News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-08-26

it, but I wasn't ready to admit it..
| Then you come along an rendered a
verdict in my favor when you needed
| the money you did it with. Alan eff
| don't show my appreciation it II be
| beca'se | dont live long enough. You
never axed me but one thing, an that
was to quit drinkin' whisky. I'm goin'
| to make try at it, not beca'se I think
| that III pay you back, but beca'se with
| a sober head | kin be better friend to
| you eff the chance ever comes my way"
I'm glad to hear you say that
Pole" replied Alan, greatly moved by
| the fellows earnestnesS. 81 believe
you can do it. Then your wife and
| children
Hang my wife an children!' snort
ed Pole. ITS you I'm gOin' to work
fer-you, say"
He suddenly turned through the open
gate and strobe homeward across the
fields Alan stood looking after him
till his tall form was lost in the hazy
moonlight, and then he went Up to his
! bed.
Pole entered the open door Of his
cabin and began to undress as he sal
on the side of his crude bedstead. made
of Embarked poles fastened to the bare
logs in one corner of the room. His
wife and children slept on two beds on
the other side of the room.
Did you see i'm, Pole?" piped up
Mrs. Baker from the darkness.
Yes, | seed i'm. Sally, say, whar's
that bottle O. whisky l had the last
time l was at home"
There was an Ominous silence. Out
Of it rose the soft breathing of the chill
dren. Then the woman sighed. "Pole,
shorely you amt a-goin' to begin
agin?"
mo; want to bust it into smither-
Gems. l don't want it about; l don't
want to know thar's a drap in the
house. I've swore off, an this time she
sticks. Gil me that bottle"
Another silence. Suddenly the woman
spoke: Pole you've swore off as many
times as a dog has fieas. Often when
| feel bad an sick when you are off,
drap G whisky makes me feel better.
l don't want you to destroy the last
bit in the house Jest beca'se you've
tuck this turn, that may wear off be-
fore daylight The last time you emp
tied that key on the ground an swore
off you got on spree an helt the baby
over the well an threatened to drap
'er in eff | didn't find bottle, an you'd.
- done it too
Pole laughed softly. II reckon yo're
right, ole gall" he said. Besides, eff
l can't-ef | amt man enough to let
up with bottle in the house | won't
do it without. But the sight or smell
of it is hell itse'f to a lover of the
truck. Eff | was to tell you what
little thing started me on this last
spree, you'd laugh. l went to git
shave in a barber shop, an when the
barber finished he soaked my face in
bay rum, an it got in my mustache.
l kept smellin' it all mornin' an tried
to wipe it off, but she wouldn't wipe
All the time l kept walllin' up an
down in front O Luke Sellmore's bar.
Finally l said to myself, We'll, eff you
have to have barroom stuck under
yore nose all day like a wet sponge.
old man, you mought as well have one
whar it IL taste better, an l slid up to
the counter"
The woman sighed audibly, but she
made no reply.
rs Billy awaken" Pole suddenly
asked.
NO; you know he amt" said Mrs
Baker.
well, want to take i'm in my bed"
Pole stood out on the floor in the sheet
of moonlight that fell through the open
door.
81 wouldn't, Pole" said the woman.
"The pore little feller's been toddlin'
about after the others, draggin' bresh
to the heap tell he's tired. He drapped
to sleep at the table with a piece O.
bread in his mouth"
81 won't wake i'm, God bless his lit
tie heart" answered Pole, and he
reached down and took the limp child
in his arms and pressed him against
the side of his face. He carried him
tenderly across the room and lay
down with him. His wife heard him
uttering endearing things to the un-
conscious child until she fell asleep.
Ito be continued.)