The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-04-18

viii have in moment of supreme dan
ger.
THE Lord help usl" groaned Dough-
erty again, with piety that was new
TO him. "Sthand stiddy, bboysl YEN
not see poor human dritters in much
wuss throuble. I'll do the exphIainin'."
Connolly seized Dougherty by the arm
and jerked him backward. Look
a-therei" he whispered. excifediy. do
ye mind that, nowl See him."
With the others Willet had paused ir-
resolutely. Then he duly raised his
head and saw his wife A quick sob. and
he strobe forward, erect. both hands
outstretched. Klamath" he cried.
brokenly; "Haunah," Ii was the first
time he had spoken since the accident.
In a pitiful attempt not to understand
the woman glared wildly from one grief
stricken face to another. all the youth
ad happy good humor Ct her own looks
biotted out. Finally her glance met
her husbands and rested there. The
terror OF apprehension faded from her
face, giving way before a compassion
that was divine in its seif-forgetfulness
that transformed her from the plain
wife of common workingman into the
very embodiment of tender. wcmanly
pity. To Willet she seemed by super
human intuition to have understood
everything. The only words that could
warm through the numbncss around his
heart she spoke. The ore phrase that
was ticking clccl1-wise in his brain she
repeated aloud for him, and so tcck
away half Of its torture. "You had TO
see him die" was what she said. "Oh.
my Fcor mani my poor mani Little jim
was drownded. and you couldn't save
hint"
"Ciye him TO me-" she commanded
Connolly, holding out her arms for her
child. let him lay here on ny
breast. like he did whin slip of
baby. I'll make his fathers heart
easier to see him So"
She gathered the body to her bosom
and she folded Connoliy's coat more
tightly around it and began softly 10
rub the shock Of damp hair Oh the cold
little head. It should be dry, dry entire
ly, or it might do him hurt; his mother
wouldn't never let him stay cold like
thatl No, she wouldn't never. Poor
Jim, poor Jim,'' she went on. still keep
ing up that instructive. motherly chat
ing Of the child in her arms. Poor
Jiml You ha5 the hardest. jim. 1
couldn't ha' been there an not killed
myself. forgetful of you. 1t was you as
brought him home. You came all that
cruel way TO bring him 10 me. Oh, Jim,
Jim darlin'!"
Her voice was less unnatural now; il
had cropped TO a note Of human dis
tress that was fast bringing her 10 full
realization of her pain. Tears. which
Wiliet was as yet unable TO she'd, rained
down her cheeks; but she was not con-
seious that she wept. The men began
TO shuttle awkwardiy away. muttering
their clumsy words of consolation.
They need not have taken the slightest
precaution in the manner Of their go
ing; neither Wllet nor his wife re-
membered they had come. nor knew
when or how they left. Timidly Jim.
drew near and laid reverent fingers upoas
Hannab's sleeve. 1t was good to touch
her and feel that she was there. Under
her all-comprehending pity he was able
20 speak and think oEce more. She
humanized him into himself
LAY little Jim on his bed, Hannah,
dorIin'." he said, gently. There
cant come no harm to him 10 more.
The rest of my days III have his call
a-ringin' il my ears. He was down ~
the bridge, you know, where it's 50
shalier an safe, an he a-splashin' an
a-,aughin'l Then be called; student,
sharp. lie drowndcd afore 1 got 10
him. Oh, my God. afore got 10
himi"
The woman shook herself free of his
hard and stepped back.
"Afore you got to him2" she re-
peate6, in a voice that was hushed in
very wonder. "He 6townded afore
you got 10 him, an'-an' little jim
ealieG-little Jim called" She paused
for breath. then went on with an effort,
as If the breathing hurt her: i thought
first that you had to see him die while
you was tryin' TO save him; but il wasn't
true. lie was there in The water. an
be called. an you couldn't get 10 I'm"
She cropped her face moment ever
the dead child When she raised it. it
was set, hard, pitiless. "a mothers
feet would ha' carried her" she whis-
pered only Just above her breath; IN
he was mine the same as yours. You
let my boy die. never gave you 10
right to let nv bog die"
Slowly. deliberately. she turned and
entered the house. Willet stood where
she left him, motionless. staring straight
ahead. From the bridge at the foot OF
the hill the men gazed upward. watch
iug. They saw Hannah move, ard
Dougherty drew long breath of salts
faction. Its well wild EN- now, poor
things" be announced, sagely. "The
wust is over. They bore il bravely. an
they stood by each other. Did ye see
how Hannah took to comfortin' Jim
from the first? You've got TO leave
throubles to time, anyways; but praise
be 70 ali the saints an the angels OF
glory! the wust is over whin folks is
lovin' an sympathizin' enough to keep
each other up."-N. Y. Independent.
Like n Pun