The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-11
From wilhelmine Noh HIlern's story In the
Home Journal
Geier-Wally Atones.

'The saints preserve us! cried Vincenz,
as she moved forward to meet him; you
here?' He looked at her as if she were
ghost. Wally saw, by the faint light of
dawn, that he was pale and agtated; he
carried his gun over his shoulder.
'Vincenz,' she said in low tone, have
you shot anytbing? Yes 'What was it P
She looked at his game-bag; it was empty.
'Venison" he whispered. Wally trem-
bled where is t?' 'He is lying in the
Asche!' Wally grasped his arm; her eyes
stared at him with the fixed glare of mad
mesa. 'Who? Gan you askr' 'Joseph?
shrieked Wally staggering backward.
1T was hard work said Vincenz, wip-
ing his forehead; Il never thought he
would fall so quickly under shot. The
devil knows what sent him wandering about
in the darkness. l had made up my mind
to 90 to Solden early IN the morning, be-
fore he was up; but he ran directly into
my bands. 1t was still so dark that the
first bullet missed, and the second only
grazed him. But he must have grown dir
zy, for he stumbled on the bridge and chung
to the railing; took advantage of the mo-
ment, sprang upon him from behind, and
threw him over it,"
A groan, like the rattle in the throat of
dying man, burst from Wslly's lips, and.
like an eagle swoOping on its prey, she sud-
denly sprang upon Vincenz, clutchlng his
throat with both hands. you lie, Vincenz,
you lie 4! It's not true: it can't be. Say it
is not true, or Iii murder you. By my
miserable soul, it is true. Did you sup
pose Vincenz would hesitate long when
there was anything to be done for your
oh murderer, base, cowardly assassin,
sobbed Wally, trembling from head to foot.
Il meant no snch mean, skulking, vile
work I intended he should die in open,
honest conflict. May curse rest upon
you in time and eternity May you be an
outcast in this world and the next! What
shall l do to you? should like to tear you
in pieces with my teeth!
so these are all the thanks get,' NUT
tered Vincenz, crashing his teeth; didn't
you tell me to do it?'
'And if did tell you so, were you oblig-
ed to obeyf' cried Wally, in feverish agi-
tation. People often say things in an ger,
which they afterward regret Could not
you have waited till l could come to my
senses after the terrible blow? Joseph, Jo-
seph, | am wicked and savage, but l am
no murderess. Oh! if you had only waited
few hours But your own malice urged
you on, and you couldn't rest till you had
given vent to it
That's right, throw all the blame en- me,
muttered Vincenz; yet it's as much your
fault as mine'
Yes said Wally, and l will atone for it
with you. There is no mercy for either of
us. Blood cries out .or blood ! she Kissed /,
seized Vincepz by the neck, and dragged
him away with her. 'Wally, let me Co.
What do you mean? Merciful God! are
these your thanks? Mercy, Wally, you are
stranging me Where are you dragging
meY Where we both belong was the hol-
low answer, and she dashed on like whirl-
wind up the nights to the spot where pre-
cipice slopes sharply down to the Ashe-
the spot where the deed had been done.
Down yonder, were the terrible words she
Numbered in his ear; I'VE two-together /!
'Merciful God! shrieked Vincenz, in
horror; you swore that you would become
my wife il did the deed, and now you want
to kill me- Wally burst into her terrible.
hooking laugh. Fool, if | throw myself
down there, shall we not be forever united !?
What? Do you try to defend your wretched
life?' And Selling him with giants
strength, she forced him toward the edge
of the cliff, to hurl him into the gray depths
below.
'IIelpP shrieked Vincenz, involuntari-
ly, and
'Helpr rose family, like ghostly echo,
from the abyss. .
Wally stood as if petrified, and released
Vincepz. what was that2 Was it spec
ter Did you hear that?' she asked. 1T
was the echo ! he faltered, with chattering
teeth. Hush There it is again ! Help!
once more rose like breath from the
cbasm.
May all the saints be praised it is he.
He lives, he is hanging somewhere he is
calling. Yes, am coming, Joseph; wait,
Joseph, am coming! she shouted, in a
tone like the blast of clarion, and in the
same clarion tones she reused the sleeping
villagers as she flew down the street, knock
ing at every door. Help! help! Some one
has met with an accident. Help, for the
love of God; human life is at stake !
The alarm reused the people from their
beds; windows were thrown open. what
is itr what has happenedr 'Joseph--Jo-
seph Ilagenbach has fallen over the preci-
pice shrieked Wally, Ropes, bring ropes,
Quick, quick it may already be too late
perhaps it will be too late when we arrive!
And like the wind, she darted home, COZ
| lected all the ropes she could find in the
barn, and, with trembling hands, fastened
them together; but though she knotted
cords, ropes, traces, everything she could
find. they were not enough to reach down