Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-09-13

He had seized the rial In one hand and
his icifc's chin In the other.
band and keep him from doing himself
a mischief. Sometimes he fingered
moment over q brown sunlit pool, and
she hurried with all her poor strength.
Sometimes he wound his way out Of the
wood and threw himself down on the
steep brink Of the river, where quick
motion, slipping foot, would end all.
and she hurried again to sink down
gently in the long grass and the nod
ding daisies beside him and lay her
hand on his arm and wonder In blind
way ut the indifference Of sky and wa
ter to her trouble. Then it was up
again and tramp away. She had no JOY
Of the soft waning afternoon, whose
light she had many time before
thought like that which might shine
across the hills Of heaven. She had not
seen the blaze Of the sunset. She did
not feel the coming Of the purple, dewy
dark nor hear the wild lamenting Of
the whippoorwills. and when near mid
night, in the hard, cold shining moon,
they reached their own door she had no
other sensation than that she must walk
ON forever.
She lighted the lamp mechanically.
The fire in the stove was not all gone,
and the broth she had left in the oven
was still warm. The doctor bad said,
she repeated to herself again. that he
must be made to eat. She poured him
out bowlful, and he took 1t ravenous-
ly, while she drank cupful herself
And he ate the custard pie she put be-
fore him with no idea what il was he
ate. his wide and burning eyes red, 1t
seemed, with the fire In his BRAIN II
only she could make him sleep! The
doctor had said sleep would lie his sal
vation, but when she had offered him
any Of the anodynes it bad simply
aroused his fury. She had hated to de-
ceive him, but there was no help Tor
it. She slipped dose into the cocoa,
whose own slightly bitter taste disguis-
ed it. But just as he had taken the last
Of the COCOA he saw her putting the vial
y
with that poison stuff" he shouted.
"I'll pour it down your own throat ef
you do. Here! BY king! l will any
way" And with stride he had seized
the vial in cne hand and his wife's chin
in the other, and in minute the whole
bottleful and death with it would
have been her portion, for she could not
escape the terrific grasp. she could only
lift her hand and lay it on his shoulder
in the way Of an old caress. a shiver
ran through him. He trenbled at the
touch. The vial slipped to the floor
Here" he cried. "Ain't you the wo-
man sold to Tom Brier once! What IN
nation you here for anyhow Git out
of this, neck and crop" And he lifted
her as II she had been leaf and sent
her flying through the door. Then he
shot the bolt home and stalked into the
bedroom and tumbled as he was upon
the bed.
Sally Lavender lay on the grass where
she had fallen, too tired TO pick herself
ND, too wretched to know that she was
tired. Ii was under the thick leaved
shade of the apple tree where no dew
fell. Before she could gather what had
happened she was asleep.
She woke with start when she had
slept perhaps al hour, full Of terror OF
something unknown, which resolved It
self almost instantly into something too
we'll known. She was icy cold for half
q moment, and then she was burning
in glow Of Indignation from head 10
foot But as she wrung her hands the
touch of her wedding ring controlled
her like a talisman. at isn't him; it
isn'e him - she sobbed. "He'd never
do Il In the world It's the strings all
jangling whichways. And, oh, it does
seem so cruel. But mustn t, l mustn't
and he so good and gentle and loyin wen
Is all there. And I've said it-though
he slay me yet will I trust in him-and
perhaps it's my trial-oh, dear Lord,
help me to bear the burden, aud Lord,
Lord, be merciful to him"
She rose after awhile and went tip
toeing round the house. The lamplight
streamed from the bedroom window,
and, climbing OH the trel!is, she looked
in. Her heart gave great plunge OF
joy-there he was on the bed in deep
sleep. She longed to get in, to loosen
his necktie, to get his clothes of and
make him comfortable But the win.
dow was fast, and even il she could it
would waken him, and the sleep was
too precious. He might wake at last,
as he had done before, all right even II
weak to extremity. Her heart yearned
over him as q mothers heart yearns
over suffering child. She crept round
to the doorstep and sat therc keeping
guard. Ponto had gone of on sheep
raid with Prince Matber. The cat came
and curled upon corner Of her gown.
While she sat there the moon went
down, red as burning brand quenched
in the .iver. The shadow folded about
her like garment All the little house
was still as death. The cool and dewy
air was soft with the fragrance Of the
flowers that came to her In faint and
honeyed watts. A drowsy mist Of stars
hardly disturbed the darkness Of the
night. There was no sound but the
tapping of the river and now and then
the village clock that tolled the hour
or the quick wrangle of some neighbor's
clock through the open windows. Every
once in awhile she went round and
looked in and Aw Humphrey still
sleeping. A light wind came fluttering
about her-the dawn had stirred in the
night. As she sat upon the low step.
not conscious Of being tired or sleepy,
only conscious Of listening, it was all
90 sweet and still and solemn, It seemed
% II the night itself were communion
with unknown force. Its peace entered
into her soul. She felt as though she
leaned her head on the breast Of her
Heavenly Father. A little bird piped
beside his snest. A trilI answered it. ii
the unseen world was awake with wild
music. Through the clear dark ACROSS
the water came the rhythmical rowing
Of oars. She stole round again In tender
fright, but Humphrey was still sleep
ing. A dream Of light rather than light
itself bad interfused the dusk, Il grew
with slow pulse and yelling till gray