The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-12-08

hospitable arrangements for his board
er's comfort; jabbing a miners pronged
iron candlestick, in which he had placed
a lighted candle, into a beam of the
cellar timbering, and dragging forth a
soap-boX for seat.
"'T is a pity he didn't miss two or
tree dozen av beer whilst he was clean
in up, or a gallon av good whisky. The
docther, honest man, he's good for free
lodgin's and grub and 'baccy, but he's
niyer said beer to me vance since in ii
| come, and don't think it's maneness
but touch o. precaution, seein' how
some folks exceed themselves that's
oulder nor what l am.
"It's dhry supper wen have, for it's
mostly canned stuff I'm livin' on. not
havin' the means o conshumnin' me
own shmoke when I'm cookin'."
1t was after IL o'clock, and all was yet
silent outside so far as the deaf and
dumb walls of the cellar reported the
sound of the night. Darcie was lying
on the pallet of boards and blankets
that Mike had prepared for him, broad
awake, and staring in the darkness
| His arm was aching steadily, and he
was thinking, thinking the black
thoughts of grief at night, trying the
| depths of his pain, and finding it very
deep indeed. He had forgotten al
about the doctors poppy and man.
| dragora. He stretched forth his hand
and felt Mikes shoulder, and shook
the honest sleeper beside him.
Make light, will you? can't II,
here in the dark" he complained in an
injured voice, as if Mike had several
times and persistently refused him the
small boon of candle.
whats the matter that We cannot
sleep?" Mike inquired. SIS your arm
hurtin' We bad?"
Everything is hurting me-" Darcie
| specified. "My arm weighs a ton, and
every pound is pulling on the small OF
my back, and there's a sickish lump in
my chest that stiles me. Is it likely
| can sleep?"
| That's quare mess av symptoms We
have. l snags, | dunno what to make
av it. Whisper, Darcie!"-Mike coaxed
| lowering his tumultuous voice to a sen.
| nave Dttl
heard, barring the Intervention of tho
ccllar-walls, across the gulch. "IIavc
We got il all fixed wild your gurl? Are
| ye in it?'
Don't talk to me-" Darcie groaned
turning his face away from the candle
"Sure, twas yourself that was tallSin'
What was / sayin'? Div'l a word be
yond what's civil" Mike protested
rather sulkily. He lay silent, watching
Darcie's face till he could bear it.
changed expression no longer
"Oh, bad luck to thiml What was
ye doin', anyhow, that they fired ye
out, an you no betther nor a sick
choild?"
'Shut up!" shouted Darcie. 81 fired
myself out"
"Musha, ye needn't be so mad wild
mel There's not thing won't take
from We, the way We are; so pile il on
But what / want TO know is-and I'm
bound to know it, for I've me plans tc
lay-will she be comm wild us whin
we're ready TO put out o. this?"
"She will not" said Darcie through
| his set teeth.
II dunno what she's made of, thin,
said Mike Indignantly. He felt himself
| belittled in the person of his partner
who had been foolish enough, surely
and had risked enough for this particu.
lar girl to have met with all possible
success. Thin Ammerykin girls Is
hard as nails; niver seen wan o. that
sInall-waisted breed that had as much
blood in her as ye c'u'd squeeze out as
a. turnip. They sit readin' books and
huggin' the stove the whole livin' day
There's no health nor naythur in thin
G'way wild her; / wouldn't break me
pipe fer herl Let her shtay wild the
ould man that's a dishgrace 10 the
mother that bore him. Doye mind how
she piped up the night lep' acrost the
road? L hard ye, Mike says she
and l thought by the sob o. laughter IN
her voice, and the trimble o. tears, that
she had a woman's feelin's-"
Heaven save us, Mike, wish you
could be quiet! suppose you can't
though; your tongue is hung in the
middle" parcie wound the blanket
around his sound arm, and dragged il
over his head.
fro BE Continued