The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-15

"' "'''p oIVhch 'uly
Every word of truth
'Oh Mark, is it possibleY
1T is true, ] tell you. Do you think
III let second husband Of yours live in
the same world with me? And that, cs
pecially after you have declared that you
loved him? No. You must think that
| am fool indeed
But he docs live
Il know it, But he and myself can't
live long
You surely would not a second timo
try to take his life
Il tell you he and | can't both live. OF
course you would decide for him p
Il shall never knowingly be the wife of
one who has murder in his heart
Il thought so. Now, Philip Dark how
do you propose to die p
What do you mean p asked Dark.
Il mean We must fight. Oh | won't
stab you in the dark. But we must fight
in such manner that it will be certain
death to one Of us, and most likely both.
Will you fight with me as | propose, pro-
vided the chances are equal ??
NO. | won't fight you at ALL
Are you a coward !?
'Nor
'Thcn why will you not fight p
because Nancy needs the protection
OF some better man than murderer. A
duel is game Of chance, and | might be
the loser In that event. she would still
be .Sdt !sit to S,S So'n.' ~.
anyway. Is not that IL no 70 quo uo WIN me II,
1T is. ''""cV
And you will be his wife p
If he claims me as SUCH
And you, Philip Dark, will not fight
me p
Not so long as another claims my pro-
lection.
In an instant after, a rifle shot echoed
through the room, and throwing up her
hands with Shrek Nancy fell back up.
on the floor, bleeding and struggling in
the last gasp Of death. Dark was so hor-
or-strickcn by this dreadful act, that, for
an instant, he stood speeches. Then he
bent over the dying woman, never for an
instant thinking Of his own safety. lie
closed her eyes, and pressed his lips to
her brow,-h listened to the last faint y
drawn breath, and then for the first time
thought Of himself Turning, he saw
Mark standing near, gloting like Il fcnd
upon HIM. Observing rnat the vlllair
did not even retain the rifle in his Grasp
he asked
why did You not kill me, Mark
Webb?'
Are you anxious to die was tn,
sneering response.
Il care not to live after having witness
ed such deed
Then | will give you chance fo
death. 1t will be double death for YOU.
what do you mean?
You died in effect five years ago
You shall die again to-day
'llow do you propose to kill me p
Il propose to fight, now that she NJ
longer lives to claim your protection
VIII you fight me p
Yes
Enough. You have a knife in you
belt-that is all you want | have tn
same. Come follow me TO death
Where do you go?'
TO the head of the falls. Do yo
fear to follow p
i do not, lead on
Mark took a coil OF rope, probably
hundred feet in length, of Il peg, ans
bore it with him. Teaching the lcdg
!, flanking the falls. he affixed one end c
the cord around the root Of n tree. Thi
,, done he started down the cliff
=, Where are you going p asked Philip
who had been watching him in silence.
TO the opposite ledge, across the falls
You see in order to reach it, that mus
90 to the base of the cataract, cross tn
stream, and then ascend the other side.
What is your purpose p
My purpose will soon develop itself
!, 1t was not long before the villain va
u standing upon the opposite ledge. i'h
yawning gulf of two thousand feet W;
70 between himself and his foe, AMI the ",
ters lashed the ragged rocks a. it thur
dcred over them.
That rope is already co,lci, sal
Marked speaking across, 'Throw me II
other end
y - This was done, and the line made ia
;, upon the opposite side. A single col
u now bridged that dreadful chasm.
Meet me in the centre Of the roy
= = bridge said Mark We will fight on
=" with our knives
:, AS he said this he began to advanc
= Philip Dark did the same, and both IN,
=, crept carefully toward each other, Il
I rope bending lcariully beneath the
weight.
- They were within ten feet OF each ot
>. or, then the courage Of Mark began
- fail him, and he regretted the step he h;
"a "a taken. Why did he not kill his enen
~ y, at once and without incurrng any dang
- - himself? But was it too late now ? \
II lie gazcd into the eyes of Dark. |
o. saw determination and the absence IF fe
at there, as he came slowly forward |
n. hesitated no longer, but drawing pist
from his breast while the blood trickl
between his fingers, he waved to and Fl
II and appeared ready to fall Mark co
ii sidered his triumph sure.
ly But at that moment Dark raised |
er knife, and siruc', desperate blow. n
irail rope which sustained both men W
severed in twinkle; and down we
ne their bodies, whring through that drea
n ful space, while the wall of the murder
o. arose on the air, mingling with the ro