The Tragedy of Wild River Valley

a man and a woman, sat side by side on a log in

e to something she had been telling him. "He must be crazier nor a loon! goin' down the

's goin' to buy land as soon as he

ide," he supplemented, no

? He never told me a breath about

rud that whispers things intil Phalim O'Rourke's ears

h a slight laugh. "But how d

consarn me, seein' that a good bet o' his money'll be co

hinkin' I'm tied to him, and he growlin' and scoldin' from mornin' to night, and wantin' me to go dressed like a beggar.

red, bending down to look into her eyes, a lurid lig

lor overspreading her cheek. "You can't mean it!" s

didn't I swear to shoot him down in his tracks loike a dog? An' whan he's afloat on his raft-crazy ou

r hands, and shuddering with horror. "I hate him! I hate him! but-that woul

d, a ring of savage triumph in his ton

his return for some hours, and the interview in the wood did n

ppy life they might lead together were she but free to marry him, as she had promised to before he went away to the war, and artful allusion

e any active part in it, but promised not to warn him of his danger or

s by rail, had determined to make a raft of sufficient size to carry himself, w

he stream and danger from burglars by night, when, because of those obstructions, he would be compel

t engaged it; for at this time of year, when ther

eceived its load, one or more of them would be needed to assist in its navigation, he said, and that would render the commission of his con

nearest house'll be a mile away annyhow, an' ye'll not be called upon to kill yersilf wid runnin'; ye'll presently go a bit asier; an' we'll mak quick wurruk an' be off wid the money, lavin' the ould divil in a

gainst her husband's return, and Phelim, plunging into the woods, made a circuit

a dejected air, as one whose pl

said Phelim, lifting

head, for the Irishman was

?" he called. "Come back, wil

side in an instant, asking

p with it; could you come and tak

ed what it was I cud

won't take much knowledge beyond how to wield an axe and ham

ght an' lat yees know in the mornin

with you, it'll be all the better; we'll get through the sooner, and

, if I may

not severe enough on burglars and cut-throats to make honest

ty, ye'd betther kape it close that yer mani

ave a loaded revolver, and if the rascals come,

chuckled Phelim, as he trudged o

ight, when all was arranged for the carrying out o

rom the breakfast-table, a big, burly German p

looking for a chob ov vork, to makes te monish to pay for de w

or the work of raft-making and the wages he expected,

at the table, and Belinda set his breakfast before him, a sly wink let her into the

art beat fast with terror and was heavy with remorse, yet not with a repentance that would lead he

e could not see; and besides Himes treated her in the presence of these strange men (for Phelim arrived in the course of the morning, bringing McManus with him) with scorn, contempt, and lordly assumption of authority which deeply