gained his feet; be took a piece of cord
from his pocket, made a loop in it, at.
taching one end 10 the trigger of the
gun. He pressed the cold steel barrel
up against his hot beating heart, and
placed his foot in the loop. "a dogs
death for n dnC" ba ,n,,4tarad