The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-03-13

jects; then, just as l was on the point of
telling her my feelings, she would begin
to thrill some melody, and dance out OF
the room.
1 was getting frantic; felt that /
must "gush, or the pent-up waters of
my soul would burst through all re-
straints. But, no! Annals manners
precluded the possibility OF any "gush
on my part. In despair, some days, I'd
don my hunting-suit and shoulder my
gun, and spend an afternoon in the
woods, sometimes with Albert, oftener
without him, for, truth 20 tell, l 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 1 loved |
her, and to find out the truth concern
ing her regard for me.
was destined 10 find out in much |
more abrupt and disagIeeable manner. |
could not find her; l then ask ID for
the boys. Their mother told me they |
had taken the bows l had made for
them, and gone up the mountain target |
shooting. | found my gun, and con-
cluded to go up the mountain myself
and shoot some small game.
About a quarter of mile from the
house was a beautiful waterfall called
Sylvan Glade Cataract, and by this
limpid 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 its proximity until
quite upon it. 1 strode up the path,
vexed that / did not see Anna while the
mood was on me to tell her all.
! / approached the cataract, and heard
voices, but kept steadily on parting the
bushes, only to see "my Anna" as 1
had come to term her, in the arms of
Albert Warville, while he pressed kiss
after kiss upon her lips, which mad
dened while it calmed me.
stepped into the Enclosure, and AL
b9rt released the girl as / tapped him
roughly on the shoulder.
"Come with me, Albert Warville" /
said.
My tone was so authoritative that he
followed me without 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 fiercely, while
my face must have been drawn and
hard.
The right of my afianced wife, Ned
Baker; and l thought you too much Of
a gentleman to seek to interrupt such a
relationship"
reeled and staggered as though had
been struck blow, while he quietly
went back to Anna, and together they
started down the mountain. Then ]
seemed to awake 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.
!, / watched them clear down the noun
tain-side, and saw Anna cross the plateau
! alone. Was he coming back to me
i o, no; could not meet him; my brair
seemed on fire, and was filled witt
wicked. murderous thoughts.
! Desperately / plunged on through tn,
). woods, not knowing or caring whithe
y my steps led me.
At last l paused, for there, standing
:, right ahead of me, was the form o
J Albert Warville. He was standing nea
" the edge of the Cliff" as it was called
= a rocky projection with sheer descen
of some forty-fve feet, and appeared t.
re be meditating and looking off, while
le noticed Annals light blue scarf aroun
ID his neck.
- 1nstinctively raised my gun to fir
As at him, when ON second thought I low
= cred it; l remembered that Anna
40 brothers were in the woods somewhere
but my brain was maddened and whir
y ing, and for the time being was carrie
~ away with passion at what termed h
:. VI villainy. l was crazed and frenzied
w see Annals blue scarf encircling h
on neck | bent to the ground and seize
" a large stone; casting it with precisio
'i- long practice had taught me, heard
str Ike him with dull thud. l saw hi
a topple and fall, and waited to hear h
no death-scream, but there was no SCUM
'Ps All was as still as death. As still
er' death? My God, that was an awf
9y thought; that was the thought whit
= made me sane again. / fell to Il
ground utterly incapable of motion.
The few moments l lay there seem'
:. like dreadful hours to me; then, as co
III scIousness came back, it appeared to
a hideous dream, and dragged myst
go to the edge of the cliff and looked Owe
+. There he lay all curled up in heap.
iie:s mercifui heaven, was l to go throu
HIS life with the stain of murderer on n
hand?
But l must arouse myself mi
IN act, and the first thing was to dispose
tod the body, so 1 started on roundabo
Or path, the only way to reach the bottt
w. of the cliff. AS neared the spot "
sure l heard voices, and gazing throu
the trees, | saw little Henry and Will
We Dalton standing hy the hOdv
~ / turned in terror to fly, wild wi
'ow my agonizing thoughts, but 1 was set
~" and the two boys started toward n
,no crying Justly:
Ing "Cousin Ned! Cousin Nedr
mo turned and met them.
0 "Was it you, Cousin Ned, tt
,or knocked him OFF, asked Willie.
ood gave up all for lot, and falling
0"N my face, l cried out:
,ob. "My God, forgive mel 1t was /"
~ - The two boys sprang to nay side, a
lifted me up.
Said Willie: :'What's the matt
;HT, ;oHTs, Cousin Ned? There's no great ha
,u ,1 DONE"
While Henry cried out: 1--WE w
! going to shoot at him, but we can
- him up Just as we'll down here"
thee started to my feet; 1 sprang to
'no object. 1t a0as a dummy target filled 4,
ION. straw. The boys had used some
! an clothes of Albert's, his hat, and th
,oan 90 sisters scarf.
e~a we laughed wildly, then hysterical
oost and at last somewhat naturally, a
-'' said, with an effort:
he- "How's that for theatricals, boys.
. I'd fooled you, didn't II"
ono "Yes, you did, Cousin Ned"
o turned Willie; "you acted as tho,
mo you were frightened nearly to death.
the Now, children, you have the stt
ztbe That cured my first case of loue and