The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-04-14
THE MARKED ARM.

Click In the dead Of night sharp
sound awakened Mrs. Halifont Toe
room was dark Not even a gleam
of moon or starlight fell through the
curtains of the windows 1t was q
very strange sound indeed, but she
saw nothlug, heard nothing more.
She sat up, leaning on her dimpled
left elbow, aud put out ber right
band and touched her husbands
shoulder. He lay upon his pillow
sound asleep, and did uot wake al
her touch.
cit must have been q dream" said
Mrs Halifont; aud her young head
-sbe was obly the bride of year
nestled down agalu closer to her hus-
bands arm aud she slept again.
Click
This time the sound did not arouse
Mrs HolifoDt. IL was her husbant
who awakened He did not pause
10 listen bit grasped the revolver be-
meath bis pillow and Jumped ou; Of
bed at once. la an alcove in the
next room stood safe which contain
ed money and valuables. 1t was not
one of the wonderful new safes that
defy fire aud burglars, but sn old one
that bad been 10 The family for long
time Mr. Halifont knew on the 10
staut that some one was opening this
safe.
A man of courage, man who ney-
er b, Stated Id the face OF dagger
one, too, who bad q warm regard
for worldly posessions-Mr Hallfont
strode at once into the room where
be knew the house breakers were at
work, and, running 10 the dark
against powerful man tackled him
at oDce
The light of a lantern flashed
across the room. Tn,re We're Two
more men Three against two.
The sruOd of blows, struggling,
and the report of a pistol aroused the
wife once more Amidst her Terror
she had the good sense TO light the gas
IL shoDe upon spectacle OF horror.
Her husband welterlog Id bis blood.
wrestling with gigantic man whose
features we're concealed by mask Of
black Grape, a man, the upper part OF
whose body clothed only 10 kuitIed
woolen shirt, of SINE dark color,
with sleeves that left his great arms
bore. On the rignt one, the Que
which clutcbed Mr. HalifonL's lbr, al,
was a red mark or brand, or scar, or
birthmsIk IL would have been im-
possible for Mrs. Hallf5nt, even 10 q
cslmer moment, to tell what it was,
but it indelibly Impressed itself upon
her mind, as she bravely cast herself
iuto the struggle. and fought with oil
her might to drag tbe horrible hand
from her husbands throat, screaming
all the while for aid
A blow, kick would have silenc-
ed her. The burglar must have
known that, but there are very bad
men who cannot use violence toward
u women to save their own lives
bis man could not His compan-
ions had fed with the booty help
might arrive at any moment With
great effort be wrenched himself
from the clutches Of his victim, and
let go his throat aud sped away. 1t
sas not too soon Assistance arrived
now that it was too late, for Nr. Hal.
ifont did not 1--we TO tell the story
He was mortalv wounded. HIS
ouug wife watched by his bedside
until he breathed his last, then drop
ped senseless beside il
For weeks she raved in wild del.
iIium of the murGerOus hand, Of the
great muscular arm with the scar
upon it, aud called upoa them all TO
save her husbands life 4: but she Was
Young and mad a 6Ie constitution
After a while her health returned,
and. at last, her mind regsined its
equipoise.
Soc removed from the city and
took up her abide 10 lonely coun-
try place, with favorite sister for q
companion. She bad resolved as all
widows who love their husbands do
at first, to remain q widow forever
Aud indeed though many men would
gladly have lempted one 50 young,
beautiful and wealthy to change ber
mlnd on this point, che seemed 10
care less for any one OF them than for
the kiuen wblch purred upon her knee,
or The black aud tan terrier hicb ran
by ber si1e along the garden paths
Sne was l9 when her husband was
murdered a. 80 she was still true 10
bis memory.
l. uuy one forever utterly true 10
another's memory out of romance
any ole who does not die young? ]
fear not. 10 this lap-ipg summer of
woman's life, when she pretended TO
believe that sutumn bad actually
Sbic, tCh ptntiOu " iOCoustauCr oc-
sailed her. For many years q fne
house upon the neigbboripg estate
bad been empty, bat now there came
TO take possession of it gentleman
DOT yet forty. A widower with plen.
ty Of money and no children;
handsome man we'll built and stall
wsrt, with magnificent black hair,
aud eyes iha, we're black diamonds
Spanish eyes indeed, be called him
-eit Spauisrd, and bis speech betray-
ed foreign accent.
The dark eyes and blue ones met,
few peighborly words exchanged, a
call followed soon. Mrs Halifont
felt new motion creeping into her
heart She felt pleased and faltered
by this Strangers admirstion. Then
che knew that she was loved, and re-
j iced, and so discovered that she
herself love. again.
A, h.st she Was angry With her
self: Then che wept over ber incon-
sis'ency, bot at last she yielded Ut
terIy. After Gil, it was love that