The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-02-12


hand.
Yes, that's Edmond's hapdwrit-
ing confirmed be, after hast,
glance, Ms be returned the paper,
which Metcome put in his pocket.
Nearly all tue miners shook hands
with him aud told him that they
never believed the rumor.
Just before seven o'clock the
celJrgymdn who WAS 10 nuite the
couple arrived aud Me.come enter ed
tue sitting room where ho found
Violet dressed in wedding garments
and surrounded by tho ladies.
Tho clergyman is waiting in the
parlpr. Violet. Allow me to conduct
you. said he, taking her icy cold
nand in his own.
Very well answered Violet. in q
calm tone, as she 4 ,enguged her
hand and laid it upon uls arm. while
tue other shs pressed against her
thrJbbing bosom.
Courage, courage - whispered
George as she passed bin in tue hall,
aud then he ran mp stairs.
Soon after the party entered the
parlor, which was ablaze with the
lights that shoue from the many
candles and tapers on the Christmas
tree.
A loud All !" OF surprise and
pleasure came from the lips Of the
guests as the party arranged the IN
selves around tho room.
where is the surprise yon had in
store for me p asked MetcJmo in u
low toue rs ho beut his head close to
the ear Of Violet"
ut is coming" said Violet in the
same time, while her baud slipped
into tue pocket of her dress from
which sho drew small wooden
mallet aud placed it on II little stand
that stood close to the tree
Metcomo had no time to ask quest
ions, for tue clergyman camo forward
aud joined their hands.
"if any Que is present who has
aught to say Why should not join
their hands in marriage, let them
step forward aud say it, said he IN
calm aud distinct tone.
At that moment Violet wrenched
her hand from that Of her intended
husband, lifted tho mallet and struck
the little bell.
Il object To the marriage ! shout
ed a voice, aud Edmond Richards
stood before MctcOme, who almost
instantly drew u revolver and fired
Just as George tlreS him heavily on
the floor.
! Tho pistol exploded, but the
bullet only entered the ceiling,
The next minute baud OF mask
Cd men rushed iuto the room aud
! took away the insenslble body o!
Metcome.
Tho Vigilance Committee has
him in thor haut5 - shouted one Of
the masked men "let 10 one follow
W, on the peril Of his life And
thon he shut aud boltod the do1r.
All this happened quicker that
!, nav pen can describe it
ladies and gentlemen " cried
y Edmond, drawing the now smilins
Violet towards him aud kissing ue'
brow. this young lady IL my Lawful
wife. THIS very Same clergyman
who new stands before you united ~
weeks ago. AletcoIne Is II villain
who offered mo money ani STU
lution if | Aoull consent to leave
; These disgings, but scorued hi
Offer aud challenged hun TO m1l u.
: combat. But the cOwardly cur dix
= no, come to tho place of msetins an'
= | went home, While asleep he Gu
y tered my cabin, dragged mo wItt
ohloroi run, aud then dragged IN
into one OF the many drifts OF tn
= Houey-Comb runel, BY looseniu4
= the tiubers he CAUSED the gravel I,
. cave 10. and | was eutombed alive.
. Edmond stopped aud drew HI
+, trembling wife closer tu h'm
y All listened with breathless attcnt
= ion Edmond RESUMED his narrative
- "Yes, he left mo there bnria'
. alive But tho great God abOv
- " heard my feryent prayer aud l escap
u ed, 1t was uight when the vllial
dragged me into the tunnel. ii
thought no one witnessed the act
:. Yet two boys, mere lads, wh
)" we're on their way home, aud VIII
followed Metcome aud heard ever
word be said TO me before he ptie
> ,way tho timber. As soou as he wa
gone they ran home aud told tathe
of what they had seen. lie, togett
:, er with oldest George there, wen
- to the drift aud dug me out. wa
:, insensible when they found me
y buried beneath pile OF loose san1
:, They carried me to their cabin an
:, revived me. Then, on tue Yer
;s same night, | sent one OF the lads :
" nv wife who hastened to my bedsid
.. There we arranged plan to pqpis
" the villain. Aud that plan has sue
ceeded, The letter which III
T would -be murderer had read to yo
80 was written by George, who also IL
> formed the members OF the tigilanc
"A Committee Of tue crime cJm,nitte
" by Metcone. The villain though
.. TO put inc out Of the way aud marr
~ nv Violet. He failed. Besides tina
. ladies and gentlemen, yap u kno
that I was poor man. Iho WI
a a A.. i -. 4