The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-16

to feeling against you as I would
against some one that was watching
for a chance to hurt my little one.
Well, things got worse and worse, and
when she died I almost believed you
were to blame in some way-I didn't
know how. Oh, it's awful to think
about, but I couldn't holp feeling that
way. Will you ever forgive me for
it?"
"I never laid 1t up against yc," he
answered. "I reckoned il was natural
and l knew ye wasn't we'll: so / tried
to forget all about that part Of our
life, and l done it--almost."
She looked UP at him gratefully
"You are trying to help me-" she said.
mot many men would do that. The
rest Of my story is harder to tell and
harder to listen to. You remember
that Willis came back and hunted us
up. lie came at the worst possible
time for all Of MS. I was set against
you and half wild about baby's death,
and reckless to everything. He found
that out ana kept pleading with M
and urging me to go away with him.
Day after day, when you were at work,
he used to come to the house and talk
to me-always in the same strain.
ought to have sent him away; butt
didn't. His sympathy was so ready
that / didn't see the purpose nor the
falscncss i'm it, It was as though some
evil spirit put the words into his
mouth, and / listened: God help me,
] lstened-and that wasn't ALL"
She started to her feet, and stood
facing her husband her arms OUT
stretched with a wild gesture.
ut was no fault of mine that I did
not sin against you in decd as l did
i'm thought" she cried. "If it had not
been for some accident-I don't even
know what it was-I should not have
been here now. | went to meet him
| one night We were to drive to Oak
ley, ana take the train for some place.
| waited, | don't know how many
hours, but he didn't come: at last I
Crept home and found you asleep All
night / sat by the fire waiting for
some word from him, for l was ready
to go--yes. even then I was ready to
go. In the morning letter came,
saying that an Unforeseen accident
had happened and he would let me
know about it soon. l never heard
from him again"
She paused, and looking at him fear
fully, as though expecting a violent
! outburst of anger but he said moth
ing, and at last she spoke again, un
able to bear the silence.
That's all. john" she cried dospcr-
ately. ITS the truth. and the whole
truth. There's no more to tell"
Still he sat silent, bending a little
forward in a lounging attitude ana
watching the flickering freight abb
sently, with a curious expression on
| his heavily lined face.
Wont you speak to me?" she asked,
tremulouslN Haven't you been list
ening? Have l done wrong to tell
you! Speak to me, for Gods sake; Z
can't bear it,"
The words We're lost in a storm Of
sobbing, and she threw herself down
on her knees beside him, hiding her
face with her hands in the arm Of
the old-fashioned chair OrdWay
| looked down at her with an unsteady
| smile which was like 4 caress. Don't
take on so, Eunie," he said gently.
'Nell be glad all the rest of yer life,
! think, on account Of Jest what yc'rc
cryin' about now. Look up. my girl,
an mebbe I can finish the story for
ye." He put out his hand and strok-
ed the bowed head with clumsy tender
ness. we say We never kuoWcd why
he didn't come that night" he said.
Il could a told ye why"
She raised her head with a startled
exclamation. "You " she cried.
Yes" he answered. Jest me. He
stayed away because I told him he'd
better and he lSnowed I meant what
l said.
Her eyes grew fun &C a wondering
fear ard sh" shrank away from him,
but he smiled again ana detained her
with gentle force "Wait," he said.
II amt crazy. Did yo think / was So
blind all them months that | didn't
see what was happcnin'@ I'd a knowai
if I'd been miles away, for there amt
never any trouble i'm your heart that
| don't feel it. Lord bless ye. | seen
what was gon' on, but thought twas
best to say nothing an let We v'restle
it out alone. Finally, when | noticed
that We wasn't quite strong enough
that circumstances an everything was
likely to be too much for ye: why I
jest stepped in an talked to Willis.
He understood, an that settled it,"
Then you've known" she inter-
rupted, brcathlessly. you've known
all this time'"
He nodded, chcerfully. "All this
time he answered.
But Won never said n word to mo
you never acted as though" sha
paused, uncertainty, the look of fear
still lingering in her eyes. How could
you keep silent At such a time?" she
cried. Il can't believe H."
ITS always harder for me to talk
than to keep still,' he said, slowly.
"SurclY ye've found that out long ago.
| couldn't said word without max
in things worse most likely: SO /
thought the best thing to do was to
jest wait-an' | been waitin.'"
"Waiting!' she repeated waiting
for WHAT"
For what's happened Eunicn," he
said, softly. "Waitin' to hear Jest
what I've heard tonight: to have ye
kneel down here bcslGr MO as yc'ra
kneelln' now, 4 wantin' the help | can
give yc, an "A trustip' me enough to
ask for it," He lifted his hand to
check her question, and went on in the
same tone, Il amt never been like
any of the men yo used to know. I
amt quick to understand little things
an to know what's wanted without
bein' told right out. That's what
comes of livin' in the back country.
When | first met you, Eunie. it was
like seein a picture come out of it's
frame an walk an talk to people"
The laughing note died out Of his
voice, and in its place there came an
almost pathetic Fentlencss. "Ye've