The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-03-04

hio manu. pul ciaNlhb moving Slowly
back, said:
II did you q wrong, Nixon, and It's a
sorry man I am this day for it,"
Don't say a word, Slavin," answer
ed Nixon hurriedly. IT know how you
feel. I've got a baby too. L want to
see 1t again. That's why the break
hurt me So"
A Gods above" replied Slavin ear.
nestiy, "I1l hinder you no more"
They shook hands, and we passed
out.
We laid the baby under the pines,
not far from Billy Breen. and the sweet
spring wind blew through the gap and
came softly down the valley, whisper
Ing to the pines and the grass md the
hiding flowers of the new life coming
to the world. And the mother must
have heard the whisper in her heart,
FOR MS the priest was saying the words
OF the service she stood with Mrs. Ma
vor's arms about her. and her eyes
were looking far away beyond the pur-
pie mountain tops, seeing what made
her smile. And Slavin, too, looked diff
ferent. His very features seemed finer.
The coarseness vas gone out OF his
face. What had come to him I could
not tell.
But when the doctor came into SIa-
Wins house that night 1t vas the old
Slavin l saw, but with a look of such
deadly fury OH his face that 1 tried to
get the doctor out at once. But he was
half drunk, and his manner was hid
eously humorous.
"How do, ladies'? How do, gentle
mcn?" was his loud voiced salutation.
quite n professional gathering, clergy
prcdominating. Lion and lamb tool
Ha, ha! Which is the lamb, eh2 Ha,
hal! Very good! Awfully sorry to
hear of your loss, Mrs. Slavin. Did
our best, you know; can't help this sort
Of thing"
Before any n could move Craig
was at his side and, saying in n clear,
firm voice, "One moment, DOCTOR"
caught him by the arm and had him
out of the room before he knew 1t.
Slavin. who had been crouching in
his chair, with hands twitching and
eyes glazing, rose and followed, still
crouching MS he walked.
i hurried after him, calling him back.
Turning ut my voice, the doctor saw
Slavin approaching. There was some
thing so terrifying in his swift, noise
less, crouching motion hat the doctor,
crying out In fear, keep him offp
fairly turned and fed.
He was too late. Like Il tiger Slavin
leaped upon him and without waiting
to strike had him by the throat with
both hands and, bearing him to the
ground, worried him there as q dog
might n cat.
Immediately Craig and l were upon
him; but, though we lifted him clear
of the ground, we could not loosen
that two handed %strangling grip. AS
we were struggling there a light hand
touched my shoulder. 1t was Father
Goulet.
"Please let him go and stand away
from u.s." he said, waving us back.
We obeyed.
lie leaned over Slavin and spoke a
few words to him.
Slavin started as If struck n heavy
blow, looked up ut the priest with fear
In his face, but still keeping his grip.
"Let him 60" said the priest.
SlaYin hesItated.
"Lct him go! Quickl' said the priest
again. and Slavin, with n snarl, let go
his hold II stood sullenly facing tho
priest.
Father Goulet regarded him steadily
for some seconds and then asked:
what would you dot"
His voice was gentle enough, even
sweet, but there was something IN it
that chilled my marrow.
"What would you do2" he repeated.
FL murdered my child" growled
Slarin.
"Ah! HowT
"Ie was drunk and poisoned him"
"Ah! Who gave him drink? Who
made him n drunkard two years ago?
Who has wrecked his life?"
There was no answer, and the even
toned voice went relentlessly on:
"Who Is the murderer Of your child
nowf"
Slavin groaned and shuddered.
"Go" And the voice grew stern.
"aepent of your sin and add not an
other"
Slavin turned his eyes upon the mo
tionless figure on the ground and then
upon the priest.
Father Goulet took one step toward
him and. stretching out his hand and
pointing with his finger, said:
Cor
And Slavin slowly backed away and
went into his house. 1t was an ex-
traordinary scene, and it Is often with
me now-thc dark figure on the ground,
the slight, erect form of the priest with
outstretched arm and finger, and Sla-
vim backing away. fear and fury strug.
Cling In his face.
1t was n near thing for the doctor,
however, and two minutes moro Of
that grip would have done for him.
AS 1t was, we had tho greatest Difficult
ty In reviving him.
What the priest did with Slavin aft
er getting him inside l know not-that
has always been Il mystery to me-but
when we were passing the saloon that
night after taking Mrs. Mavor home
we saw n light and heard strange
sounds within. Entering, we found
another whisky raid in progress, Sla-
vim himself being the raider. We stood
some moments watching him knocking
I'm the heads OF casks and cmptying
bottles. 1 thought he had gone mad
and approached him cautiously.
"Hello, Slavin!" 1 called out. "What
does this meanf"
Hc paused In his strange work, and l
saw that his face, though resolute,
was uuiet enough.