The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-10-08
copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Co..


to the low hanging moon in the small
hours of the night. while contemplating
an attack upon the sheepfold, occurred
the Tragedy of Marthu Ann HcrcfOrd's
life. She had married Ike Sorrcl and
the two lived in new cabin far up the
side "f the mountain, overlooking the
valley of the CouncrOsS She had been
married less than a year Ike Was as
mean rs the unk,rf. hungriCrt cltamount
that ranged the hills; and he had struck
MatDa Ann with his big bony fist before
the marriage VOWS were II NORTH old But
tn" airl had numpd the sore spot in 81
lcncc md done what she could TO please
tho big animal She had chosen to abide
with. Ike loved liquor. and he welcomed
weakness in everything but his own
muscular arm, because he could domi-
nccr over it with impunity. The man
beast took every attitude to inspire ter
Tor of himself in tn" heart of the w0-
man who had taken his name. He laugh
ed big and loud ut the ease with which
he could slap Martha Ann SummcrsaultS
with his open hand The girl grew palr
but beyond this, the nCighhors had little
idea OF lkc'S treatment of her, until the
scar marks of his abuse began to ap-
pear on her person.
And about this time, Abe IIawkin,
returned from Montana. Abe had come
home to marry Martha Ann, and when
he found she had married Ike Sorrcl
he >llkcd, us Il rac,"on docs under in
suit He walked sIiOut over the hillS in
silence. and did not 20 to Ike Solrcl's
cabin, though there was Il kind of long
ing in his heart that only the sight of
Martha Ann could satisfy. He walked
mile. among the hills every day. max
ing great circles thnt invariably brought
him sGnc time during the day in the
neighhOrhaud Of SurrCl'S cabin, but new
er quite to- tn" house. a few times he
had caught the CLEAN of the newly hewn
logs ~t which the cabin was built. thro'
q break IN the toist@c of the timber: but
no glimpse of Martha Ann had met his
eager eyes i'll their SurrcptitolIS search.
He had seen Ike SOrrel ~ number of
times. hut had PASSED him by without
so much as Il nod Of the head, dSdain-
lnS t" renew amy acquaintance with
Martha AIMS husband that he might
have had with Ike Sorrrl before his
marriage.
On thec,. occasions Ikr's ungcr would
flare up and he would register to him
self all kinds of vows detrimental to the
wclfnr" of Abe Hawkins and the tail
of his anger wuu!d light upon Martha
Ann. when he reached home. in some
form Of abuse.
One day Ike gCt u,t II huge clasp knife
he Possessed slnd wkctted its blade to the
kcrnnr>S of Il razur'S edge Then he
tried it on Martha AIMS throat Catching
her by the hair he drew her head over
the back of a chair. and lightly encir-
"Ied her neck with the edge of the knife,
leaving Il tiny thread of blood round her
!hl""t. Later he got out Hn old army
pistol from some hiding place, cleaned
it up carefully, oiled it's bearings and
charged it. With these weapons he arm
ed himself and walked over the hills.
crossing trails thAt Abe Hawkins tray
"rSed. And he kept his blood hot with
whiNkcy and anger, and Martha Ann got
the bulnt of it ALL
On one occasion when Ike second
time had Martha Ann by the hair OF
the head, with her thOat prominently ex-
posed, and with the big knife graSped in
his right hand, the girl caiu :
LET it cut deep this time. Ike. I'd
ruther You would an make AN end to
it all"
"Oh. you'd ruthcr would YOU? Their
if you'd ruther, why, | won't: that's
me-" He satisfied himself with jerk
Of her head by the coil of hair he helt
i'll his hand Il amt ready to hunt
new COOK an wood chopper yet. But
j don't reckon We ever need to look foI
Abe Hawkins to come any nearer thar
the Rock spring trail, for he's a dea(
crittcr if he ever sets foot in this clear
in; You hear that?"
Martha Ann didn't reply; and Ike grit
ted his teeth and fingered the trigger o
his big revolver making suggestive clicks
AN let me tell ye somethin' else
Martha Ann SorrcI. Yc needn't be hav
in anything to say to Abe Hawkins. 81
III make shoe strings out of yer hide an
peel EN- off one ut a time till | git
enough to make Il rope thatll hang i'm.
You understand that
Still Martha Ann made no reply
The next day was Sunday, and Abe
made his usual rousd over the hills,
taking long strides and covering four or
five miles of rugged country per hour,
without aim or purpose, except to be
moving. In the afternoon he got around
10 the vicinity of Ike Sorrcs cabin and
10 the Rock spring trail, down which he
strobe nj his swinging, trclcSS gait.
-NS Abt HtiFtU the Spring he saw n
woman knCding by the little stream,
bathing her face in the waters that flow
ed from the spring; and his heart began
an cmntic"rrtr humping, for he knew
The Wrn1u was Martha Ann He had
HvC'tch i'" 81 Nl other occasions since
his turn tlDm the vest but here she
Wa alone. ami he determined to speak
10 her, to grasp her hand. to take her in
his arms. if she would permit it. though
hr had to Kill Ike Sorrcl the next moment
for multiplied stories of Ike'S abuse had
reached Ahe'S ears in the past week
Hearing footsteps on the trail Martha
Ann looked up and Il stream Of mixed
BLOOD altd water spread down over her
face, giving il Il splash of scarlet. Abe
Hawkins stopped where he was Il mo-
mcnt, then hurried forward.
"Msrth;t, Ann, ,hoW come that ea>h in
your 'fdfeli1ad?'
Abe WIS holding out his hands To the
giricand,' inyoluntarily, her own had gone
UP to him, still dripping from the stream
and bearing faint traces of blood from
the wound in her foiehdAd,
2n'I .dasn't tell seiohBe,'n she said. in
answer to his question: ~"