The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-17
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
THE HAUNTED PRAIRIE CABIN.

avenged
1.-THE convulsive sobs that followed, and
which nearly choked her utterance, seemed
to touch the heart of her companion,
though it was impossible for his brute ma
ture to understand the cause of her agony.
"'Now what's the use of your taking
on SO. Sue p he said, in a softer voice.
mo ones thought of harmiDg ye. Bad
as ye think me, you can't say that l ever
raised my hand against you in my life
As to this chap, what's he more than
another? Surprising he was an old friend
of yer fathers, what's that to you? He's
got to die sometime, so where's the odds ?
I tell YOU what it is, Susan, if do as we'll
as l expect to by this job, I'll quit the
business; though it's no worse than many
another, that the law sanctions. Well
leave this cursed hole, and live once more
among civilized beings. Now go into the
house; it's too damp for ye out here: be-
sides, the stranger will suspect something.
And mind we, don't let on you'v We seen
him before. If ye have, it's plain he
don t recollect it, and it best he shouldn't
cat this juncture, fearful of being dis
covered, | quickly retraced my way to the
house.
81 had scarcely resumed my seat by the
fire. when the woman glided into the room,
with the same quiet, noiseless step. She
took seat by the window, as far from me
as possible, and neither by look or motion
betrayed the slightest consciousness of my
presence.
81 looked upon her There was not
the faintest trace upon her countenance OF
the wild burst of anguish to which she had
given utterance but few moments before.
There were rigid lines around the mouth,
and the finely drawn brows had hard,
contracted look, which bespoke inward
suffering, but otherwise her face was as
calm and impressive as the dead.
"Pretty soon her husband entered. He
cast a quick, scrutinizing < lance at us, as
if to see if we had any conversation. APP
parently satisfied, he Immediately, set
about getting supper. His wife laid the
cloth and arranged the dishes upon it, but
he did everything else, even to the mixing
of the corn bread and the broiling OF the
steak. in which he showed the skill of long
experience.
'TUnder different circumstances it would
have been touching to have witnessed his
thoughtfulness for her comfort, and anxiety
to save her from the performance of any
mental office, and, as it was, it could not
escape my notice. The very expression
of his eye and the tone of his voice soft
ened whenever he spoke to her. 1t was
evident that he loved her, perhaps the
more intensely and engrossingly because it
was the only assailable point in his hard
heart, the only tenderness that he had
ever cherished for any human being
GAS for her, she received every mani
festation of his affectation with hard en-
durance, which told more plainly than
words of the horror and aversion with
which he had inspired her. Warm and
devoted as had been her love for him, it
was plain there was nothing left Of it now,
but it's dead ashes; that it was duty and
not affection that bound her to him. Only
once did | see her countenance alter and
that was when his hand CHANGED to touch
hers; then she shrank away with a look of
loathing, while a slight shudder convulsed
her frame.
CATER supper, the customary bottle of
'old ryo was brought forward, of which l
was strongly urged to partake, but felt
that | had need of steady nerves and a
clear head, and resolutely declined
''The landlord s face darkened with dis
appointment Then leaving the room he
presently returned with foaming mug of
what he termed genuine New England
cider and set it down before me-
''Not wishing to arouse his suspicious,
was about to raise it to my lips, when
my eye CHANGED to fall upon his wife, who
was regarding me with an anxious, troubled
look. As soon as she caught my eye she
raised her hand with the same warning
gesture that she had used before. So
quickly was it done that her husband,
whose head was turned, momentarily,
from her, did not observe it.
[ was startled. Perhaps the cider was
poisoned, or drugged. At any rate l de-
termined that | would not touch it.
GAS | was celebrating how could best
decline 1t without giving offence, there
came the tramp of horse feet to the door
and the landlord hurried out to receive the
new conner As soon as the door closed
after him, his wife approached the table,
and taking the mug, drained it to the bot
tom, then replacing it, resumed her seat,
without directing to me word or look.
Completely mystlfed by this singular
conduct, | had scarcely recovered from my
astonishment when mine host entered, ac-
companied by a man, who he introduced
to me as an old friend and neighbor. As
he called him Bill, | surmised him to be
the same man he had alluded to in his
communication with his wife.
'My situation began to grow serious,
two against one was rather more than