Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-08-09

THE end is COMM" she muttered
behind the tightly closed fingers. 81
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 a slow
despair from the yellow-painted cell
mg 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 l done right
here? Stood and worked, and thought,
and planned, laughed and cried, happy
ind miserable, summer and winter,
ain and shine. Lord! Lordi Lord!"
She clasped her forehead, grooming
bitterly, with no tears, unconsciously
counting the well-used household i'm
PIGMENTS hanging neatly on their
nails, and the array of canisters and
small spice-boxes on the shelf. ITO
drop dead would be a mercy" she
whispered. IF l dared"
Picking up keen-edged bread knife,
the woman patted the sharp point
with a finger, smiling grimly while
she poked her corset ribs.
III had heart, 'twould be about
here, spose. 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 20 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 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 fayorite robins, intent only upon
the words burning in her brain.
I'll be cool and calm" she kept
saying, mumbling her lower lip. "Ill
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,
guess Why no need of luggin' this
knife out here" she added, surprised
lily. Il thought put it Gown"
The great barn door stuck and
creaked dismally as Dorcas squeezed
through, pushing an aperture suffi-
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"
Then she went up the ladder like
mad creature, bent over beam and
slashed with the bread knife.
Beecher Cope fell heavily in a heap.
Half sliding, half dropping, his wife
descended with perilous agility, flew
to him. tore the moose from his neck,
rolled him over and sank to her l:nees.
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,
ho was undergoing a slow and pain
tul process of strangulation, with no
power to expedite matters, when his
better half had appeared on the scene.
Gasping 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, III leave you tied.
Beecher Cope. I'll call in the neigh
bors-I'll-"
1.-THE Lord hearin' me, I've had
enough. Dorcas."
Her face was like q white flint rs
she shipped the bonds, helped him
stagger stiffly to his feet, and took his
arm.
"Come right in the house, Beecher,"
she said. quietly.
TIL, stern-featured old man walked
vubmissive.y 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-
excessively.
"How?"
81 dunno how. can't tell; but you
did. For ten years you've been drivin'
me to 1t, Dorcas-I couldn't stand it
another day"
"Humph!" Mrs. Cope's throaty ex-
clamation 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 you?"
MONO, not much. Kind of
choky
He gulped the beverage and held
out his cup Tor more. Dorcas sat and
einnad hnrs