The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-02-20


rue true down by the wishing we'll"
81 didn't love zee then the ZANE as 100
now by DEAL" he answered, taking her
hands in his.
"Oh, lad, 1 can't fathom ZEE" she said,
with sob.
Sweetheart, tits the drink I'm afeard
of; 'twull have me wan day like did my
vather and brothers afore me-"
but 1 bain't afeard."
81 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 1 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-"
"You amt lovin' me the zame as you
did, or zee wudn't need no minding,"
she exclaimed, brokenly. "And amt
fallen eff 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, "'tis vine
and long for all it loses in the curl, and
my voot, too, Dave"-she kicked off her
shoe" it's wonderful arched, and a
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. ooh, lad, lad" she sobbed, you
bain't looking, you bain't looking"
He let go 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 u.s." he said, hoarsely.
She watched the sudden hardening of
his mouth. Must us mind on 'em?"
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
answered; "'twad ba devils wark-I
cudn't do it,"
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 to 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 waiting followed
him, yet his heart cried out so loudly
that he knew not if the waiting came
from her lips or his own. Long be wan
deTed 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 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.
Clutehing at his throat, striving TO tear
the thirst from it, he advanced, the bot
tie gistening in the moonlight, locking
as If it 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; be took down the gun, load
ed 1t hurTiedly, the smell of the spirits
dripping onto his lips, he licking it
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 to the earth, and
Phoebe had flung herself down and
wept. With averted face he passed the
spot, and entered deep into the heart
OF the wood. All last ne stopped; about
him the trees grew close and thick; no
eye but Gods could see his shame. He
leaned his gun up against branch; the
moonlight edged itself between the
trees, and he held the bottle up.
80 yer have got the best o. me az
-', HS SuAuJ 9SA nave SOL the DtSl o
me at last
The bottle glistened; he brought it
nearer his lips, his thirst pressed for
quenching, the thirst that he would
Stake before he shot himself.
"Yer smiling devil" he burst out,
with sudden fierceness. yer reckon to
catch me, do zee. No, yer don't; Ill die
wi'out tasting 'ee," and he dashed the
bottle into fragments al his feet. 4
moment later he had flung himself upon
the ground, striving to lick the spirits
with his tongue.
Dog that 1 ba, dog that I ba,'' he
sobbed. mo better than dog-no bet
ter than dog"
Sick with shame and horror. he re-
gained his feet; be took piece of cord
from his pocket, made a loop in it, at
'aehlng one end to the trigger of the
gun. He pressed the cold steel barrel
up against his hot beating heart, and
Paced his foot in the loop. "A dogs
death for dog" he muttered.
The moonlight shone on him, on the
gun, and on the broken bottle at his
feet: the plisten;no oIose 81 L =: