The log cabin Democrat., 1906-08-02

"The end is comiD, she mutteTed behind the tightly closed fingers. q 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 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 aint I done right bere7 Stood and worked, and thought. and planned, laughed and cried, happy and mis'rable, summer and winter rain and shine. Lord! Lord! Lord!"
 She clasped her forehead, grooming 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. ITO drop dead would be a mercy" she whispered. If l dared-'
 Picking up a keen edged bread knife, the woman patted the sharp point with a finger, smiling grimly while she poked her corset ribs.
 If l 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 I am, I'll go out to the barn and tell him I'm goin'. From his ap+innc 1atol,y hn ,o Io ,y;IJ ;y>, enough. My soul! when did it all start, and what for? It's like wall of ice, beginnin' with a drop and growin', growth, 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 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. "l'll say, Beecher, what's the use? If there's any comfort left on earth for either of us we'll never find it togeth- CT. And he'll say-well-not much, 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 sufi- ciently 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 ain't out yet. Whats that ladder doin' there? Whats"
 A low, dreadful cry burst from her. Then she went up the ladder like a mad creature, bent over a beam and slashed with the bread knife.
 Beecher Cope fell heavily in 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 Enees.
 MT. Cope was very much alive. albeit somewhat purple and greatly shame faced and dismayed. His rope had not
 
 been properly al,usted. Having tied his feet and hands with strong twine, he was undergoing a slow and pain full process of strangulation, with no power to expedite matters, when his better half had appeared on the scene.
 Gasplng a few times, he cleared his throat for speech.
 "Dorcas Cope don't you never let on. Cut them strings and Il get up." Promise me you'll never try this agin! If not, I'll leave you tied. Beecher Cope. I'll call in the neigh bors-I'll-"
 "The Lord hearin' me, I've had eEaugh. Dorcas
 Her face was like q white flint as she shipped the bonds. helped him stageer stifiy to his feet, and took his arW.
 "Come right in the house. Beecher," she said. quietly.
 Tn, stern-featured old man walked submissive.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 az gressively. How" "I dunno how. l 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 slipped hers.
 Now then" she said.