Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-06-11

me true down Dy the WlSnlpy WE'LL
II didn't love zee then the ZANE as 1 do
now by deal" he answered, taking her
hands in his.
"Oh, lad, can't fathom 'ee," 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 l bain't afeard."
"I 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 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 his voice shook.
"Ther wud ba the times atween
whiles," she urged.
Turning from her he caught hold of
tree bough and steadied himself. LASS,
lass, don't put me in mind o. 'em."
"You amt lovin' me the zane as you
did, or zee wudn't need no minding,"
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
my voot, too, Dave"-she kicked off her
shoe" tits 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 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 'em?"
she pleaded; must us mind on emp"
81 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 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 wailing came
from her lips or his own. Long he wan
deTed iE the wood, but when night fel!
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 bottle of spirits-the air
reeled with the smell of it. He did not
know whose hand had placed he bottle
| there, DuU Ills HARSH
shaking, and forced him forward.
Clutching at his throat, 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 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 hurriedly, the smell of the spirits
dripping onto his lips, he licking il
down. He snatched the bottle from THE
table, shouldered his gun, and went out
up through the woods, past thu
; broken stile, where the coarse gras!
lay pressed close to the earth. ant
Phoebe had flung herself down ant
wept. With ayerted face he passed th
y spot, and entered deep into the hear
of the wood. AT last he stopped; abou
him the trees grew close and thick; n,
y eye but Gods could see his shame. 81
e leaned his gun up against a branch; tn
: moonlight edged itself between tn
n trees, and he held the bottle up.
=, 80 yer have got the best o. me a
" last" he said; 'yer have got the best {
IS me at last
'e The bottle g.istened; he brought
/, nearer his lips, his thirst pressed TO
IS quenching, the thirst that he woul
D slake before he shot himself.
sr "Yer smiling devil" he burst ou
i, with sudden fierceness. Eyer reckon
ID catch me, do zee. No, yer don't; I'll di
y wi'out tasting 'ee," and he dashed tn
bottle into fragments at his feet.
n moment later he had flung himself upo
the ground. striving to lick the spirit
~ with his tongue.
e, Dog that ba, dog that ba,"
lie sobbed. "No better than dog-no be
Up ter than dog"
ne Sick with shame and horror, he r
~ gained his feet; he took piece of col
lg from his pocket, made loop in it, q
u taching one end TO the trigger of IL
as gun. He pressed the cold steel barr
I. i. L. L