The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-01-12

tiers wedding DAY QaWned, Wnen he
arose from his bed on which a long and
terrible illness laid him, he was bent
like patriarch of ninety, and his hair,
| from being brown and rich, was thin and
white as snow.
As for the gun the Mexican had
cursed, the soldier had never seen it
since that day.
Strong in her tenderness for the
father, even in her grief for her child,
the mother had overcome her horror of
the dreadful thing, and had carried it to
the great garnet. There she hid it in a
lumber closet, so that it might not
trouble her unhappy husband should his
eyes ever look upon the things of this
world again. He had never asked about
it; he believed it had been destroyed.
He did not know that the powder-horn
and the shot-bag hung beside it.
Again | was making my annual visit
at the old homestead 1t was a warm
| day, and my former chum had been
afield since dawn. At noon his Job was
done, and the boys who had toiled with
| him followed him home, full of glee that
| their work was over.
II shall take nap, lads" he said,
after dinner. As for you, you can do
the same if you like, or you might 60 a
fishing. There's plenty of trout in the
kill, Pm told"
And as the boys both cried aloud that
! fishing was their choice, their father
smiled upon them,
Whatever troubles we've had,
mother" he said, "we'ye two fine boys"
And he went to take his nap with a
lighter heart than he mad often had
since the fatal marriage day.
But when he had fallen asleep he be-
gan to dream strange, troubled dreams.
He was at the battle of San Jacinto, and
the Mexican's lips were at his ear.
81 cursed the gum" He heard again
May itprove curse to you"
Other guns were firing all about them !;
he heard the noise, he smelt the smoke.
Suddenly he awoke-the noise of the re-
port of firearms was actually in his ears
and he detected the odor of gunpowder.
He saw his wife on her knees in the
middle of the room.
"What has happened?" he cried.
| ~ do not know" sobbed the poor
woman. 4 heard the noise-I am
frightened"
!
ret, whence came sound of grOans.
Meanwhile / had heard the boys go
past my room and 60 up the garnet stairs,
probably in search of fishing tackle. |
called them back.
"Be careful, boys" l cautioned
them, "about the lumber closet. There
is an old gun in it that may be loaded.
Don't 60 near it.
" All right" said Charlie; come on
Will"
Feeling had done my duty, l settled
back to finish an article for the Mercury
They went up stairs.
" Fishing is very well said the elder,
but I'd like shooting better. What a
pity father won't let US have guns"
He crossed the garnet and opened the
door of the lumber closet.
" Yes, there the old thing is | don't
believe it's loaded. What if it is? Reck-
on | know how to manage a gunl"
Let's take it on the sly" said his
brother. "Let it out of the window,
and I'll carry it to the woods. There is
the powder-fask and bullet-pouch, too
We can get some caps at the store, Char
| lie"
A good idea" said Charlie, advanc-
ing toward the closet from which his
brother came, trailing the gun after
him. Neither of them guessed it was
the weapon that had caused their sister 5
death. "Let's have it, WILL" said he,
and he took it. Suddenly there was a
flash, report, and a horrible scream
from the little fellow, who fell forward
on his face at the feet of the elder. His
PROSTATE form was what his wretched
parents saw as we three rushed into the
old garrett.
| The other boy stood utterly unable to
move, clutching the weapon that had
caused all this.
May God have mercy ON us, it is the
cursed rife again" cried the father.
Then the boy found words.
T" swear | did not load it," he said.
" swear | did not touch the trigger!"
And still his brother lay dead at his
feet.
On the night before, l had seen sight
that might have prophesied this tragedy.
| Would heaven | had told of it,
| The kitchen clock was striking eleven.
In country house like that people 90
early to bed. The family had been to
| III HOlI L W do Out pduSCtl
to listen to the striking of the loud
mouthed clock. As it ceased, | fancied
| heard a football upon the stairs. |
opened the door Slowly the noise came
nearer. 1t had the sound that can come
only from bare foot The next second
saw my host, Rathbone, approaching
me.
g You'll catch cold, old fellow" said
|. Put on your coat"
To my surprise he answered not at all,
but came slowly on.
Then | saw, for the first time, SOM
nambulist.
For moment hesitated whether to
awaken him. He was easily mortified
and my catching him in such a plight
would prove disagreeable to us both. So
| simply followed him.
He went on, past my door, and UP the
stairs. At the garnet entrance he stop
ped a second, then lifted the latch and
entered. was close behind.
Without the least hesitation he ad-
vanced to the lumber closet l did not
know the old rifle was there, and again
followed The moonlight streaming
| in through the chinks in the caves and
broken window, made the dreary place
quite light.
He turned the wooden button of the
closet door, and then drew out a powder