Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-07-07
Black
Rock
By RALPH Common
81 @@@@@@@@@@@ $
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Nixon could not be got to drink before
Easter. All Idaho's schemes had failed,
and now he had only three days in
which to win his money, and the ball
was his last chance. Here, again, he
was baked, for Nixon. resisting all en-
treaties, barred his shack door and
went to bed before nightfall, according
to his invariable custom on pay days.
At midnight some of Idaho's men came
battering at the door for admission,
which Nixon reluctantly granted. For
half an hour they used every art of
persuasion to induce him to go down
to the ball, the glorious success of
which was glowingly depicted, but
Nixon remained immovable, and they
took their departure, baflled and ours
ing. In two hours they returned drunk
enough to be dangerous, kicked at the
door in vain, finally gained entrance
through the window, hauled Nixon out
of bed and, holding a glass of whisky
to his lips, bid him drink, but he knock
ed the glass away, spilling the liquor
over himself and the bed.
1t was drink or fight, and Nixon was
ready to fight, but after a parley they
had drink all round and fell to per-
suasion again. The night was cold, and
poor Nixon sat shivering on the edge of
his bed. If he would take one drink,
they would leave him alone. He need
not show himself so stiff. The whisky
fumes filed his nostrils If one drink
would get them off, surely that was
better than fighting and killing some
one or getting killed. He hesitated,
yielded drank his glass. They sat
about him amiably drinking and laud-
ing him as q fine fellow after all. One
more glass before they left; then Nixon
rose, dressed himself, drank all that
was left of the bottle, put his money in
his pocket and came down to the
dance wild with his old time madness,
reckless of faith and pledge, forgetful
of home, wife. babies, his whole being
absorbed in one great passion-to drink
and drink and drink till he could drink
no more.
Before Shaw had finished his tale
Craig's eyes were streaming with tears,
and groans of rage and pity broke al
ternately from him.
Abe remained speechless for time,
not trusting himself, but as he heard
Craig groan, "Oh, the beasts, the
fiendsv' he seemed encouraged to let
himself loose, and he began swearing
with the coolest and most bloodcurdling
deliberation.
Craig listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac-
ton in Abe's performance, when sud-
denly he seemed to waken up, caught
Abe by the arm and said in a horror
stricken voice:
"Stop! Stop! God forgive usl We
must not swear like this"
Abe stopped at once and in a sur.
prised and slightly grieved voice said:
"Why, what's the matter with that
Amt that what you wantedY
Eyes, yes. God forgive me! | am
afraid it was" he answered hurriedly
|'but l must not"
ooh, don't you worry! went on Abe
cheerfully. "I'll look after that part
And anyway amt they the blankest
blankety blank'- going off again into
n roll of curses till Craig, in an agony
of entreaty, succeeded in arresting the
flow of profanity possible to no one
but n mountain stage driver. Abe
paused, looking hurt, and asked if they
did not deserve everything he was call
ing down upon them.
Eyes, yes" urged Craig, "but that il
not our business"
"Well, so | reckoned," replied Abe
recognizing the limitations of the cloth
NYou amt used to it, and you can't bt
expected to do it, but it just makes me
feel good--let out of school rlke-tC
properly do 'em up, the blank, blank
And off he went again. 1t was only
under the pressure of Mr.. Craig's pray
ers and commands that he finally
agreed to 'hold in, though it's tough"
whats to be done?" asked Shaw.
Nothing" answered Craig bitterly.
He was exhausted with his long ride
from the Landing and broken with bit
ker disappointment over the ruin of al
chat he had labored so long to accom-
plish.
NONSENSE said Graeme. "There'.
good deal to do"
1t was agreed that Craig should re
main with Nixon, while the others o.
us should gather up what fragment
we could find of the broken league
We had just opened the door when w,
met man striding up at great pace
1t was Geordie Crawford.
"Hae We seen the lad" was his salu
tation.
No one replied, so 1 told Geordie o
my last sight of Billy in the orchestra
AN did We no gang after him?" b
asked in indignant surprise, adding
with some contempt, "Mon, but ye're
feckless buddiew
BILLY gone, too?' said Shaw. "The
might have let Billy alone.
Poor Craig stood in dumb agony
Billy's fall seemed more than he coul
bear. We went out, leaving him hear
broken amid the ruins of his league.