The west shore., July 01, 1889, Page 385, Image 36

THE WE8T BHORE.
385
" Open the door, Jamie," she said, imperiously,
" I want you."
Force of habit caused him to obey the command,
and in a moment he stood in her presence, with hag
gard, drawn features and bloodshot eyes.
" What is it, Jamie ? " asked the girl, kindly, put
ting out her hand. " Are you ill ? "
All the strong feeling that he had been trying to
suppress shook him to the soul, at her kind tone and
touch. He cast himself prone at her feet, kissing
the hem of her gown. Convulsive sobs burst from
him. In another man it would have been absurd,
but in this poor, broken reed of humanity it was pa
thetic The girl, cold and coquettish as was her na
ture, felt VBguely moved, and bending toward him,
laid her soft hand upon his coarse hair, whioh no
woman had ever caressed before.
" Jamie," she said, gently.
He heard her low whisper and he felt her cool
hand, and a passion akin to madness rushed through
him. With sudden strength he leaped to his feet
and made a movement as if to clasp her. Then all
the repugnance she had ever felt for him, but which
she had successfully concealed because of his useful
ness to her, and beoause, also, of hor careless pity for
his infirmity, burst into expression on hor face. She
shrank violently from him.
" How dare you I " she exclaimed, in a low, terri
ble voice, her faoe white with angor and foar. " What
would he say if he knew what one like you had-had
even dared"
She stopped, struck dumb by the look in his eyes.
Like an animal wounded unto death, he staggered
backward to his room.
" 0, God 1 " she heard him moan, as she closed
the door between them.
Late that night thore came a violent rapping at
Jamie's door. He dressed hurriedly and opened it
There stood Jennie. She wore a loose flannel wrap
per, and her lovely hair fell to her waist Her feet,
thrust into warm slippers, were bare and whito. She
threw herself at his feet, upon the rough, unclean
floor; her bosom swelled so she could scarcely sak.
" 8ave him I " she whispered, at last, ln"t in
audibly. Tremblingly Jamie lifted her to br M.
" What d' ye mean?" he M, in n agiUtM
tone. Something told him whom she meant
" He went np-to the mino-on horsolmok," she
sid, pressing her hands to her throat, am! spehkmK
lowly and with difficulty, "and his hor.- - -ram
back, just now-alone, I can not g-t through the ,
now, mysolf-O, Jamie, take bis horse and K'
m-v I can not live through the night without know
ing what has happened I "
" Ye want me to save him! " said Jamie, drawing
in his breath silently.
The girl bowed her head, sobbing.
" I cudn't do V said he, shuddering, and turning
his eyes away from her. " Anything else but thet
Have him ! Good Lord I I cud kill 'im an' never
feel sorry fer it"
The girl came closo to him and put both shaking
hands on his arm. He trembled violently beneath
hor touoh.
"Jamie," she said, earnestly, "for the love of
heaven"
" I won't I " he interrupted, hoarsely.
"For the love of God-"
" It's no use-I won't"
She leaned nearer; she slipped her bare, soft
arms up to his shoulders, almost to bis throat; hor
breath carao to him, warm and hurried '
" For tho love of-mo I " she whispered, her pale
lips closo to his.
A mighty strugglo passed over him; bis white
face worked convulsively; his hands clenched.
" I can't," he groaned, at last, dropping his arms
to his sides, " not even"
She fell away from him and covered bis face with
her hands. She sobled chokingly; her chest heaved
with the force of ber emotion. Jamie watched her
in silenoe for a moment, then tho struggle ended. Ha
fell down clumsily at ber feet, and once more kissed
the hem of her gown.
41 Forgive me I " be cried, brokenly, " ye can do
anything with me ye want to. I can't bear it t' see
ye suffer; but, 0, it tears my very heart t' do any.
thing fer him. I hate 'iin-hate 'im I I cud kill 'im
an' never feel sorry fer it Hut I'll do it - fer you."
" 0, Jamie," said tho girl, fervently, M I almost
love you for that."
Throe hours later, half way up the mountain the
cayuse Jamie was riding paused suddenly and gave a
low neigh. It was moonlight, but bitterly cold, and
Jamie was bllmb'd by the glitter of the snow, but he
presently discerned a tall figure partly covered by the
snow, lyirg in the middle of the road where be bad
fallen, exhausted, from bis horse.
Jamie, weak and faint from old. dismounted, and
poured a quantity of brandy between the locked
Uh th, and chafed the stiffening limbs. After a long
time the man aroused soffloiontly to mount the horse
again with assistance.
" I'll lay down here in the snow," said Jamie, In
a wistful ton "Fer Ojd's sake, send somebody
l,ck as soon as ye can. I can't atan' It very long,
for I'm rW frcn now."
" I will," said bis rival, heartily. " I can never
r.jy you, as it is, my good fellow."