The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-22


have ,seeP in dgtipsS dseep Esr who's
you have kept your soEi pufo and suu..
stained, that it might hold eushrined her
sacred image. An inner door is opened,
d, quick, manly step upon the Aoer, and
fR mbn muftedw with Goals md Wtappings
Fof f9r. is beside Rol1ia chair. Sheiooks
up in his face. How we'll John Danforth
knows that loving smilel and though the
winds prevent their words from reaching
him, she seems from her gestures to be
urging remopstrances against his going
OUT in such Q storm. BE shakes. his
head lahghingly, the boyish chrls glanc.
ing in the fire-light, and stoops down be-
side her. She filings both arms around
his neck, presses her lips to the smo 9th
cheek, innocent of beard or razor, and
he lays his hand upon the latch, slowly
opens the door, and in moiuent more
is out In the stormy night. Toe heart of
Captain Danfortb, sinking down, down
like lead in his bosom with the weight of
loss, leaps nud burns with all the fury of
q savage as he hears the footsteps of his
rival beside him, so close that if he
should stretch out his hand he could
throttle him in q moment. He looks at
the darkening sky and starts on the road
to the village. The village road! The
way is long and rugged; few travellers
ever tread the lonely way. Revenge. re-
venge! 1t is said there is a drop of
tigers blood in every human heart. 1
think it must have been alive in John
Dapforth's heart then, and prompted
the stealthy, creeping pace with which
he followed his victim, on, on, over
rugged paths, Watching the boyish form,
till the sudden, blind impulse Of revenge
grew into settled purpose-till the sure,
relentless hand seconded the murderous
plans of his heart. Halfway down the
winding, rocky road, deep chasm runs
parallel with it for little distance, then,
with an abrupt turn, takes another
direction toward the coast. John breath
lessly dogged the footsteps of the boy
he is bnt little more than that-chuckled
with savage delight at the thought of
mis-step. which might plunge his uncon.
scious enemy headlong down the abyss
to frightful death on the sharp, jagged
rocks below. AS he reaches this point
in his journey, the youth pauses mo-
ment, turning his back to the fierce
blast, which has been blowing steadily
in his face all the way. John is beside
him in a moment.
"Villain" He grasps the boy by the
between his shut teeth, and there is a
trnggle-unequal, short, decisive.
Unequal, for the youth is but babe
in that fierce, strong grasp; and over
powered, he shouts with all his might for
help.
"Robin!"
That name, wrung from him in his
agonizing fear, is his death warrant. A
thousand demons rage in the heart of
Danforth, as he holds him for n moment
over the abyss. The moon shining
through rift in the clouds, shows him
two blue eyes gazing with wild, be-
seecbing fear into his; two white hands
tossed helplessly in the air, futter of
yellow curls, and then something goes
crushing over jagged points of rocks and
rolling stones below.
'Murderv'
The bowling winds, as they sweep past.
shrek the word in his ear, and then
away, to bear tho cry still further on,
leaving him sitting helplessly alone and
weak, staring vacantly around and listen
ing to the rush and roar of the increas-
ing tide, as it murmurs in hollow tones,
"hl hlurder!'
Gone now the blind rage and madne IS
of the moment before; only the anguish
and the remorseful despair remain. His
brain is in confused whirl; only half
conscious of what he is doing. he rises
to his feet and endeavors to stagger on
ward in vain. A yawning abyss opens
beneath his feet, he throws his hands
upward for help; roaring sonnd is in
his ears; lights flash before his eyes; he
sinks into utter unconsciousness. A
million of devils caught him into their
strong arms aud were forcing him over o
precipice. He fought, he struggled, he
prayed for mercy, but only derisive
lnrghtor answered him, and the torment
was redoubled. They picked his flesh
with sharp needles; they burned his
brain with hot irons. At one moment
he seemed plunged into burning lake;
thu next, he wandered through interim
nable fields of ice and snow-nothing
but the fierce glare of the sun upon
blocks and mountains of polar ice met
his aching eyes. And everywhere,
whether he wandered over burning
desert sands or sailed in phantom
ship amid the icebergs of polar sea.
blood-red banner tapped before his eyes,
inscribed with the word "Mnrder"'
AT luSt thara ro,na a dow ybor, fho