Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-07-25

Nv i<C''Ao
II did.
You never believed that Mark would
harm me?"
II certainly could not think So"
'.Then listen while | repeat all the
past Soc.e portions you are familiar
with, and some you are not. But you
shall have it all.
Il listen"
''Six years ago I formed your ac-
ouaintance, Nancy. | believed you to
be widow, and as such, loved, won
and married you | had right to be-
lieve that YOU were widow, for the
proof of your first husbands death APP
peared positive: But in few months
after our marriage, Mark Webb, your
first husband, returned. There must
now be a decision made You believed
your duty bound you to Mark, for the
absence did not arise from his own fault.
But you confessed that | held your love
| thought as you did, that your first
marriage was the binding one, and at
once | consented to fOrego all claims up
on you. More than this, | resolved to
leave the country, in order that my pres
ence might not cause you unhappiness.
Could | do more than this ?"
''YOu acted generously"
<'But how did Mark act? | will tell
YOU. He hated me because you loved
me; and one night he met me in a lonely
place, and, as he thought, drove dagger
to my heart"
"Oh. Heaven"
believing that he had murdered me,
he left the country for fear Of detection.
That is the reason he brought you here. "
oh! this is terrible"
For long time after receiving the
wound, | fingered on the verge of the
grave. But I recovered at last, and then
set about looking for you. | have found
you"
And now that you have found her,
what do you intend dOing?" asked Mark
in surly manner.
Il will tell you, Nancy became my
wife. and | loved her. But | would not
see her dishOnOred | resigned her be-
cause | thought you would be a gener-
GUS and true husband to her. But you
became at once murderer and deceiver.
So I come to ask my wife-for | am the
true husband now-if she will go with
me"
wen, ask her"
"She hears my question. VIII you
answer it. Nancy"
Mark, said the woman, turning her
pale face toward him, ''speak and deny
this terrible accusation"
Il won't do il"
Can you do it?"
"Of course. if | could I would
But has Philip spoken truly?'
every word of truth
"Oh Mark, is it possible ?"
1T is true. | tell you. Do you think
III let second husband Of yours live in
the same world with me? And thai.
most especially. after you having de
clared that You love him? No. You
must think that | am a fool, indeed"
But he does live"
II know ii. Both he and myself can't
live long"
You surely would not, r second time.
try 70 take his life"
Il tell YOU that he and | can't both
live. OF course, you would decide for
him"
Il shall never, knowingly. be the will
ling wife Of one who has murder in his
heart
Il thought so. Now. Philip Dark,
how do Won propose 10 die"
''What do VOu meaD?' asked Dark.
u mean that we must fight. Oh I
won't stab you in the dark. But we
must fight in such p manner that it will
he certain death to one of us, and most
likely to both. VIII you fight me as
propose. provided the chances are
equal %
"No; I won't fight you at all
''Are YOU coward?"
mo-"
"Thcn, why will you not tight?'
Because Nancy needs the protection OF
some better man than a murderer A
duel is a game of chance, and | might be
the loser. In that event, she would still
be left to YOU
'She will have nothing to do with me
any way. Is that not the case, Nancy?'
at is"
'Aud You will be his wife,"
eff he claims me rs such.
And you, Philip Dark, viii you fight
me ?"
Not 50 long as another claims my
protection"
Tn an instant after. rifle shot echoed
through the room, and throwing up her
hands with a Shrek Nancy fell back
mon the floor, bleeding and struggling
in the last gasp of death. Dark was 50
horr0r-strickcn by this dreadful act that
for an instant he stood spcechless. Then
he bent over the dying woman, never for
an instant thinking of his own safety.
He closed her eyes, and pressed his lips
to her brownie listened to her last
faintlv-drawn breath, and then, for the
first time, thought of himself. Turning,
he saw Mark standing near, gloating like
a ficnd upon him. Observing that the
villain did not even retain his rifle in his
grasp, he asked:
"Whv did you not kill me, Mark
Webb ?"
care you anxious to die?" was the
snecring response.
Il care not to live after having wit
messed such deed"
''Then [ will give YOU chance fol-
death, 1t will be a double death fol
you"
''What do you mean?"
''You died in effect five years ago.
You shall die again to-day"
GLOW do you propose to kill me ?"
Il propose to fight, now that she nc
longer lives to claim your protection
VIII you fight me?
eyes,
L@AiotA-u' } va navy a llIC Nj JOtti
belt-that IS all you want. I have the
same. Come, follow me to death"
"Where do you go?
''To the head of the falls. Do y.or
fear to follOw?"
II do not. Lead on.
Mark took coil of rope, probably a
hundred feet in length, off a peg, and
bore it with him. Reaching the ledge
thanking the falls, he affixed one end of
the cord firmly around the root of 4
tree. This done, he started down the
| cliffs.
"Where are you going?" asked Philip,
who had been watching him in silence.
''To the opposite ledge, across the
falls. You see, in order to reach it, thSt
[ must go to the base of the cataract,
cross the stream, and then ascend the
other side"
"What is your purpose?"
my purpose will soon develope