Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-04-16

lllulllSI SllC6 SIdSSeIGu HlIU,
some way it assorted so i'll with
the decorous gravidity of the
woman.
With weighted footsteps he
stood a moment bordering, then
directed his course toward the
barn. A dog came and looked
wonderingly at him as he ex-
amined the door; it was locked.
The dog came closer and licked
the bloody cloth around his leg;
then, as the man bent for a
stone to smash the staple, bit
him. Billings cursed with hor-
rible profanity and forced his
frozen limbs stumblingly away.
The legs of his trousers were
stiff with ice where the water
had frozen upon them, and be-
low he knees he had no feeling,
save for a little tingle back of
his wound. Sometimes he would
stagger runningly, then, if his
foot struck an inequality, he
stumbled; occasionally he fell.
Automatically he blasphemed;
when he discovered himself, he
Intentionally continued.
Presently, he knew not how,
ne found himself close to some
snown-laden pines; he crawled
beneath in the hope of shelter,
sitting hunched together in a
bundle, his frozen hands within
the ragged coat. Then he start
ed upright, for some one had
laughed. Excitedly, he hunted !;
no one was near. Then, in wild
surprise, he heard it again and
knew it for himself. Was he 60
ing,mad? He thought he would
if he stayed there, so he got up
and wandered away.
1t was dark by now, and he
knew little of his direction, or
whitherh went; times he hit
against things, once he bumped
into a tree, twice fell over fenc-
es, and the barbs tore deep CASH
es in his rags. Then he found a
little lean-to, one side and roof
upheld by posts, and underneath
a heap of snow. Unthinkingly
he disturbed it, and below was
straw. In this he huddled for a
space, but the chill caught his
marrow, and he felt himself
nodding. With a jerk it entered
his mind that this meant death,
and he arose and recommended
his standings. His stomach
Twas faint, and he reached and
swallowed a handful Of snow;
the deadly cold within him grew
terrible. He was stumbling
over a stubble field, the corn
stalks scratching his weary legs,
when he suddenly stumbled
down a slope and saw the tracks
of wheels.
Something dark was close to
him upon the road, and he SEEM
ed to hear the wailing of an in
FAINT; looking close, he saw it
was a womane carrying a child,
without head-dress or cloak or
decent outside covering.
Madam" said his chattering
voice, "for Gods sake, tell me
where can get a piece of
bread"
The woman pushed by with
the crying baby. The tramp
stood moment, vaguely won
dering, then followed, just as he
had done many times with pros
porous men in cities.
Lady" he continued, IT am
a starving man. Tell me where
can get some shelter"
The woman did not answer,
and suddenly it was borne to
Billings that it was she and not
the infant who was crying. A
curious feeling shook his facul-
ties, a strang commotion seemed
to stir some life within his
frame; here was one more help
less than even he, because she
was woman. He marveled
slightly at the odd emotion.
Lady" said he, stumbling
close, "kin l do anything for
your"
The woman turned a startled,
swollen face, dimly discernible
in the gloom, and Billings saw
it was the woman who had re
fused him earlier in the evening.
She stood and tried to speak, but
succeeded only in producing