Bret Harte

Tales of Trail and Town Bret Harte

Book Excerptnse of keeping her here on account of his pride, under the thin pretext of trying to "cure" her. She knew that Sally Atherly of Rough and Ready wasn't considered fit company for "Atherly of Atherly" by his fine new friends. This and much more in a voice mingling maudlin sentiment with bitter resentment, and with an ominous glitter in her bloodshot and glairy eyes. Peter winced with a consciousness of the half-truth of her reproaches, but the curiosity and excitement awakened by the revelations of her frenzy were greater than his remorse. He said quickly: --"You were speaking of father!--of his family--his lands and possessions. Tell me again!""Wot are ye givin' us?" she ejaculated in husky suspicion, opening upon him her beady eyes, in which the film of death was already gathering."Tell me of father, --my father and his family! his great- grandfather!--the Atherlys, my relations--what you were saying. What do you know about them?""THAT'S all ye wanter know--is it? THAT'S what ye'r' comi