Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-08-17

behind the tightly closed fingers L
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! that amt | done right
here? Stood and worked, and thought,
and planned, laughed cad cried, happy
and miserable, summer and winter,
rain and shine. Lord! Lord! Lord
She clasped her forehead, groanng
bitterly, with no tears. unconsciously
counting the well-used household i'm
plements hanging neatly on their
nails. and the array of canisters and
small spice-boxes on the shelf. TO
| drop dead would be mercy, she
| whispered. If dared
Picking up keen-edged bread knife,
the woman patted the sharp point
|
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 l 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 1t all
start and what for? It's like wall
Of ice, beginfin' with a drop and
CROWN, CROWN, till we're froze apart
as wide as the poles. He knows 1t.
know 1t. 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 her 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. 'Tll
say, 'Beecher, what's the use? II
there's any comfort left on earth for
either of us we'll never find 1t togeth-
err And he'll say-well-not much, I
guess. Why no need of luggin' this
knife out here" she added, surprised
ly. Il thought put it Gown"
The great barn door stuck and
creaked dismally as Dorcas squeezed
through, pushing AN aperture sufH-
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
yet What's that ladder dom there
What's"
A low, dreadful cry burst from her
Then she went up the ladder like {
mad creature. bent over beam ant
slashed with the bread knife.
Beecher Cope fell heavily in heap
Half sliding, half dropping, his wifi
descended with perilous agility, flew
to him, tore the moose from his neck
rolled him over and sank to her knees
Mr. Cope was very much alive, albei
somewhat purple and greatly shame
faced and dismayed. His rope had no
been properly ADJUSTED. Having tie
his feet and hands with strong Irvine
he was undergoing a slow and pain
full process of strangulation, with n
power to expedite matters. when hi
better half had appeared on the scene
Gasping few times, he cleared hi
throat for speech.
"Dorcas Cope, don't you never le
on! Cut them strings and l II get up.
Promise me you'll never try thi
lag'in! If not, I'll leave you tie,
!. Beecher Cope. I'll call in the neigf
5 bors-I'll-"
}. 1.-THE Lord hearin' me. I've ha
: enough. Dorcas."
s Her face was like a white flint ;
O she shipped the bonds, helped hi
stagger stifdy to his feet, and took b
arm.
5, Come right in the house, Beecher
a she said, quietly.
n tn, stern-featured old man walk
q submissive.y by her side. He had n
- trembled at the prospect of death. b
now he shuddered. leaning against t
woman with his head lowered.
g "You druv me to it," he grunted a
gressively.
n "How?"
:" st dunno how. l can't tell; but y
u did. For ten years you've been driv
ia me to it, Dorcas-I couldn't stand
Of another day."
y "Humph!" Mrs. Cope's throaty c
clamation was hardly distinct.
They reached the kitchen. The ha
> prepared breakfast was on the rang
=. set down." said the WON,
" strangely Drink this cup of hot t
or Throat hurt your"
II. Mono, not much. Kind
IL choky
d. He gulped the beverage and b.
x out his cup for more Dorcas sat a
of slipped hers.
90 Now then" she said.
or Cope Strengthened up. "Dorcas,"
4