Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-06-21
THE WIFE OF
DAVID
By JOSEPH HEATING
lcoPyFisht, I9os, b Joseph B. sowls..l

'tehN9 AOfeu dDoul IN lne Q2fk
OF the morning on the hillside, and
shon Ddu met a few struggling miners
OF the night-workers coming home.
The sleepy banksman-the Cerberus
Of the pit gates-yawned and stretched
himself as Shon Ddu stood ready to de-
scend.
You be early" said the banksman.
Shon made no reply.
Il am in time" he thought. mo
one is in yet"
He reached the bottom of the pit
and turned into a tunnel.
His light went through the darkness
and the rays here and there touched
the coal which shone out In the gloom
like a genial demon in his lair ready
for any mischief.
He passed slowly along the face
keeping his light upon ii. His trained
eye saw the weak parasitic innocent
slips" which an experienced touch
could turn into sssassins.
Il must be quick" said Shon Ddu
The others will be in soon"
He stopped at the signs OF recent
work near the right-hsnd wall.
He'll be cutting here to-day"
The coal when he tested 1t gave out
dull sound, which told him that very
little cutting would make II fall out
Shon Ddu went down on his knees
and dug carefully around the bottom
OF post. Soon he stopped and test
ed the wood with the tool The post
sounded without vihration-dull like
a drum with a flaw in the parchment
ANY violent shock would knock il out,
and bring down the roof II II fell
upon a man II would crush the life out
Of him-well. hundreds Of accidents Of
that sort happened, and one more or
less would not attract the slightest at
tention.
He suddenly stopped, his head bent
to listen.
A raucous cough came from an
asthmatic chest and when the noise
Of II passed. there came the slow thud
-thud OF dragging feet through the
dust OF the roadway
"shon Ddu!" came from the light.
Il was coming through the face"
said shon. earelessly 81 saw your
light-so | thought I'd stop and see
how David was getting on"
GLAD to see you" David answered.
You would have thought him very
old. but the light reaching his face
showed you only the wrinkles OF III
health. on a kindly, patient face; with
the iron.gray beard and hair Of man
not past 40 years. Still he looked pale
and frail. The same light showed you
the dark, strong face and Arm body
of shon Ddu. You could not doubt
which Of these two a woman would
love.
Soon after shon Ddu reached his own
place. and, stripped to the waist, took up
a mandrel. hitched his lamp TO his belt
and set steadily to work, cutting the
coal
The day passed. No news of any
accident came, and Shon Ddu's frown
grew darker. He had planned this
without care for the consequences. tie
feared neither the punishment Of God
nor of man. He had planned II be-
cause David's wife must never know
how her freedom came 10 her. In that
lay the secret Of his action.
Have failed?" cried he.
That night when quiet fell upon the
workings, when all others had gone
home when he knew beyond doubt
that nothing had happened, shon
Ddu strobe fercely down along the
coal to the place OF David. He saw
wood-chips among the eoal-dust in the
COB" he saw signs Of standing
timber" he saw a new cog In the
lower side Of the road; he saw the
same tram he had seen in the morn
ine-saw II in its same condition:
only half filled. Not lump OF coal
had been added.
Shon Ddu laughed bitterly Well
said he. Il would have had II finished
here. but II was not to be ended that
way. Ii must end with her. She must
leave him for me. We will 30 away
the valley forever.
The next morning if you had seen
Rronwen-wife to David, slave to the
strong will OF Snon Ddu-as she went
mn the valley road. alone, obeying the
mower that dominated her, you might
pitv her for the trouble in her face
but YOU would hardly think evil Of her
The woman carried in her hand
small satehel with the intention OF
making her errand look harmless IN
Inc ewes of the people whom she met
i she passed through the streets, But
he agony Of earnestness in her DARK !
Ewes the twitching Of her red lips the
OF her cheek told more
serious tale: and sometimes her step
palted and her poor body trembled.
Ont Of the bushes little way mp
he mountain side came man. he
mt his hand up to shade bis eyes from
he sun and looked down toward the
-. Ne caught sight Of the woman