The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-11-23
some melody and dance out Of the room.

soul WOuIu DufS6 through all restraints.
But no Annals manner precluded the
possibility af any 'gush' on my part In
despair some days Ed don my hunting
suit and shoulder my gun and spend an
afternoon in the woods, sometimes with
Albert, oftener with him, for truth to
tell, was becoming madly jealous of
him and of his quiet authoritative ways.
One day had hunted the house over for
Anna, resolved to tell her how much
loved her and to tell the truth concern
ing her regard for me-
II was destined to find out in much
more abrupt and disagreeable manner.
| could not find her j then asked
after the boys. Their mother told me
they had taken the bows | had made for
them and gone up the mountain target
shooting. ] found my gun and con-
cluded to 60 up the mountain myself
and shoot some small game.
"About a quarter of mile from the
house was beautiful waterfall called
Sylvan Glade Cataract, and by this linn
| pid stream was the nearest path up the
mount.
1t was approached by narrow path
and was surrounded by thick mass of
underground and trees so that you
would not imagine it's promixity until
quite upon it. | strobe up the path
vexed that | did not see Anna while
| the mood was on me to tell her all
81 approached the cataract and heard
voices but kept steadily on parting the
bushes only to see ''my Anna" as | had
come to term her, in the arms of Albert
Warville, while he pressed kiss after
kiss upon her lips, which maddened
| while it calmed me.
81 stepped into the inclosure and AL
bert released the girl as | tapped him
roughly on the shoulder.
"Come with me, Albert Warville :" l
said.
| "My tone was SO authoritive that he
| followed me without a word until we
had put dozen PAGES between ourselves
and Anna.
''Now Albert Warville, what right
have you to the caresses of that girl :" |
hissed, my heart beating tiercely while
my face must have been drawn and hard
''The right of my atfianced wife, Ned
Baker, and | thought you too much of
gentleman to seek to interrupt such a
relationship"
81 reeled and staggered as though |
had been struck blow, while he went
quietly back to Anna and together they
started down the mountain. Then |
seemed to awaken to my condition and
beat my breast and tore my hair in a
maniacal fashion, which | look back on
now with amusement, although at that
time it was sternest reality.
Il watched them clear down the
mountain side and saw Anna cross the
plateau alone Was he coming back to
me Oh no, could not meet him, my
brain seemed on fire and was filled with
wicked murderous thoughts.
desperately 1 plunged on through
the woods not knowing or caring where
my steps led me.
Il last paused, for there, standing
right ahead of me was the form of
| Albert Warville He was standing near
the edge of ''the cliff" as it is called, a
rocky projection with sheer descent of
some forty-five feet, and appeared to be
meditating and looking off, while no
ticed Annals light blue scaf around his
neck.
Instinctively l raised my gun to fire
at him, when on second thought | low
cred it, l remembered Anna's brothers
were in the woods somewhere, but my
brain was maddened and whirling, and
for the time being | was carried away
with passion at what | termed his vii
lainy. | was crazed and frenzied to see
Anna's blue scarf encircling his neck. |
bent to the ground and seized large
stone; casting it with decision long
practice had taught me, I heard it strike
him with dull thud. | saw him topple
and fall, and waited to hear his death
scream but there was no sound. All
was as still as death. As still as death?
| Ny God, that was an awful thoughts;
that was the thought that made me sane
again. fell to the ground utterly in
capable of motion.
''The few moments | lay there seemed
like dreadful hours to me; then as con-
sciousness came back it appeared to be a
hideous dream, and | dragged myself to
the edge of the cliff and looked over.
There he lay all curled up in heap.
Oh, merciful heaven! was | to go through
| life with the stain of murderer ON my
| hand
But | must arouse myself must
act; and the first thing was to dispose
of the body; so started on a round
about path, the only way to reach the
bottom of the cliff. AS | neared the
spot | WAS sure heard voices, and gaz-
ing through the trees I saw little Henry
and Willie Dalton standing on the body.
81 turned to fly, wild with agonizing
thoughts, but / was seen, and the two
boys started after me, crying Justify:
cousin Ned! Cousin Ned"
81 turned and met them.
"Was it you, Cousin Ned, that knock
ed him off asked Willie.
Il gave up all Tor lost, ana 1all1ng on
my face cried out:
"May God forgive me. 1t was | y
''The two boys sprang to my side and
lifted me up.
Said Willie, "What's the matter
Cousin Ned, there's no harm done p
While Henry cried out: 1--WE were
| going to shoot at him, but we can set
him up just as well down here.
Il started to my feet, sparng to the OBJ
ieet-it was a dummy filled with straw,
The boys had used some old clothes of
Albert's, his hat and their sisters scarf.
Il laughed wildly, then hysterically,
and at last somewhat naturally, as ]
said with an effort;
''Hows that for theatricals, boys, l
\ L