The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-10-11
An Argument for Life.

Ik was q sharp, frosty, moonlight
night, but the fresh waters OF Green
river had not yet been chilled and
they flowed rapidly onward, with
confused murmurings, as il impa-
tient 10 become . part Of the great
Ohio.
II was 20 late % ten O'Clock, when
Robert Craig, o young lawyer, came
upon bridge that spanned branch
Of the Green river, in central Ken
tuoky.~ He was sfoot, and he walks
cd with very light step, because
his heart was light. He had been
successful in the most important
suit he had ever been engaged in.
He had pleaded bis own case and
the court that had pronounced judg.
ment in bis favor was simply Miss
Mary Lane, the handsomest girl in
the neighborhood and a. good 90
she was beautiful. She had pormis-
ed to be his wife.
But Robert Craig was destained
10 plead another case that very
night and before . less lenient
court He had no warning Of this
however, when he stepped upon the
bridge, and walked out over the
clear waters, muttering copgrstula-
tions to himself.
eyes, I'm the luckiest man livingl'
he soliloquized, - he reached the
middle of the bridge.
The bridge was not . covered
one, and he stopped TO lean over
tho railing st one side, and look
down into the sparkling waters that
quivered in the white moonlight.
"Yes, I'm the luckiest man iv-
ing y he repeated, quite aloud, At
ter he had stood Q full minute gag
Aing upon the flowing river.
"Dont be too sure Of that ]! said
g voiNe behind him.
Robert Craig turned with . start,
<knd saw 0 tall man standing at the
Opposite side Of the bridge, leveling
IL rife upon him. He seemed very
cdbol and deliberate in his manner,
sand he spoke in . tons that wss
lizard and 10y.
At the first glance. Robert Craig
isaw his danger, for he Recognised in
sthe intruder Ralph More, who, ne
Mas well aware, regarded him with
thaA bitterest hatred, for the reason
lat both had been suitors tor the
haCs "a OF Mrry Lana, and Ralph, had
OF dpoarsA been rejected He was
notea Aes>A. man Of daspesska eharact
ter-althou@ visongIk& "a q Roo1
!amhy-And MvaA moreovers
known TO be ~ tess mAxksman IN
the community. : Robert Graf ri,
thought Of these fscN. g hA found /
himself standing there in ths cold
moonlight with that uirrTina rileII
pointed d his head II
He himself was unarmed there
was NO hope for succor, on u aat
lonely bridge st that time OF nigsht
retreat was impossible, - wel q
unmanly resistance wss equally toue
Of the question. His enemy NJ cant
delibsrsAsly to take his lifA sYhd be
had the power TO DO tt onert
Craig realized al this, and fskt that
certain death awaited him,. The
terrible exigency-the very hope
lsssnsss Of the eass--ma3is him
calm.
sRalph More" he said, ID . voice
that betrayed no emotion. 'Rasvs you
com: sss !. hare to w's''y 'nd murder
s.Robers Craig" replied Ralph
coldly, still keeping the deadly ride
at an aim, "did you supp9ss you
could trampls over me and hvs y. ,
His finger was on The trigger. end
The Asros look on his fAet denoted
That the HE he held i1 his hands
~ not worth much nov.
sBut surely, said Robert Craig.
you aro not wicked enough 70 oom-
mit sueh Q crime - ! seeNyou CON.
template I ! am unasmsd and at
your marcy. While ! % eot lts
yoa Ralph, I mover thought you
Sopchls oi . oowardly ~ u would
IS eowasdly 10 shoot down n nm
as1lsd nan, end yoa know y You