The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-24

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day.
Strong ia 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 10 the
great garnet. There she hid il in lum-
ber closet, 80 that il might not trouble
her unhappy husband should his eyes
ever look upon the things Of this world
again. He had never asked about il he
believed il had been destroyed. He did
not know that the powder-horn and shot
bag hung beside it.
Again / was making my annual visit
at the old homestead. Ii was warm
day, and nv former chum had been
aheld 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.
- shall take a nap, lads, he said,
after dinner. "As for you, you can do
the same, if You like, or go fishing.
There's plenty of trout in the kill, Ina
told"
And rs 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 10 take his nap with Il
lighter heart than be had often had since
the fatal marriage day.
But when he had fallen asleep, he be-
gan 10 dream strange, troubled dreams
He was at the battle of San Jacinto, and
the Me1ican's lips were at his ear.
al cursed the gun" He heard again
" May II prove curse 70 you
Other guns we're firing all about
them; ne heard the noise, he smelt the
smoke. Suddenly he awoke-the noise
Of the report of firearms WIS 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.
81 do not know" sobbed the poor
woman.
II heard a noise-I am frightened T.
Then they rushed together 10 the gar
ret, whence came a sound of groans.
Meanwhile / had heard the boys e
pastmy room and up the garnet stairs,
probably in search of fishing tackle. ]
called them back.
"Be careful, boys, Icautioned them,
"about the lumber closet There is AZ
old gun in Il that may be loaded. Don't
go near it.
"All right" said Charlie. Come
on Will"
They went up stairs.
Fishing is all 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 il il is Reck-
on know how 10 manage a gun y
Lets take it on the sly" said his
brother. 81 Let it out Of the window,
and I'll carry it to the woods. There is
the powder-hask 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 s
death "Let's have it, Will, said he,
and took il. Suddenly there was a fash,
a report, and horrible scream from the
little fellow, who fell forward on his
face at the feet of the elder His pros
trate form was what his wretched par
ents saw as we three rushed into the old
garrett
The other boy stood, utterly unable TO
move, clutohing the weapon that had
caused all this
May God have mercy on us, 1t Is
the cursed rife again - cried the father.
Then the boy found words.
90 swear / did not load il !" he said.
" l swear did not touch the trigger T.
And still his brother lay dead at his
feet.
On the night before, / had seen a
sight that might have prophesied this
tragedy. Would heaven / had told of il
The kitchen clock was striking eleven.
In a country house like that people go
early to bed. The family had been asleep
an hour 7 was reading, but paused to
listen to the striking of the loud-mouthed
clock. As it ceased, fRncied heard
football upon the stairs. opened the
door Slowly the noise came nearer.
Ii had the sound that can come only
from a bare foot. The next second ]
saw my host, Rathbone, approaching me.
you'll catch cold, old fellow, said l.
Put on your coat
To my surprise he answered not at all,
but came slowly on.
Then saw, for the first time, a SOM
nambulist.
For a moment / hesitated whether 10
awake 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 garret entrance he stop
ped n second, then lifted the latch and
entered. / was close behind.
Without the least hesitation he ad-
vanced TO the lumber closet. / did not
know the old rife was there, and again
| followed. The moonlight, streaming
in through the chinks in the caves and
one broken window, made the dreary
place quite light
He turned. the wooden button OF the
closet door, and drew out powder horn.
Then he brought out a bag Of shot.
And then-the fatal gun.
At once / remembered il. Who, in
deed, that had ever seen it could forget
the heavily chased mountings OF silver,
the grotesquely carved butt, the enor-
nous barrel? With the recollection
there flashed upon me such horror as !
had never felt.
Still, was powerless to move.
tried TO cry out. My tongue refused.
At last found utterance. But in the
brief moment / had thought of the con.
sequences that must follow my awaking
him. Here, evidently, was the precious
secret kept SO long-the clue TO his
daughters death. No doubt the gun
had been loaded before the fatal bridal
day, in the same manner, and by the
same man, IN the same condition of SOM
nambulism, as ] saw it was being loaded
now. The father was unconscious that
he was really the murderer of his daug.
ter. He knew the gun had goue off in
his hands, but ascribed it to the Mexi-
cans curse. Why should / undeceive
him Had he not sorrow enough Z 30
let him be. Shuddering, saw him
ram home the charge, then put the rife