Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-06-24
Whole No. 9S.

| uuhlildilCc, 4NuhCy. DCllCNCu yOti
to be a widow, and as such, won
and married you. l had a right to
believe that you were widow, for
the proof of your first husbands
death appeared positive. But, in a
few months after marriage, Mark
Webb, your first husband, return
ed. There must now be decision
made. You believe that your duty
bound you to Mark; for the alb
sence did not arise from his own
fault. But you confessed that i
held your love. ] thought as you
did, that your first marriage was
the binding one, and at once con-
sented to forgo all claims upon you.
More than this, l resolved to leave
the country, in order that my pres
ence might not cause you unhap-
piness. Could l do more than
this 2"
"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 q lowly place, and as he
thought drove a dagger through
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 the wound
l fingered on the verge of the
grave. But recovered at last, and
then set about looking for you. /
have found you"
"But now that you have found
her, what do you intend doing :"
said Mark in surly manner.
81 will tell you. Nancy became
my wife, and l loved her. But /
would not see her dishonored. /
resigned her because / thought you
would be a generous and true hus-
band to her. But you became at
once q murderer and deceiver. So
came to ask my wife-for l am
the true husband now-if she will
go with me-"
"Well, ask her."
"She hears my question. Will
you answer it, Nancy?"
"Marlx," said the woman, turning
her pale face toward him, "speak
and deny this terrible ACQUISITION"
81 won't do it,"
"Can you do it 2"
"Of course, if / could / would"
"But has Philip spoken truly p
"Every word of truth"
"Oh, Mark, is it possible Z"
''It is true, l tell you. Do you
think I'll let a second husband OF
yours live in the same world with
me? And especially after you have
declared that you love him! No,
you must think that l am fool"
"But he does live
81 know it; but he and myself
can't live long"
"You surely would not second
time, try to take his life 2"
81 tell you he and l can't both
live. OF course you would decide
for him."
Il shall never, knowingly, be the
willing wife of one that has muir
der in his heart"
81 thought so. Now, Philip
Dark, how do you propose to die e
"What do you meant" asked
Dark.
~ mean that we must fight. Oh,
/ don't mean to stab you in the
dark. But we must fight in such a
manner that it will be o certain
death to one of us, and most likely
to both. Will you fight me as l
propose, provided the chances are
equal 7"
"No; 1 won't fight you at all"
care you a cowards"
"Nop
"Then why will you not fight =
because Nancy needs the pro-
lection of some better man than q
murderer. A duel is a game OF
chance, and l might be the loser
In the event she would be left to
you"
"She will have nothing to do with
me anyway. Is not that the case,
Nancyw
at is"
"And you will be his wife :"
"If he claims me as SUCH"
"And you, Philip Dark, will not
fight me 2"
"Not so long MS another claims
my protection"
In an instant after, q rifle shot
echoed through the room, and,
throwing up her hands with a
shrek, Nancy fell back upon the
floor, bleeding and struggling in
the last gasp of death. Philip was
so horror stricken by the dreadful
act, that, for an instant, he stood
speechless. Then he bent over the
dying woman, never for moment
thinking of his own safety. He
closed her eyes and pressed his
lips to her brow-he listened to the
last family drawn breath, and then,
for the first time, thought of him
self. Turning, he saw Mark stand
ing near, gloating like q fiend upon
him. Observing that the william
did not even retain his rifle in his
grasp, he asked: