The Somerset reporter., 1899-08-03

| put my hand on his wrist. The
muscles stlffened and resisted my light
pressure. Ali. there was once time
and not so long ago-when they al
ways trembled at my touch! And they,
too, remembered those old days. not.
withstanding the hostile will of anoth-
-er, for they yielded little by little until
his hand was in mine.
which had taken her from him. He
mumb.ed like an old man robbed, as
tears splashed his face.
AT last he reached the boat. In the
bottom was piece of cedar chip tied
to her handkerchief. LeapinE at it
tiercely, he graSped 1t with shaking
hand. Then he rolled up his eyes, his
fingers fumbling with the knot. his lips
dawn white. Scrawled on the chip
with pencil was a message: i've
gone for good. You were kind, but |
could not abide you or the country.
I've gone with one as will take me ali
over the world"
With his mouth working tensely he
started to drag himself back. His
brain was flying high up and down
again. Darling lights played before
his eyes The wLirling ground leaped
away from him. Crawling on, he
reached the door, where, down on all
tours. like Il dog, he flung up his head
aud looked around the rooms wildly.
Everything in them spoke with n trum-
pet voice of her He let his head fall
on the sill Then groan came heavily
from his lips, and he was calm.
The next week a new captain came
on the river steamer.
The birds flying across the river on
their way 10 the south saw a woman,
dressed gaudily and in vulgar fashion,
making her way from the landing to
the little house on Nance'S island At
the door a gaunt man watched her
With Il dazed stumbling he walked
forth little way to meet her.
Il have come back after these years.
she said, looking up to the little home
which, small and poor as it was, seem
ed to hold out hope of peace to her
But he said nothing. only staring at
her with eyes in which burned a faint
spark Once he shiyered at the croak
ing notes in her voice.
Into the house she followed him dog
gedly. Sire picked up her duties where
she had left them years before, touch
ing a chair here and moving something
there. She took broom and fell to
sweeping feyerishly, until she flung it
down contemptuously and sank Into a
chair with a gasp. He had watched
her silently with slow burning eyes.
"Why don't you speak," SHE cried.
Her rising voice was hard and crac
king. There was a tlaunt on her lips.
Her hands on her hips conveyed an in
science of holiness.
Il have come back to you in kind
ness" she said, her tones going higher
and her voice growing more rasping
Il know the worth of woman like
Inc. When my captain died. | could
have had many a fair chance, but |
thought of you, and somehow | wanted
to come here. Aren't you going to
make up?' she cried angrily.
Cod what difference in those
years. His lips pressed together stern
ly.
why don't you speak," she scream.
ed How dare you treat me like
like She paused and then laughed
with her brazen notes.
But the dancing lights were In his
brain again and before his eyes and
around him a boiling fl. me that roared.
The room was whirling, He saw it all
streaked and spangled with fierce color
the floor. the chairs, the fiat stove,
the utensils of tin. and among them her
face the lips leering. the eyes staring.
Staggering to his feet. he CROPPED with
his arms. His hands clutched at some
thing soft and warm that yielded under
his contracting fingers They closed
tightly, gripping hard to stop the whrl-
ing Of the earth. The flame Shot up
madly, and, blinded in the dark, he fell,
lying stretched on the floor.
Years later, the upper end of the is.
land settled, pity still endured among
the people for the lonely man who liv-
ed on the lower end. They told Stran-
gers touching there of the young wife
whom he had 1t Yer scen from the day
size ran away with the captain of the
river steamer and he was left to his
solitude No one knew the whole until
young farmer went to ask aid of the
old man at the harvesting. No re
Spouse coming to his knocks, he lifted
the latch and entered. The old man
was half kneeling against "A chair his