The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-16

! paint the delicious AFTERNOON pictule
yourself. The elements seemed to be
guardian angels of the place. Its sunny
security and peace were surely not easily
disturbed. Suddenly there appeared upon
the gate post, about dozen yards from
the veranda, man. How he got there
not one of the women could tell. de
wore faded blue army trousers and blouse
He had drawn his legs up to rest his feet
upon projection of the post, and the at
titude gave him something of the ap'
pearance of dwarf or imp squatting
there. His square, meaningless face,
partly covered by the dirty stubble OF
beard, rested on his hand thsrspread out
under his chin, and his little black eyes
roved over the scene of happiness, and
took in every detail with undisguised en-.
joyment.
The moment Mrs. Westermeyer saw
him she addressed him kindly, snd de-
sired him to get down from the gate-post
and to come into the house if he wanted
anything.
Some untranslatable glimmer of dam
ger may have reached her weman's senses
when that uncouth figure in response
eyed her greedily, and smiling with tri-
umph, said
"Don't mind me Ienjoy it. It's alto
gether too good to be true"
She leaned forward, catching the bal
ustrade with her hand, and stared at him
a moment. Then she passed to the win
| H., ~ oallaJ - bar hnShan nd Who wa :
in his study preparing his sermon for the
morrow.
Mr.. Westemyer came at the summons,
looked lovingly al the happy group and
then, following his wife's directing finger
saw the man at the gate-post
While he looked, and before he could
ask the intruder what he wanted, the
figure slowly raised It's hand to its face
and crooked its iorefnger into deliberate
beckon, while at the same time it shut
one eve, and in the effort drew that side
of its face into repulsive glimace. 1t
was alto sether the action and expression
of power cunningly manifested in q
brute nature. There is no reason to te-
lieve that Ar. Westermeyer felt then thst
his time had come and that the figure
perched there at his threshold was the
strangely selected agent of destiny 10
draw the curtain suddenly over all hap
piness and hope, be ordered the man
to get down and 90 away. The man
took off his dirty army cap, wiped his
forehead with it, and, shutting his other
eve, said: so no, you don't want me to
,o, Iop'. Two nnpoa too for
Why, it took me six years to get here"
Then thin, arrowy shaft shot through
Mr.. Westermeyer's soul. He got his hat,
and saying he would coax the tramp
away, went towards him. AS he crossed
the little lawn he kept his eyes upon the
figure as bird is said to keep its eyes
helplessly upon snake.
He dimly perceived something, shape
less as yet, but sombre, looming up in his
path.
The birds were singing In the elms
over his head, the growing of his child
was in his ears as he went straight on to
his doom.
When he had reached the man, and
the two looked squarely into each others
face, Mr. Westermeyer knew instinct
lively, though he could not comprehend
it, that his time had come. He pushed
the gate open, saying, "Come, my man,
what can | do for your" and walked on.
What to k place between them as they
walked up the road is not accurately
known. This much, however, is sure:
The man said not word about the occur
renee in New Orleans. He merely con
WINGED MIR. Westermeyer that he held
the happiness of his family in MS hand.
When the preacher came back, the alter
ternoon was nearly spent. To his amaze
ment he had been away three hours.
He avoided his wife. Shutting himself
in his study, he gave way TO his fears.
At one moment he resolved to confess
everything and challenge investigation.
No sooner had he done so than he re-
membered that all the facts were again't
him, that willy woman had had six
wears to perfect her scheme and weave
her proofs-that the facts, guiltless
though they were, would kill his wife
and drag HIM ruthlessly from the pulpit.
He was not strong enough.
He was awakened on Sunday morning
BY the SLdDle-lldH WIN SuO iiAoi hhotioH
that there was soldier chap n getting
on the gate who wouldn't go away.
Should he hist him down with hay
fork ?
Mr.. Westermeyer went down immedl.
ately and found his man rs described
already. He then had conversation
with him. "My good fellow" said he,
sit is absurd for you to atte mpt TO annoy
me in this manner; I've too many
friends in this town to permit it. Do you
want money? 1ell me what amount and
III pay you if am able"
Now, see here, Dominic" replied the
man, at wont do for you to order me
away. amt goin' away no more than
the skin over your bones. Why, I've
gone and took house over near the
church, SOS to be near you"
."But YOU must have an object. Is it
revenge2"
"No, it amt. / wouldn't be guilty of
so mean a teelln'. Its pleasure How
that wife of yourn'd open her eyes if l
told her we was old pals. And we was,
wasn't weT
"What do you mesnT
81 mean that you and Is got to be AS
thick as hornets. Lord, how the folks
here will talk when they alters see you
and | s-goin' and comm together, you
in your shiny clothes and me in my regi-
mentals. o. course you ain 't.a-goin' to
have me a-talkin' to everybody and tel
lin all l know; and then | alters did pre-
fer chap as knows sOmethin'. l don't
see why | shouldn't live in clover and
have everything my own way; do you?
That was an awful smart trick o yOurn,
writin' them letters to make people think
Baugneit took his own lite,'
How much more of this there was l
cannot saw. What have given you |
cot out of Westermeyer himself. He
seemed stunned by the mans devilish
and heartless cruelty, and his intimate
ACQUAINTANCE with all the circumstances
of the unfortunate affair. What was
most remarkable, he did not appear to
wish an exposure, but merely to enjoy