The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-09-18

his coat. Dave. Dave" she cried, you
don't love me arter all. and you swore
me true down by the wishing we'll"
81 didn't love zee then the zane as Ido
now by DEAL" he answered, taking her /
hands IN his.
"Oh, lad, can't fathom zee" she said.
with sob.
Sweetheart, tits the drink I'm afeard /
of; twill have me wan day like did my
vather and brothers sfore me-"
''But bain't afeard."
az might be cruel hard on zee. lass"
he said. pressing her hands tight against
his broad chest "a man can't answer
for hissulf when the drinks upon him."
Her dark gray eyes filed with tears.
'But bain't afeard, Dave" she reiter-
ated. 81 bain't afeard."
He looked at her with great tender
ness. 81 dursn't, dear heart; dursn't,"
he said, and his voice shook.
'Ther wud ba the times atween
whiles,~ she urged.
Turning from her he caught hold of
tree bough and steadied himself. Lass,
lass. don't put me in mind O. EN-"
did, or zee wudn't need no minding,"
she exclaimed, brokenly. And amt
fallen off in looks" She came around
the tree, stood in front of him, and, I'M
binding her kerchief, shook her thick
chestnut hair about her shoulders.
"See, Dave" she continued, :" tits vine
and long for all it loses in the curl. and
my voot, too, Daver-she kicked off her
shoe" tits wonderful arched, and
deal smaller than the young ladies' up
to the great house. My arms, Dave
she slipped back her sleeve-"they
might be chile's, they're that be-
dimpled."
Stopping abruptly, she burst into
tears. "Oh, lad, lad" she sobbed, you
bain't looking. you bain't looking
He let 90 the branch of the tree. took
her in his arms and drew her close up
against his breast. He put back her
head with gentle force and kissed her
mouth and eyes, her throat and bosom.
AS they stood. molten in one mold, there
came down the wind the sound of chill
dren's laughter; hearing it, the man
and woman fell trembling, then apart.
They stood staring at each other like
two people guilty of crime.
There ba them that might ba born
arter US" he said, hoarsely.
She watched the sudden hardening of
his mouth. Must us mind on emp"
she pleaded; must us mind on emp"
( 81 cud niver fo'ce no chile o. ours to
bear wat I've been fo'ced to bear" he
=. - l. = l.
cudn't do IL"
Her face grew white and hopeless. 81
can't feel for the childer; 1 amt no
mother yet" she said, brokenly.
Desire shook him; he looked at her
slight form that seemed 10 tremble into
womanhood before his eyes, then. with
an abrupt cry, he turned and left her.
She flung herself down and wept-
through the trees her wailing followed
him, yet his heart cried out so loudly
that he knew not if the waiting came
from her lips or his own. Long he wan
dered in the wood, but when night fell
returned again to his cottage. Pushing
open the door, the moonlight streaming
in after him, he entered the small
kitchen. On the table. the cork with
drawn, was a bottle of spirits-the air
reeled with the smell of it. He did not
know whose hand had placed the bottle
there, but his harsh thirst demanded
shaking, and forced him forward
Clutching at his throat, striving 10 tear
; the thirst from it, he advanced. the bot
tie glstening in the moonlight, looking
as if il were alive. He cast an agoniz-
ing glance round the walls, seeking help
from the familiar things. and his eyes
| fell on his gun. A sob of relief broke
from him; he took down the gun. load
ed il hurTiedly, the smell of the spirits
| dripping onto his lips. he licking il
! down. He snatched the bottle from the
, table, shouidered his gun. and went out
: up through the woods, past the
broken stile, where the coarse grass
lay pressed close 10 the earth, and
Phoebe had flung herself down and
wept. With averted face he passed the
spot, and entered deep into the hear
of the wood. AT last he stopped; about
him the trees grew close and thick; ne
eye but Gods could see his shame. H,
: leaned his gun up against branch; tn,
-
/ trees, and he held the bottle up.
$50 yer have got the best o. me a
: last" he said; yer have got the best o
5 me at last"
: The bottle glistened; he brought i
nearer his lips, his thirst pressed fol
5 quenching. the thirst that he woulS
Stake before he shot himself.
r Yer smiling devil" he burst out
with sudden fierceness. yer reckon Il
| catch me. do ZEE. No, yer don't; III di'
: wi'out tasting 'ee." and he dashed the
bottle into fragments at his feet. !
: moment later he had flung himself upor
the ground. striving 10 lick the spirit
' with his tongue.
Dog that ia, dog that ba," h
E sobbed. NO better than dog-no bet
D ter than dog"
E Sick with shame and horror, he re
J gained his feet; he took piece of cor
J from his pocket, made loop in it, al
: taching one end 10 the trigger of tn,
5 gun. He pressed the cold steel barre
up against his hot beating heart, an,
=