The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-02-05

y
could be here on my account? Some
times most forget, Gus" Mag nodded
toward the house and slowly withdrew
her hands from the mans grasp.
But Gus caught one Of them again
and pressed its slender finger down
upon the piece Of money he had drawn
from his pocket.
Mag" he said, "it don't look like 1,
would be wrong for me to take ye in
my arms an kiss We Jest once. But,
then, reckon 1t would be, since we're
Jim's by the law an the gospel, sich
as 1t was"
There was silence for few moments
after this speech; then Mag reached
out and laid her hand on Gus arm.
when I'm dead, Gus" she said.
won't ye come an kiss me when no,
body's lookin'? There'll be no harm
then"
"Mag, Magr Gus had seized her by
the shoulders in a frenzied grasp.
Don't We talk about dyin' or I'll kiss
We to death right here now in spite o.
Jim an the law an the gospel"
Mag drew quickly away from him,
and he, too, shrank back and arose.
Both realized how insurmountable was
the barrier between them, and Mag re-
treated slowly toward the cabin lust
as man staggered to the doorway
from the dark interior and called her
name gruffly.
The next day Gus exchanged places
with Tom Bolus. Tom had been set.
ting poles for one Of the pile drivers,
and Gus had been captain Of the team
gangs hauling supplies from the coast.
Among the supplies of the commits.
sary was an abundance Of red LIQUOR,
and 1T was this which kept Jim from
working as long as he could obtain
cent otherwise with which to buy
whisky. And Gus was surprised on en-
tering the commissary ut noon to see
Jim in the act Of throwing upon the
counter the gold coin which he had
pressed into Mags hand the night be-
fore.
Gus turned on his heel and, taking I'D
his unopened dinner pail, carried it to
Jim's cabin and thrust it inside the
door to Mag. Returning, Gus met Jim.
and the latter fiourished a long black
bottle before his face.
1t was three days before Jim showed
himself about the works again. Then
he came lounging about the machine
where Gus was working. There was
leer in Jim's eye, which made Gus
little nervous. He did not feel alto
gether innocent, and once or twice he
felt like telling Jim plainly that he
loved his wife and that one or the 9TH
er OF them must die. But as each
thought OF this kind arose Gus inward
~ cursed himself and clinched his
teeth with determination. But Jim re.
mained. apparently only watching the
work OF the pile driver which Gus WINS
operating.
Inc afternoon was growing gray I'm
the swamp, and the time of the day
shift was drawing to a close. Still.
.im afnat stood ah on 9a 9aas sJGH fe fe other. Ills
thoughts took new turn as the days
end drew nearer. Mag was irrevocably
tied to that clod of earth before him,
and she could never be nearer to him
than now unless-Jim died.
Gus throttled the thought Of possible
that, unbidden, seemed to arise
=.
quickly up at the rising follow block, |
that great, square lump Of steel weigh
ing two tons or more, and new
thought came to him.
There was q moment Of fascination,
and, as the block started on its return,
its swift and powerful descent, Gus
tripped himself and pitched
forward between the grooves, directly
in the path of the block. But Mt the
same instant there was sudden move
ment on the part Of Jim. His lank
body shot forward, with outstretched
arms and hands catching against the
breast Of Gus and showing him far
back from the path Of the descending
block.
There was q muffied thud when the
follow block struck, and the trunk Of
Jim's body was mass Of crushed
flesh and bone. Gus regained his feet
and sprang forward in time to catch
Jim's dropping head in his hands.
SOUS, ye're all right" Inurmured the
lips Of the dying man. "Ye're fittin'
for Mag, an amt Tell her said for
ye to marry tomorrow No use Of wait
in'-for-for reckon Mag's hungry
now"
Jim's eyes glazed, and his jaws be-
came set. And Gus held his head in 81
lence while the crowd gathered around.
But Jim had lain in his grave on the
hillside a full year before Gus deliver