Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-03-07

needn't lie. Little Sallie Polk saw
him come right in yer do. We left q
policeman huntin him In the city, and
was on our bark to Hopefield when the
child told us where he were.'
20, my soul! What's poor Phil done
dat you are all q huntin him like q
pack o. hOuns.'
.Phil's had little shootin affair."
said the gbod natured man.
Who'd he sh0ot?'-
Who'd ne shoot?' cried Tom Jack.
the sweetest, brightest ereeter the
Lord ever made-my sister, Nancy
jack uae f-tE 9n2 2 -3i tii--''
In the dreadful silence that followed
a convulsive, gasping sound was heard.
The next moment Phil Vickers sprang
out, his hair and clothes covered with
mould like spectre from the grave.
rs this true, boys? Did kill Nancy
Jack?' he said, in harsh, hollow
voice. eug fJ si 70 Ht'll ~
Jack sprang at him, his knife fash
ing in the air. But he was caught and
held back by one of the men with him:
Softly, Tom, softly! Let Phil have
fair play s.t-f Isl. -sn..1
Fair play for a man who shot down
my sister in cold bloOdp !, ,4,sus5
'As God sees me, Tom, / thought It
was you kissiu Dittle Betty auT
THAT'S an argument, Tom, said the
third man, who had a long, CAD lace,
and who fingered over his words as If
he were patting them-'that's an ar
gyment as III go down with the jury.
1t was night; you an Nancy are alike
iu the face; you've got no whiskers,
you know, Tom. How was Phil to
know that it was Nancy g shown her,
self off to Little Betty, dressed up IN
your clothes for Moddy Gras frolic?'
As he heard a curious change came
over Phil. His knees began to shake
pitiably, his body to collapse. He held
out his hand as If trying to steady
himself, and, grasping only air, he fell
slowly to the floor, saying in q stified
voice, Let Tom kill me; 1 amt fit ia
live.'
'The hangman will do 1t for me,
said Tom, with a snarl.
is de POI gal dead?' said Aunt Mely.
No, she aint dead-she amt dead
yit,' rejOined the ssd-faced man. We
couldn't git a doctor Yesterday, the
town was In such .swivet. But DR..
Taylor, he came over last night, an is
thar now. He sint foun' de bullet.
He says Nancy's in q eosmotOse stste.
Now, while this talk was going on
some one else was crossing the river
from Hopefield-s sturdy little woman
with black halr and eyes. She was
seated in the exact centre OF q knife
bottomed boat that cut through the
water as fast as bird flies. With her
single oar flashing into the water on eli
ter side, she made quick time across
the Mississippi; and now came flying
into Aunt Mely's cabin, little vehe-
ment whirlwind of q creatur with q
voice as high and sweet as bird note.
oh! thank Goodness! you are all
herer she cried brOBenly. Then shB
caught Tom Jacks hand: 'Oh, Tom,
she Is saved! The doctor has found
the bullet. He says she is all right
now-will need nothing but good nur-
sing; an that, you know she'll have. 1
won't leave her night nor day till she's
on her feet;' and Little Betty burst in.
totears, In which perhaps all wanted
to join.
How'd you come here, chile?' said
Aunt Nelly. si ~
Il was 30 anxious about Nancy that
/ couldn't think of anything else till
the doctor spoke. Then my mind
mistrusted me about Tom. / asked
wht re he was, and they told me he
had taken his bowie knife and gone
over to the city. 1 was afeard he'd got
on Phips track. ] jumped in the ca
noe and rushed over, just blindly. But
the first man / met ON the Flat said
he'd seen some Hopefisld men 60 into
Aunt Mely's cabin. So ] come right
here. Thank God for 1t! Thank Col
for itr
Its a good thing for Phil that Nancy
will get WE'LL remarked the sad mar,
slowly tearing off a strip of tObace.D
from Q ragged roll; the law can't d"
nothin to him now, 'thouten it shuts
him up awhile for 'sault and battery.
His account with me Amt settled
yet,' said Tom Jack Ominously. Look
to yourself, Phil Vickersi BloOd's got
to pay for blood
'Oh Tom! Toni cried Little Betty,
the tears streaming down her fact,
forgive us. We didn't mean to d0
you any harm. Phil would ha' died q
thousand deaths befO' he'd ha' harmed
a hair of Nancy's head. Tom, no wife
nor child u0r sister will ever pray for
you and bless you as i will If you'll
Just shake hands friendly and say,
Phil, pardon you. Nancy would do
it; know she would. Oh, what can
say to you? I'll 60 on my knees to
you Tom.'
She fell upon her knees and lifted her
warm, wet, beautiful eyes to Toms
face.
Get up, child, he said hoarsely. 'I'I
let him 90, and when Nan+y's on her
legs ag'in Eli shake hands.
He turned abruptly and left the
house.
Phils head fell on his breast. You'd
better have let him Kill me, Little
Betty. I aint fit to be the husband OF
such as yOu.'
But little Betty drew the tired heal
to her tender heart snd looked defiant
" around upon the others, as II throw"
ing all the splendor Of her faithful love
between Phil AID any look OF contempt
Or blame. SHERWOOD BONNER.
Irish Beggars.
The Irish be0Qars. especially the