The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-24

lncn ne Askeu, w nero ulu you get II .
81 dug it from the ground" said | lacon-
ically.
lie held out his hand for it, and so It
passed into his keeping.
When he became strong enough We took
walks together, which gradually increased
in length until We would spend whole days
down by the bay.
| knew he would tell me his story when
he could bring himself to it. lie was two
weeks going over il, sometimes giving me
single picture, and at another time un-
rolling whole years like panorama before
me.
His fnt remembrance had been of
hoyel where rum had left nothing but ruin.
He never heard a kind word, or had kiss
lett upon bis childish face, but he hated
the meanness and filth which surrounded
him and ran away TO sea, when only four
teen years Of age. When be came back,
grown to manhood, bis old home had been
swept away by the tide Of improvements,
and his relations were all gone, save one
fair-headed sister, who might have been
his idol, but she vanished out Of bis life
without word of farewell, and for years
he never heard Of her or tho man who had
lured her away. ..
The year that | met him, he had been
through the West; he couldn't tell what
for, except that he had made money and
wanted to spend 1t. Vice and luxury were
strangers to him, so his wants were few
and simple.
He came to cabin, one night, and as it
was late, asked to be allowed TO stay; the
man consented, and babe the woman pro-
vide some supper for the traveller
His host went out, and his voice could
be heard at some distance from the front
Of the house. The woman eyed him closely
from a window, then motioning to Bill, led
him to slide window at the rear Of the
cabin, whispered to him that twas only a
mile to the next house, slipped piece Of
paper into bis hand, and babe him run for
bis life.
He said he could not tell how 1t hap
pened, but for the first and only time hc
ran from danger. He aroused the people,
and was given a place on the floor to sleep.
Saying nothing about his adventure, he
managed to read by the light Of the Goals
the paper which the woman had given
him. Imagine his surprise when he found
that he had seen his long.lOst sister, and
that she had sought to save his life by get
ting him away from her husband, who
mistrustcd that he had money, and would
not hesitate to murder him in order to
obtain 1t. She said she had witnessed
dreadful things, but begged him not to try
to meet her, MS his life would be i'm
peTiled.
The next morning he determined to
return and have nm interview with her,
and II possible persuade her to accompany
him.
The house was closed, boards nailed up
before the windows, and no sign Of life
upon the premises.
lie looked for his horse that, Of course,
was gone, and he was about leaving, when
he heard moans. Again he listened, and
traced the sound to the window out Of
which he had escaped the previous night.
llc wrnched OF the boards and soon
found the sister he sought, but she was in
dying condition, She had been terribly
beaten by the brutal husband; upon her
had come the full brunt OF his disappoint-
ment when he discovered his victim had
left. She told of terrible suiTsrings and
crime, but death hastily closed her recital,
and poor Bill held lifecss form in bis
arms. lie called in the only neighbors,
within several miles, the people where he
stayed over night. Together they buried
the bruised and mangled body, and over the
grave the brother vowed to revenge the
lie which had been sacrificed for hun.
lie heard Of "his mani crossing the
plains, and so had followed, nursing oil the
time tho deepest hatred in his heart, never
doubling that he should find him, anil then
the end was plain.
lie held up Es hands. al have seen
his blood upon them all the way,n said he
"That night" he continued, al could
not sleep and something whispered that
he was not far from me. So went out
and continued my search. / heard his
voice on the street. should have known
It anywhere. followed him to his cabin
and entered close behind him. | had
something to say to him, and you know
couldn't shoot him down without giving
him chance 'twant in me to do that.
But be turned upon me quicker than
thought and gave me this shot through
my shoulder. My right arm dropped
powctles, but sprang upon him, and as
VIC closed he gave me stab in my side,
his own pistol, pointed toward himself,
went Of, either by accident or design,
shall never know which, and we fell to.
gether on the floor.
"That Spaniard came in, attracted by
the firing. / had helped his family to food
and shelter, so easily prevailed upon him
to 60 for you, not because thought you
could do anything for me, but did not
want you to spend your time hunting me
"Tle wretch died; although didn't
kill him, | meant to, so 1 am murderer
to you. My work on earth is done, and
you had better leave now. u am afraid
shall get to care for you II you stay, and
that would be foolish, rs there hasn't been
any love in my life. l shan't trouble
you with any more talk. guess ] have
lost my right now to the title the boys
gave me-" Ha Ia
As soon as he was able, we went back
into the country and pitched our tent
among tho grand old trees. There came
days when the hushed stiffness brought
thoughts Of rest, peace and almost bclicv.
ing. -
Undcrthe branches where the stray sun.
beams touched US with light and healing
| told the story Of Him whose blood can
wash the deepest stain from human hearts
and hands, and into natures temple came
the great, invisible, loving presence which