Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-05-02

geance was well thought out. on. Row
much more He can make M suffer
than you could with your clumsy kill.
ings! She must 60. but walt-not yet
not YET. Oh. my Godl couldn't
stand Il TO see her go. II would cut
into my heart and leave me TO bleed
to death. No. no. no-don'ti Please
don'ti Don't pile II all on me at the
last. The end has come anyway.
Don't do that-don't, don't!"
There. there, be still now" There
was a rough sort OF soothing in Fol.
let's voice, and they were both silent
moment Then the young man
went on:
But what do you eKpect7 sUppose
everything was left to yUJ, Mister.
Come now. you're trying to talk fair.
Suppose | leave It TO you-only you
know you can't keep her"
Yes. It can't be, but let her stay
a little while; let me sc her n few
times more; let me know she doesn't
think I'm bad; and promise never to
tell her all OF 1t. Let her always think
was a good man. Do you promise me
that. I'd do Il for you, Follett. II
won't hurt you. Let her think l was
good man."
How long do you want her to stay
here?-a week, ten days?"
1T will kill me when she goes!"
"Oh, well. two weeks?"
That's good OF you: you're kinder
at your age than ! was--I shall die
when she goes"
We'll. wouldn't want to live IL I
were you"
Just little longer, knowing that
she cares for me. I've never been free
to have the love Of a woman the way
you will some day, though I've hun.
gered and sickened for it-for a WON
an who would understand aud be
close. But this girl has been the soul
of IL some way. See here, Follett, let
her stay this summer, or until I'm
dead. That cans be long time. I've
felt the end coming for a year now
Let her stay, believing in me. Let ms
know to the last that I'm the only man
who has been in her heart, who has
won her confidence and her love. oh,
mean fair You stay with us your.
self and watch. Come-but look there.
look, mani"
"Well,-what?"
That candle is going out.-wen be
in the dark"-he grasped the others
arm-'in the dark, aud now I'm afraid
again. Don't leave me here! II would
be an awful death to die. Here's that
thing now on the bed behind me. It's
trying to get around in front where
I'll have TO see it-get another candle.
No-don't leave me,-this one will go
out while you're gone" All his
strength went into the grip on Fol.
let's arm. The candle was sputterlng
In its pool OF grease
There. it's gone-now don't. don't
leave me. It's trying to crawl over
mel smell the blood"
"Wel{-lie down thOre-it serves
you right. There-stop it'll stay
with you"
Until dawn Follett sat by the bunk,
submitting his arm to the others frnn.
zied grip. From time to time he some
what awkwardly uttered little words
that were meant to be soothing, as he
would have done 20 a frightened child.
When morning brought the gray
light into the little room, the haunted
man fell into a doze, and Follett, gent.
ly unclasping the hands from his Srm.
arose and went softly out He was
cramped from sitting still so long, and
chilled, and his arm hurt where the
other had gripped 1t. He pulled back
the blue woollen sleeve and saw shove
his wrist livid marks where the na,ls
had sunk into his flesh.
Then out OF the room back Of him
came a sharp cry. as from one VINO
had awakened from a dream OF terror.
He stepped to the door agaln and
looked In.
There now-don't be scared any
more. The daylight has come; It's ali
right--ali right-go to sleep now"
He stood listening until the ulan he
had come to kill was again quiet Then
he went outside and over TO the ereek
back OF the willows to hattie IN the
fresh running water.