The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-03-02
"You shud ave thort O. that afore, y
she said, bitterly.

aye, sartin l shud."
She caught hold OF the two lapels OF
his coat. "Dave, Dave" she cried, you
don't love me after all, and you swore
me true down by the wishing WE'LL
81 didn't love zee then the ZANE as lido
now by a DEAL" he answered, taking her
hands III his.
"Oh, lad, can't fathom 'ee," she said,
with a sob.
Sweetheart, tits the drink I'm afeard
Of; twill have me wan day like did my
vather and brothers afore me-"
"But l bain't afeard."
II might be cruel hard on zee, LASS
he said, pressing her hands tight against
his broad chest. "a man can't answer
for hissulf when the drinks upon him."
Her dark gray eyes filed with tears.
"But l bain't afeard, Dave" she reiter-
ated. II bain't afeard."
He looked at her with great tender
ness. II dursn't, dear heart; dursn't,'
he said, and his voice shook.
"Ther wud bn thr times atween
whiles," she urged
Turning from her he caught hold of
tree bough and steadied himself. LASS,
lass, don't put me in mind O. EN-"
you amt lovin' me the zane as you
did, or zee wudn't need no minding,"
she exclaimed, brokenly. "And l amt
fallen off in looks" She came around
the tree, stood in front of him, and, I'M
binding her kerchief, shook her thick
chestnut hair about her shoulders.
"See, Dave" she continued, it's vine
and long for all it loses in the curl, and
my voot, too, Dave''-she kicked off her
shoe" it's wonderful arched, and a
deal smaller than the young ladies' up
to the great house. My arms, Dave"-
she slipped back her sleeve-"they
might be a chile's, they're that be-
dimpled."
Stopping abruptly, she burst into
tears. "Oh, lad, lad" she sobbed, you
bain't looking, you bain't looking"
He let go the branch Of the tree, took
her in his arms and drew her close up
against his breast. He put back her
head with gentle force and kissed her
mouth and eyes, her throat and bosom.
AS they stood, molten in one mold, there
came down the wind the sound of chill
dren's laughter; hearing it, the man
and woman fell trembling, then apart.
They stood staring at each other like
two people guilty of a crime.
There ba them that might ba born
arter u.s." he said, hoarsely.
She watched the sudden hardening of
his mouth. "Must us mind on 'em o.
she pleaded; must us mind en- emp"
II cud nver fo'ce no chile O. ours to
bear wat I've been fo'ced to bear" he
answered; "'twad ba devils wark-I
cudn't do it,"
Her face grew white and hopeless. Il
can't feel for the childer: l amt no
mother yet" she said, brokenly.
Desire shook him; he locked at her
sight form tha. seemed o trembe int
womanhood before his eyes, then, with
an abrupt cry, he turned and left her.
She flung herself down and wept-.
through the trees her wailing followed
him, yet his heart cried out so loudly
that he knew not if the waiting came
from her lips or his own Long be wan
dered in the wood, but when night fell!
returned again TO his cottage. Pushing
open the door, the moonlight streaming
in after him, he entered the small
kitchen. On the table. the cork with
drawn, was bottle of spirts-the air
ree.ed with the smell of it. He did not
know whose hand had placed the bottle
there, but his harsh thirst demanded
stalking, and forced him forward.
Clutching at his threat, irving to tear
the thirst from it, he advanced, the bot
Tie g.istening in the moonlight, looking
as it it were alive. He cast an agoniz-
ing glance round the walls, seeking help
from the familiar things, and his eyes
fell on his gun. a sob of relief broke
from him; he took down the gun, load
ed 1t hurriedly, the smell of The spirits
dripping onto his lips, he licking it
down. lie snatched the bottle fro n the
table, shou.dered his gun, and went out
up through the woods, past the
broken stile, where the coarse grass
lay pressed close to the earth, and
Phoebe had flung herself Gown and
wept. With averted face he passed the
spot, and entered deep into the heart
~ 'nS "oOu' al last lie stopped; ABOUT
him the trees grew close and thick; no
eye but Gods could see his shame. He
leaned his gun up against branch; the
moonlight edged itself between the
trees, and he held the bottle up
so yer have got the best O. me a..
last be said; yer have got the best O.
me at last"
The bottle glistened; he brought it
nearer his lips, his thirst pressed for
quenching, the thirst that he would
Stake before he shot himself.
"Yer smiling devil" he burst out.
with sudden fierceness. yer reckon to
catch me, do ZEE. No, yer don't; Ill die
wiout tasting 'ee," and he dashed the
bottle into fragments at his feet. A
moment later he had flung himself upon
the ground, striving to lick the spirits
with his tongue.
Dog that l ba, dog that 1 ba," he
sobbed. NO better than a dog-no bet
ter than dog"
Sick with shame and horror, he re-
gained his feet; he took a piece of cord
from his pocket, made loop in it. o,-
'aching one end to the trigger of the
gun. He pressed the cold steel barra1