Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-06-10
The Renegade's Doom.

man overlooking the lovely valley of
the Jordon river and Salt Lake country,
which includes the city of the Saints
For an hour he had remained almost mo-
tionless, although the muscles of his face
had twitched violently at times, and his
fingers worked convulsively as he clutch
ed his long rife barrel upon which he
was leaning. Presently he raised his
piece and leveled it toward the city,
holding it in that pasition for moment.
Then he lowered it again, ead with a
sort of mocking laugh exclaimed: ''rvo
far-altogether too far Oh, if that
accursed town was only within my rifles
range, and 7 could pick off its inhabi-
tants one after another, with the excep-
tion of Mary Thornton, [ should be hap
by. | would be alone with her. And
why not alone? [ am at dagger's point
with the world, or at least such portion
of it as knows me, and why should I
not kill and destroy? Even these saw
ages are turning their backs upon me,
because they say I am bringing them
into trouble. Cowards They know very
we'll that there is not a man in the
whole of yonder city who would not
shoot me down like dog and yet they
see that l don't fear. And I am going
there-I am going this very night, too !;
and woe betide the man who comes be-
tween me and the woman [ love!''
The speaker paused moment, and
then bursting into "a mocking laugh, re-
peated:
''Love love, did [ say? I don't love
her. l did love her once, but'that affec-
tion has been changed into hatred, or at
least desire to triumphant triumph
L will. She spurned me once-she shall
kneel at my feet and beg for a single
word of kindness before | am done with
this game, or Dick Hardiker, the Rene
gade, as he is called. has degenerated to
a greater extent than | think he has,"
The renegade seated himself upon the
ground, and made careful examination
of his rife, and then of brace of splen-
did revolvers he wore in his belt, and
lastly his knife. A grim, but sickly
smile passed over his face, and something
like shudder shook his frame, but he
made an effort to rally and exclaimed:
..Pshawi | heliove L am getting weak
1t can't be that cowardice is taking hold
upon me. No, | don't fear death, or
anything that men can do; but somehow
nv heart trembles, and there seems to be
a heavy weight upon it-a sort of dread
or presentiment that something terrible
is about to happen to me. Bah what
worse than death can come? Nothing,
unless it be to die without being pretty
fully and terribly avenged"
Suddenly the man sprang to his feet,
and began the descent of the mountain.
The path was a rough one, but he trav-
elcd it without much apparent difficulty,
as one familiar with all its windings
and intricacies. 1t was some two hours
before he reached the border of the val
ley, and here he disappeared behind a
massive hedge of rocks. Through sew
eral openings he passed, and finally
emerged into sheltered place, where
his entrance was greeted by the neigh.
ing of a horse. He approached the ami
NAL and caressed him tenderly, while the
noble beast expressed as well as he could
his satisfaction, for he knew not tht
heart of the villainous nan, who was hi
master.
The renegade manifested the greatest
impatience as the day seemed to creel
slowly along. Ever and anon he woult
gaze at the sky or glance at the sun
and at length he saw it sink behind tn
western hills. Then darkness crept ol
apace, and the night promised to be
gloomy one, for the clouds were gather
ing thick in the heavens, and the rail
, began to fall.
l $50 much the better" he muttered
as he led the horse from his place of cor
cealment into the edge of the valley.
7 He sprang into the saddle and the an
t imal went flying over the road towar
r the city.
f For an hour or more he kept directly o
+ the main road but now the dwelling
+ were passed at far less intervals, an
o turning aside, he leaped fence withor
difficulty, and rode into the open field
His advance was not SO rapid now, fc
he had hedges to pass and streams
: ford but all this was accomplished
was near the hour of midnight when
arrived at the outskirts of the city !; ar
as one familiar with every point, he le
y his horse into deep ravine, where
would be thoroughly concealed from al
" chance passer by.
= The villain now proceeded on foot
- He found the streets nearly deserted, b
an occasional football fell upon his cal
IN and at such times he would withdra
MT under the shadow of some shed or tire
OF until the person had passed. At leng
d. he scaled garden wall, and crept cal
m fully along among the shrubbery un
! h.