Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-10-10

something in favor OF his heart.
whatever might be urged against
his prudence and care in leaving
them alone in SO exposed situa-
ton.
'I'm afread a body don't think
as much as he ought to do when
LIQUOR is in him. said Whiskey
Centre, just as the canoe doubled
the last point, and the hut came
into view; "else never could
have left two women by them
selves in SO lonesome a place.
God be praised! there is the
chiente at any rate; and there's
smoke comm out of it, if my
eyes don't deceive me! Look
Bourbon, for / can scarcely see, at
ALL"
.There is the house; and, as you
say, there is certainly a smoke
rising from it,"
'.There's comfort in that" ex-
claimed the truant husband and
brother, with a sigh that seemed
to relieve a very loaded breast.
"Yes, there's comfort in that! In
there's a fire, there must be them
that lighted it; and fire at this
season, too, says there's somethin'
to eat. / should be sorry. Bourbon.
to think I'd left the women folks
without food; though, to own the
truth, / don't remember whether
| did or not.'
sThe man who drinks, Gershom,
has commonly but a very poor
memory"
That's true-yes, I'll own that
and / wish it warn't as true as it
is; but reason and strong drink do
not travel far in company"
Gershom suddenly ceased speak
ing; dropping his paddle like one
beset by powerless weakness.
The bee-hunter saw that he was
overcome by some unexpected oc-
currence, and that the mans feel
ings were keenly connected with
the cause whatever that might be.
Looking eagerly around in quest
of the explanation, lie Bourbon saw
a female standing on a point OF
land that commanded view of
the river and it's banks for a con-
siderable distance, unequivocally
watching the approach of the
canoe.
There she isl said Gershom, in
a subdued tone, 'that's Dolly; and
there she has been, I'll engage,
half the time of my absense. waitili'
to get the first glimpse of my
miserable body as it came back
to her. SIGH is Woman, Bourbon !;
and God forgive me if / have ever
forgotten their natur', when was
bound to remember it. But We all
have our weak moments, at times,
and l trust mine will not be ac-
counted ag'in me more than them
of other men,"
'This is a beautiful sight, Ger
shom, and it almost makes me
your friend! The man for whom
a woman can feel SO much con-
cern-that a woman-nay, women /;
for you tell me your sister is
one of the family-but the man
whom decent women can follow
to a place like this, must have
some good p'ints about him. That
woman is weepin'; and it must
be for JOY at your return
'T'would be just like Dolly to
do so-she's done it before, and
would be likely to do SO agi'n,"
answered Gershom, nearly choked
by the effort he made to speak
without betraying his own emotion.
PUT the canoe into the pint,
and let me land there. / must
go up and say a kind word to
poor Dolly; while you can pad
die on, and let Blossom know Pm
near at hand"
The bee-hunter complied in sill
ence, casting curious glances up
ward at the woman while do
ing so in order to ascertain
what sort OF. female Whiskey
Centre could possibly have for
a wife. To his surprise, Dorothy
Waring was not only decently,
but she was neatly clad, APP
pearing as il she had studiously
attended to her personal APP
pearance, in the hope of welcom-
ing her hayward and unfortu-
mate husband back to his for
est home. This much lie Bour-
don saw, by a hasty glance, as
his companion landed, for feel
ing of delicacy prevented him
from taking a longer look at
the woman.
AS Gershom descended the bank
/ TO meet h;a wife To pourdon