Connecticut western news., 1906-07-05
UNDER THE COPPER MOON By CHARLES
 SLOAN REID
Cop. right, 1905, by T. c. Mcclure.

arising over the swamp that stretched away southward from cabin on a knoll. From the muffled distance came the sound of the pile drivers sinking timber on top of timber into the marshy soil of the swamp. It was the night shift at work. The construction of the railroad was being pushed as rapidly as the situation would allow, and men there were yielding up their lives ev- cry day to the insinuatinS grasp of malaria.
 On the steps of the cabin sat young woman. gazing with hollow eyes to- ward the moon, while from beyond in the deeper darkness of the cabins in- terior came sonorous sounds from the nostrils of man ill drunken sleep.
 At last the young woman arose and walked across the yard to the dense shadow of palm, and she limped with pain. At the roots of the palm she sat down and rested her chin in her small hands. The sound of light footstep reached her ear moment later, but she did not raise her head until her name was called close to her ear.
 Gus she murmured, I've been hopin' ye'd come, though don't reckon it's hardly right to do 1t. But how can a body help l., Gus, when he does the way he does:"
 Cant, Mag, an I'm proud ye can't. I reckon its selfishness in me, an 1t may not be right for me to be steppin' in between d man an his wife an showin' ye my love the way I do, but ye warn't mated right, Mag. an Jim knows it as well as you do. But, little un, what I'm thinkin' about is where's the help"
 That's so, Gus. Where's the help? I took Jim for better or for worse, an if it's worse I reckon it ain't for me 10 complain--that Is, to anybody but"ye, Gus"
 II notice ye're Hmpin', Mag. More of Jim's meanness, I reckonY'
 "Nothin' much, Gus. IF
 Il reckon ye'd as we'll tell 1t, Mag to me"
 "Yes. I know But Jim didn't know what he was doin' hardly, an the ta- ble was rickety anyhow"
 Jest about made ye run over the ta- ble, I guess. But, Mag, been won- derin' if ye had any rations. I know Jim ain't struck lick since-I mean in the last two weeks"
 T know what ye mean, Gus. Ye mean since ye give me the last money. An'-an' I'm obliged to say it's so. don't know how, but somehow he found out had the money, an he wanted to borrow 1t, an didn't see any way to refuse him"
 'I reckon not. He always gets enough to get drunk on. But what I want to know is how long ye'ye been without anything to eatr'
 Mag gazed for a moment toward the copper moon in the heavens and was silent, the muscles of her gaunt face twitching slightly at a suggestion Of the hunger she felt.
 Mag, I reckon ye'd jest as well tell me-"
 T know, Gus, know-but'- Mas dropped her face into the crook of her arm and began to cry.
 Gus sat on the ground a few feet away, gazing upon the woman, with all the love and yearning of his soul in his eyes, and allowed her to cry in silence. But at last he spoke again.
 II know it's been long enough" he said. lingering a gold piece he had talk en from his pockt..
 Mag looked toward him. Since yes terday E?ornin', Gus, an I reckoned I'd die this time. An, though ye'd hardly like to hear 1t l was kind of horin' I would"
 Mag" Gus was on his knees and had se.zod the girls hands. II was afraid it was com.n' to this again, an I tried to get back sooner. an 1 know now I should lave sent Tom Boius in my place."
 No, yc shoCldn't. Gus. What right lad ye to be scnGin' any ona In yer place to earn yer money, jest so yr 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 it's slender finger down upon the p:cce of money he had drawn from his pocket
 Mig" hc> said. ''it don't look like 1t would be wrong for ne to take ye Tn my arms an kiss :-a jest onco. But, then, reckon it would be, since ye're Jim's by the law am the gospel, sich as it 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, wont 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 ye talk about dyin' or I'll kiss ye 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 just as a man staggered to the doorway from the dark interior and called her name gruffly.
 The next day Gus exchanged places with Tom Ro1IlS Tom had baao Saf-