The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-19

afford TO take his time with man who
who held his pistol ut random, without
looking whitherward. He was deer
mined to make sure work. II his BAH
missed his adversary's heart even a
fraction OF an incn, he would never
make any pretension to skill again.
The sharp report OF the strangers
pistol was followed by convulsive jerk
OF the Majors arm, causing the dis
charge of his weapon far wide of its
mark, while he, staggering few PAGES
| back ward. tell heavily TO the ground.
"Conduct me to him." said the man to
| his friend. ~
The latter took his principals arm, and
| led him to the prosLrate form OF tile
Major, whose second, kneeting by his
side, had torn open his garments, ex.
! posing to view the statal wound in his
breast, made by the strangers bullet.
lis your friend seriously hurtp in
quired the latter, coolIy.
"Yo3 can see for yourself, sir," the
eecond answered.
| "Phere you're in error" replied the
other. II am totally blindW
The wounded man, VINO by this time
| revived a little, aud his second looked
at the stranger in astonlshment. There
1 was no visible deieot In his organs o.
vision; but there was u hxuy OF fook-
tnat "Oending OF eyes on vacancy"-
which SO Enthusiastically evinceS the alb
sence OF sight. g1. ytf
"Who are you, and what Is your mo
tive in seeking this encounterW the
| Major fainJly murmured.
4 First, are you in q condition to renew
itr inquired the stranger.
| .sThere is no need-l am dying"
"When l have told you who am,'
| lnh If
require. my motive for what | have
done. No wonder you have forgotten
James NJ Merton," he continued, "for he is
greatly changed, no doubt"
The dying man started and groanet
bitterly. HalsfEslI
"But have not forgotten you, Richard
| Buford, nor the injuries you have done
me. A cherished daughter, the pride ol
Imy eyes and the joy OF her mother.
heart, you enticed from her home, de-
ceived by a sham marriage, and ther
abandoned her to die of q broken heart
My son, and oply remaining child, in
rash attempt to avenge his sister.
wrongs. fell a victim to your accurset
skill. Lou even robbed MIN OF the or
dinarys chances of comoat, :unequa
as they would have been, by 1ncasln&
your cowardly body in concealed armor
| Inc lOSS Ol UULu VI Jul Cuuui gil uueeL
tied my wife's reason, and she died in
a mad house. Could l have found yor
then, would have given you no chance
for your Lille, but valiant as you have al
ways professed to be, but coward as ou
| are, you evaded me. Yet l knew we
should some day meet; and registered
a VOW that when we did L would Offer
you sacrifice to your Internal art. IL
this end studied TO become an adept al
it, and succeeded. And when at length
blindness cast its shadow over me, and
seemed to render hopeless the fulfill.
lment of my VOW, Instead of abandoing II
L betook myself to new species of prac
lltice. l sought to make hearing take the
|place of sight. Again / succeeded.
llearned to take aim with ear instead O.
leye. When L heard you answer read!
lto-day,il knew the exact direction II
which to point my pistol, as we'll as If
had seen you. Besides, l could hear yo'
breathing where you stood. You los
your chance in delaying your fire. Yo'
: wished to make sure work aud over
reached yourseliT cor 4t.-a4.
More than once the Major looked ap
pealingly at the speakers face, but /
those remorseless, sightless eyes, ther
. was no sympathy. And as the Lahore
breathing grew fainter, the old man re
, sumed his listening attitude. AT last a
: was still. a ~
"He is deadw he said; and its wonte
expression of sober melancholy settle
on the old mans face. as, taking hi
companion's arm, he turned and wake
leiSuroly away.