Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-20
blade, and in doing so, inflicted slight cut up

All omen H6 EIubleItu Will SCOIHlul
sneers but trembling he knew not why "per-
haps the blade is poisoned, and this is to be
the fate of the last of the Hetheringtons =
Perhaps this poniard, with which my grand
father Geoffry Hetherington, was killed by
his cousin Richard, on the day of his marriage
to Elizabeth Hairston, of Glenarvin, is to be
s,v death weapon, too Who knows? And
who cares ~ he added fercely " Let fools be
frightened by falling daggers, and portraits of
murdered men by omenS warnings, and in
sane beSeechngs of old cranes I'll not I'll
not shrink back for all the invisible or visible
fingers that were ever shaken in the pale faces
of woe-Stricken chrldren from the beginning
of the world Pm not baby and III go on
in my course Natural or Supernatural--man
or demon-I care not what thou art | defy
and challenge you to meet me breast to breast.
The young man had scarcely uttered these
words when low knock at the door made
him start, in spite of himself. Arthur IIeth
| erington was brave man, but there are mo-
ments when the strongest nerves are not proof
against the most trivial influences. There are
times when the mind is so wrought upon, that
we would not be greatly astounded 10y walk
| ing statute, like that of the dead commander
| in Don Giovanni, advancing with his horrible
! tramp tramp ! tramp into the brilliant
/ banquet-room.
! This was Hetherington's feeling and start
ing to his feet, he braced his whole form, and
in a desperate voice, bade the knocker enter,
1t was simply messenger from Mrs. Hairs
ton, come to inform the bride groom that the
bride awaited him. He hastily thrust the
poniard into his bosom, covered the hilt with
his profuse ruffle, and bade the servant say
that he would appear in moment.
He surveyed himself in the mirror for the
last time, and almost started at the sight of
his blanched cheeks and lips. A sarcastic
! smile greeted the spectacle, and he tossed his
head away from the too faithful glass. Then,
pulling hiSaacc cuffs over his slender and ner-
vous hands, lie left the apartment.
| He was soon at the side of the lovely girl,
whose bushing face assumed deeper color as
he appeared. Miss Hairston was clad with
great Splendor, after the fasion of the period,
in white satin gown. with blue furbelOws Of
the same material loopcd back with bows of
ribbon. Her queenly brow was crowned with
a mass Of curls with pearls intcrwoven-She
wore many bracelets and other jewelS-and up
Oh her snowy shoulders and open stomacher re-
posed cloud of gauze-like lace Of the richest
description. The bridegroom forgot his dis
| quiet for a moment, in presence Of this vision
| of youth and beauty. His gaze, however de-
tected an end Of lace hanging from the young
| lady's stomacher, and, with profound incli-
nation, he reached out his hand and replaced
it beneath the satin folding. As he drew
back, the bride uttered slight exclamation
His finger had left bloody impress upon the
young ladys bosom.
shudder ran through Hetherngton's frame
and he tnrned as pale as death. He had thus,
an the third generatj0n, fulfilled 10 the letter tie
| old croncs legend.
at is nothing" he muttered hoarsely ga
mere scratch upon my finger. | beg you not
to be disquetedo
And offering his arm to the bride, he led
her into the great apartment. In few mo-
ments they stood before the officiating clergy
man, and the marriage ceremony commenced.
! 1t was destined never to be completed.
! y sudden tumult at the door attracted the
attention Of all present the servants rushed
! forward in huddled groups and from the dark
ness of the hall, upon which the shades of
night had descended, strobe the false peddler,
the captain of the freebooters, at the head of
a dozen men armed to the teeth.
Their leader carried drawn sword in his
| hand, and with a sneering laugh, reached at
single bound, the side of Miss HairstOn.
said | was your master, and thus prove
it y he shouted To the rescue"
And selzlng the young lady i'll his arms, the
| speaker made two hasty steps toward the door.
They were the last he ever took
! \ hoarse and terrible exclamation, like that
| Of an aroused lion, was suddenly heard-a
! poniard cleaned in the air, then descended
and the captain Of the freebooterS fell at full
length upon the floor, which was stained with
his blood-pierced by the bridegroom's dagger
At the same moment pistol-shot was
| heard, and Hctherngton rushed forward with
a roar OF wrath and anguish. The form of
Miss llairSton undulated for an instant bent
to and fro like Fly whose stem is broken,
and then the unhappy girl stretched out her
arms, and, uttering faint scream, fell at the
feet Of her lover, her bosom pierced by the
ball. precisely at tie spot acherc his bLoody finger
| had been itid
The captain Of the freebooters writhed his
body haii-erect, and leaning upon one hand,
| pointed with his extended finger to the dead
body of the girl.
" bonny wedding you have, brother Ar
hHr :" he said, with laugh of terrible tri-
umph, which distorted his lips in manner
! horrible and rcpulsive to behold. "I offer
you my compliments thereon, my brother -
All, you did not recognize George IIethering-
ton in the peddler You did not know nv
old familiar writing left behind me when re-
! Spectfully santed this fine bride of yours !
You thot that lying rumor of my death, which
originated, and had sent to you, was true !
Fool did yoa think | would die before had
my revenge You robbed me Of my fathers
acres !-curSes on you y added the unhappy
man, in fainter accents but with rage even
more intense you taunted me in the old Ii
brary with dishonor You ended by snpplant-
ing me with the only woman have ever
loved. But-my lieutenant has-obeyed me
l. IL foil hn n1Ir.lc to L. IL.