The Twins of Suffering Creek

les of a somnolent brain. These things were suggested in the gradual stirring of the place to a ponderous activity. The heavy movement of w

aracterized by a dogged endeavor which took from them every particle of

s a mere shelter, a rough perch for the human carrion lusting for the orgy of gold which the time-worn carcass of earth should yield. What had these people to do with comfort or refinement? What had they to do with those things calculated to raise the human mind to a higher spiritual plane? Nothing. All that might com

ad hill. Here, an atom of humanity emerges from the depths of a vast woodland that dwarfs all but the towering hills. Another toils up a steep hillside from the sluggish creek. Anothe

houghtful men, too. But their silence is of the vast world in which they delve, and their thought is the thought of men absorbed in their quest. No, there is no lightness, even in their happiest moments. To be light

the mother who is roused by the hungry crying of her infant.

do not need. Their greetings are few, and mostly confined to the abrupt demand, "Any luck?" Then, their noon-day drink gulped down, they slouch off into the long, frow

ies. But, alas, Birdie was just a woman, and, in consequence, from a worldly point of view, her drawbacks were many. She was attractive––a drawback. She was given to a natural desire to stand first with all men––another drawba

an attractive member of the opposite sex. But these things led nowhither, from a point of view of worldly advantage, and, being just a woman, warm-hearted, un

le morning amidst the greasy ooze of his claim. Yet the glitter of the mica-studded quartz on the hillside, the bright-green and red-brown shading of the milky-white stone still dazzled his mental sight. There was no wavering in his belief. Th

possessed, to gorge their young minds to the full with all that which the minds of the children of earth's most fortunate must be stored. He saw his Jessie clad in gowns which displayed and enhanced all those beauties with which his devoted mind endowed her. She should not only be his queen, but the queen of a social world,

osition was not of this earth, he told himself. Would any other woman put up with his ill-humors, his shortcomings? He realized how very try

ful coloring. What a mercy of Providence neither of them resembled him. But, then, how could they, with such a mother? How it delighted him to think that he was working for them, for her.

ever. How could it stay there with his thought gilded with such high hopes? It was not yet, but it would come––must come. His purpos

rose above the hilltop and his hut and the two

loose dirt and stones upon her sprawling brother's

ng to his feet and tottering

, but, as a matter of fact, this resemblance lay chiefly in Vada. She was like her mother in an extraordinary degree. She was well-grown, strong, and quite in advance of her years, in her speech and brightness of intellect. Little Jamie, while he po

ellow head to her cheeks with both her arms, so that when Jamie came up he had to content himself by sim

ked her brother up. Then, taking the former's hand

ada, repeating a question she ha

d Jamie, from his heig

e man replied, wi

his answer had little

ma?" inquired Sci

replied Jamie, forestall

ome an' take us wher' ther's heaps an' heaps o' 'p

? W

d Scipio set Jamie on the g

adily, but wrinkling her for

d Jamie. "M

ing of it. And the next moment, as their father passed in through the doorway, they turned to th

n along, dear," she added patronizingly, as the boy stood with

was out. And, just for a second, the thought flashed through his mind––had he returned too early

ak in the routine of his daily life simply set him wondering. He moved round the room, and, without being aware of his purpose, lifted the curtain of turkey red, which served a

es

o that somehow jarred his n

es

Vada's small face appear

oss-ridin'," s

ly enveloping him, but which his honest heart would not let him believe. He stared stupidly at Vada's dirty face. Then, as the child withdre

ss. The hum of buzzing insects seemed to intensify the summer heat. For minutes

ry of some mild-spirited animal stricken to death. It had no human semblance,

t been occupied by his wife. A sheet of notepaper was in his shaking hand, and his pale eyes were staring vacantly at it. He was not reading. He had read. And that which h

time there was intelligence in his gaze. There was intelligence, fear, despair, horror; every painful emotion was struggling for uppermost place in mind and heart. He read again carefully, slowly, as though trying to discover some loophole from t

e at all. I just can't face the life we're living. I'd have gone before when he first asked me but for my babies, but I just couldn't part with them. Zip, I want to take them with me now, but I don't know what Jim's arrangements are going to be. I must have th

