The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-04-22

often with my bag empty as full. In
deed ! used the sport mainly as a cove
for my advances upon more delectabl(
game for no matter how often | nigh
meet the beautiful Mary, gun upon my
arm was always an excuse for my pres
ence, and served frequently as means
for few words of conversation.
But one day / wandered mile or TIVE
from the town, and in an opposite direc.
ton to the wooded path where my ramb
ling steps usually led me. / was after
birds in eager earnest upon this occasion
for | had determined to send the following
morning to the doorstep of my Mary's
cottage as fine brace of partridges as
could shoot.
At an unexpected moment, while in
tently peering after my game, voices,
broke upon my ear from behind copse
close by-and one of them | knew in
stantly as Mary's. The other was a
youthful voice, but Enthusiastically mascu-
line. The hot blood flew to my face, and
| felt a quick pang shoot through my
heart-a jealous pang, if ever jealousy
there was.
OF course it was absurd. | had as
much right to be jealous of Mary Cole
as | had of the French Empress but,
as l listened and heard that unknown
voice address her in words of endear-
ment fall even from her lips, | felt the
jealousy rising hot and furious, and great
black waves of passion flooding heart
and brain. In an outburst of rage at an
expression from Mary's lips, l ground my
heel into the earth, shook my fists into
the air. and furiously seizing my gun,
turned to withdraw. But the gun l know
not how, caught in my dress by the lock.
In an instant violent explosion stunned
and shook my frame-a hot blast was
blown in my face-a sharp, ringing pain
shot through my shoulder horrible
dizziness and faintness came over me-
earth and sky mingled together-then
darkness and oblivion followed.
| could not have remained insensible
long. ] awoke with sharp intense pain
in my right shoulder, and numbness
extending all down my arm. The first
dawn of consciousness was accompanied
by kind of vague perception of some
one lowering over me--of a bright face
between mine and the sky--of an arm
extending under and supporting my head.
"Thank Heaven!" said voice of
suppressed joy,
THANK Heaven!' muttered /, inco-
herently, drawing my hand over my brow,
for what n
The arm appeared to be carefully with
drawn, and my head was allowed to sink
gently back upon the sod
"Are you better, sir p said sweet
voice; 9" hope your wound is not dan
gerous but you are faint-if they would
but come y
| lay still, and drank in with delicious
pleasure those words--for they fell from
the lips of Mary Cole. Faint, dizzy, and
bewildcred with pain as was, never be-
fore did experience such thrill of JOY
as this knowledge afforded me-the
knowledge that lay there wounded, and
Mary Cole-tending and supporting me
--staunching my flowing blood-uttering
words of sympathy and sorrow. | al
most forgot my pain in the wild happi- |
ness of the thought--forgot the outbreak
of Jealous rage which had so nearly prov
ed my death, and seized by sudden i'm |
pulse, attempted to struggle to my feet
with some wild, vague intention of fall
ing on my knees before her. But she |
caught my arm and pressed me back.
You must not, rise, sir--indeed you
must not You have started the blood
afresh already. Lie perfectly quiet
beseech you--help will arrive presently"
But caught her hand---her white ten
der hand, stained as it thrilled me to see,
with my blood, and drew her round be-
fore me. was startled by the deathly
pallor of her face, and the wild fright in
her eyes, but even as | looked a warm
blush came mantling over her brow and
cheek.
"What has happened!" said |.
"You are wounded, sir, by an acci-
lent. Ny brother has run for the doc
"Your brother--speak, Mary--your
brother z" She started, and shrank back
! little.
Forgive me-" said |, thrilled with a
new pleasure at the discovery that it was
/ brother to whom she had addressed those
words of affection. Forgive me, ! call
ID you Mary because" A sudden
aintness seized me, and could not con-
inue.
".Oh Heaven!" exclaimed she, lifting
Up my head in her arms, and looking
sround wildly, evil they never come =
"It is nothing succeeded in utter
ng. "I am better now. Let me rise.
think might walk with a little aid.'
Il wish You could sir" said she, " for