Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-12-26
IA FR OST AND
A TIIA!Wsa lss !.
BY ELLIOT WALKER


he- mouth.
"The end is comm, she muttered
behind the tightly closed fingers. III
simply can't endure him any longer"
Under the scanty gray hair, brushed
mercilessly back from the anxious
brow, her eyes, strained, fixed and
hopeless, presently roved with slow
despair from the yellow-painted cell
ing to the clean, worn dresser, where
stood the shining tins In readiness for
the mornings milk. Dropping her
hand, Dorcas gazed at them Queerly.
Forty years I've flied pans right
here. Oh! what amt done right
here? Stood and worked, and thought,
and planned, laughed and cried, happy
and miserable, summer and winter,
rain and shine. Lord! Lord! Lord!"
She clasped her forehead, grooming
bitterly, with no tears, unconsclously
counting the well-Ised household i'm
Elements hanging neatly on their
nails, and the array of canisters and
small spice-boxes ON the shelf. ITO
drop dead would be mercy" she
whispered. If dared
Picking up a eeu-edged bread knife,
The woman patted the sharp point
with finger, smiling grinly while
she poked her corset ribs.
"If had heart, 'twould be about
here, l s'pose Pshaw That's no
way. If you get to thinkin' of that
No! While the fits on me I'll tell
him. Just as am, I'll go out to the
barn and tell him I'm goin'. From his
actions lately, he ought to be willin'
enough. My soul! when did it all
start, and what for? It's like wall
Of ice, beginnin' with drop and
CROWN, CROWN, till we're froze apart
as wide as the poles. He knows it,
know it. It's beyond ever meltin'.
Nothin' to do but one thing"
Across the yard, unmindful of the
dew still soaking the uncut grass and
the fact of ner low heel-trodden slip
pers, Mrs. Cope marched stolidly,
blind to the early sunshine, deaf to-
her favorite robins, intent only upon
the words burning in her brain
"I'll be cool and calm" she kept
saying, mumbling her lower lip. "l'l
say, 'Beecher, what's the use? II
there's any comfort left on earth for
either of us we'll never find it togeth-
er. And he'll say-well-not much,
guess. Why no need of luggin' this
knife out here" she added, surprised
l-~ 7
The great barn door stuck ant
rreaked dismally as Dorcas squeezed
through, pushing an aperture sufff'
GENTLY wide to allow ingress for her
narrow figure. "He's in here some
where" she said to herself, with an
added irritation at the delay, as she
peered about. "The cows amt out
vet What's that ladder doin' there!
What's"
A low, dreadful cry burst from her.
Then she went up the ladder like
mad creature, bent over beam and
slashed with the bread knife.
Beecher Cope fell heavily in heap.
Half sliding, half dropping, his wife
descended with perilous agility, few
to him, tore the moose from his neck,
rolled him over and sank to her knees.
Mr.. Cope was very much alive, albeit
somewhat purple and greatly shame
faced and dismayed. His rope had not
| been properly adjusted. Having tied
his feet and hands with strong Irvine,
he was undergoing slow and pain
| full process of strangulation, with no
power to expedite matters, when his
better half had appeared on the scene.
Gasplng few times, he cleared his
throat for speech.
"Dorcas Cope, don't you never let
on! Cut them strings and II get up. !"
Promise me you'll never try this
ag'in! If not. I'll leave you tied,
Beecher Cope. I'll call in the neigh
| bors-Tll-"
"The Lord hearin' me, I've had
enough, Dorcaa"
Her face was like white flint as
she shipped the bonds, helped him
stagger stifiy to his feet, and took his
arm.
Come right in the house, Beecher,'
she said. quietly.
The stern-featured old man walked
submissively by her side He had not
trembled at the prospect of death, but
now he shuddered, leaning against the
woman with his head lowered.
"You druv me to it," he grunted ag-
! gressively.
"How?"
II dunno how. can't tell; but you
did. For ten years you've been drivin
me to it, Dorcas-I couldn't stand Il
another day"
"Humph!" Mrs. Cope's throaty ex.
clamatioA was hardly distinct.
They reached the kitchen. The half.
prepared breakfast was on the range.
"set down." said the woman
strangely. Drink this cup of hot tea
Throat hurt your"
"N-o-no, not much. Kind o,
choky
He gulped the beverage and hell
out his cup for more. Dorcas sat ant
slipped hers.
Nov then" she said.
Cope Strengthened up. "DOrcas," b,
began, shalkily. have ever scoldec
you, or ben mean or overbearin',