ssi

ond. His lips were parted, and there was a strange dropping of his lower jaw. The tanning of his russet face looked like a layer of dirt upon a super-whited skin. He scarc

half rose from his seat, but fell back in it again. Then a sudden spasm seized him, and flinging himself round he reached out

e cried. "Oh, G

iron in his composition with which another man might have crushed down his feelings and stirred himself to a harsh defense. He was just a warm, loving c

d in the doorway. Two small infantile minds worked hard at the sight they beheld. Vada, wh

le

nodded the f

ched as though claiming the victim of their childish prank. Vada led, but Jamie was close behind. They stole in, their small feet making not

round eyes sparkling as s

uckling and gurgling a delight he had no

ly at the children. And suddenly the merry smile died out of the young faces, and an odd

poppa," cried

odded t

tears, which had thus far been denied the man, now slowly and painfully flooded his eyes. He groped the two c

ood of almost womanish tears. Until, finally, it was Jamie who saved

" he protested,

n look

e echoed

rs were still flowing, but who never fai

ill-grown and disheveled, looked less like the stubble it so much resembled. It was almost as though a latent, unsuspected strength were rousing within him, lifting him from the slough of despair by which he was so nearly submerged. It was as though the presence of his twins had drawn from him an acknowledgment of his d

ng to h

"You're needing food sure. Say, I guess we won't wait for your momma

us approval, but Vada

o Jamie. "Surprise is when folks do things that other folks don't

re in the cookstove and made some coffee. That he understood. There was no sign of his despair about him now. Perhaps he was more than usually silent, but otherwise, f

to and fro, regardless of whether he was bringing or taking away. Vada chid him in her childishly superior way, but her efforts were quite lost on

sisted upon the table or in close proximity to it. Then, when at last they sat dow

d and milk," he said ruefully. "Bu

threw herself

Y'see his new teeth ain't through. Min

t along down to Minky's for milk after," he added, w

the thought that they had shared in this wonderful surprise for their mother. That they had assi

the barren paths of hopelessness and despair, while yet he had to keep his children in countenance under their fire of childish prattle. Many times

s about to get up from his chair, bu

race," she decla

ptly dropped bac

e agreed

nger-tips together before h

r, Amen, and may we help fix

k Dod for my dood dinner

adlong from the bench which they were sharing. Nor had

siastic assistance so cordially afforded him. While the children had no understanding of their father's grief, while with every heart-beat the

rs had to be banished by assurances that it did not matter, and that he had done his father a kindness by ridding him of such an ugly plate. Then Vada stumbled into the garbage p

ag her round the room. Her howls drew Scipio's attention from his work, and he turned to find them a struggling heap upon the floor. He dashed to part t

their nightgowns, for as yet he had no knowledge of their wardrobe, and send th

m him. There was no longer any need for pretense. Once more the grief and horror of his disaster broke through h

of anger and resentment which slowly grew with each moment, and sent the hot blood surging furiously to his brain. Nor was this feeling directed against Jessie. How could it be? He loved her so that her cruel desertion of him appeared to be a matter for which he was ch

James. And his simple mind groped for a means to carry out his desire. He began to think more quickly and clearly, and the process brought him a sort of cold calmness. Again his grief was thrust out

stirred as he was, he could not conceive a fitting punishment for so great an offense. He felt his own

a sudden nervous dread. No, no, it was not possible. She would come back. She must come back. Yes, yes. She was his Jessie. His beautiful Jessie. She belonged to him. And the children. She loved them. How she loved them

He re-read it, with hot eyes and straining thought. Every word seemed to sear itself upon his poor brain, and drive him to the ver

e was in hiding to surprise his inspiration. Yes, that was it. Why not? He was not afraid. He was afraid of no one. Yes, yes, he had

rtled him at first, but now he was convinced it was right. To a man of his ch

thing like terror of what he held. The thing he carried was an old-fashioned revolver. It was rusty. But it had a merciless look about it. He turned it

voice of the twins reached and held him. They were still playing in the sun, banking up the sand and stones in t

id firmly. "I'll be r

ok in their direction, and walked o