Arizona republican., 1901-02-25

cline all responsibility"
 Mr. Graham smiled indulgently He had not forgotten his young days. His religion did not sour his humanity. On the contrary 1t filled him with tender, intuitive sympathy.
 CHAPTER XVI.
 Jim was painfully depressed after leaving the Gralnams, but he soon flung sad thoughts to the winds, and resolved to marry the girl regardless of conse- quences. He exulted savagely like an Indian with belt full of scalps. She would soon be his. and this joy sweet cned the gall of sin.
 Jim knew the best antidote for re- ronse was occupation. He sat himself a task and worked feverishly. In fell ing truees. hewing and carting them to the house, he escaped through the day the bangs of outraged conscience, but the nights were awful. At first he could not sleep at all. then he would fall into log-llke slumbers only to be reused in the middle of the night by visions real as life.
 He could not stand the lonely torture. so he hired man to assi.t in the build ing of the new house.
 Ghis man could not labor without the stimuiant of liquor and in a short time Jim began taking it. A little did him nO good, and he drank and drank until be entered the drunkardis paradise. There he kept himself most of the time until the finer feelings were gradually pickled and he could laugh at thonor's taunts.
 Once he visited Vahatha with the taint of liquor on his breath. She was living with her mother at the l.. O. ranch now. The queen-who was now Ms. Black-saw him approaching, and still bearing him a grudge on the old iilting score. promptly locked the doors and pulled Glown the blinds. He tried each door and attempted to peer in at the windows, but finding no evidence of life stood disconsolately on the porch, twisting his mustache.
 The queen sat in the middle of the room chuckling.
 Might be crab, eh 9" she said shak- ing her clenchad fist at the disheart- ened lover. "Why don't I live with the one I got. eh? Never see such a fool since Hec was pup. But I got you where the hairs short now, and I'll snatch you bald-headed before you git that gal o' mine
 Jim caught a sound within and turned quickly
 "Is that you Vahatha?" he called softly.
 Don't you wish you knew?' said Mrs. Black. under her breath.
 Hearing no other sound he turned. got on his horse and rode away. He had just got nicely out of sight of the house when he saw Vahatha picking flowers in the woods. He was at her side in a moment.
 She drew away fir mn him in a fright as soon as he had kissed her.
 What's the matter now?" he asked petuan'ily.
 Have you been drinking. Jack?"
 What if l have?" he asked, defiant ly.
 % it would kill me to think of it, dear"
 Well, you don't need to die at once. WT;at you smelled was but the odor of medicine"
 Excuse mo dear. It frightened me dreadfully. I'm fanatic on that ques- ii n."
 "I thought you were temperance wonan.'
 Don't beg the question. Temper ance is but n fools soDhistry. The ser per't is too sly for dalllance.
 Where did you gain such exper- ience?"
 70, one secs so many object lessons hpr h1t weaps OCT a drunkard's grave.
 Tt always seems SD foolish to me this deliberate poisoning. Men know the inevitable results when they take the first drink. just as surely as they know fire will burn if they thrust hand in the flames. And then think of the life of a drunkard's wife" She shuddered
 "Men don't usually look so far ahead"
 But they should. I would die of shame tp see my husband coming home reeling. would not want to live longer. Then this life Is not all of liv- ing
 What a preacher you would be-"
 "I G-n't want 10 preach, Jack. I think strongly on such matters. as pur- ity of thought and soul Cleanliness of body is next to godliness, but cleanli- ness of soul is godliness."
 But suppose there is no God? Sup r r-,se. life ends with the grave? Would it not he better then to take life as we find it, and, like the Indians. enjoy it to the full extent and qualification of our deslres?"
 Never, never!" she cried positively.
 But, O, Jack, darling, why do you throw out such dark and hideous sug- gestions?" sne put her arms around his neck clasped her hands behind, and stood looking up pleadingly into his ! face.
 It was at this moment that two eyes that were miserlbly unhappy peered | over the brow of the cliff above them, | and took in the scene without the | w-rds. It was the real Jack, who had | been liberated by the grand jury and ! was returning home.
 You have made my heart bleed so many tmes-slnce you returned from | the city O, I wish, O. how I wish you | had never gone. Before, we were all | ways in harmony. It seemed as though | our thoughts came from the same mint. | But now"
 She stopped abruptly. Her voice died | like the wall of a lost spirit.