West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-06-12

courage enough to war upon defenseless
women ?"
The hermit, fairly writhing under the
treatment he had received, could only look
upon him IN silence.
The excited crowd began to hoot him.
and the confusion was becoming ominous
Of danger to the trembling man. when the
avenger silenced them with a move of his
hand
Then. drawing brace of heavy revolv-
ers, he extended them both toward the
other
Take one, he said fiercely II see
you are not armed; but they are loaded
alike, and you have nothing to fear ftoh
that score
Without a word the bewildercd victim
mechanically took one Of the profIeret FIRE
arms.
Mid the applause of the crowd. the duel
ist led the way 70 the door. and out into
theopen air
Jostled and pushed by the excited spec
tators. the hermit slowly followed
Once outside and the young strangers
second began TO measure of the ground for
the duel.
As the preliminares were arranged. the
duelists took the positions assigned them.
The challenger emphaticallv waited the
slow movement of his foe
81 call upon you 10 witness" said the
recluse OF Lone Cabin. addressing the spec
taiors, that this is no quarrel of mine.
| but, after this treatment | have received
from this man, whom | positively say /
never saw before, am driven 20 this II
/ fall, please see that have proper burial.
/ AS last favor beg that you wilt not in
any way try TO discover my identity. VIII
| you promise that ~
! Receiving the hearty assent of the bv
standers the man signifcd that hc was in
readiness for action
There succeeded the ominous oone. two.
I three, fire, when the young stranger nap.
/ idly discharged his weapon and with such
accuracy that his antagonist realed forward
and fell To the earth without making hos
/ tile movement.
Smiling grimly the slayer rcmnined mo.
tonless as thcspectalors rushed to the side
of the fallen man.
"ls he deadl' cried one
Dead as stone :" exclaimed a tall
weather-beaten mOuntaineer who was bend
ing over the silent form
"Ihen my work is done, aud the wrongs
my poor sister suffered are avenged Z" said
the younger stranger as he turned 10 ioin
| his companion.
Meanwhile some of the others began 10
make preparations for the burial of the un-
fortunate hermit.
While couple were in act of raising the
body to bear it away, they were surprised
to see the long, flowing beard worn by the
unknown person fall To the ground, and
face as white and smooth as a maiden's |
suddenly disclosed TO their gaze.
A glance told them that it was false. and |
that the Hermit of Lone Cabin was a |
woman
In the height of the excitement following |
the discovery the stranger duelist reached |
the spot. and as he haught sight of the fair |
countenance he cried
''Aiy Cod II is my sister! !" and fell SEN
seless
To cut the story short, by the time the |
speaker recovered his consciousness after |
the fearful shock he had received, the |
wounded one began to show signs Of re-
turning life
1t was then found that though the shot
had barely escaped being fatal, it was not |
likely TO prove so.
long sickness followed, however and !
1t was months before the whole story was
known.
''The Hermit OF Lone Cabin" was in
deed the sister OF him who had nearly be-
come her murderer. Years before she had
met and loved man by the name of War.
ren Arnold, but on the day before that fix
ed for their wedding he had disappeared
and she, nearly bToken-hearted was few
days after abducted and borne away 10 the
mountain retreat of a band of road agenrs.
the leader Of whom was none other than
/ her false lover.
! More grief-stricken than ever, she sue
ceeded in escaping; but, somewhat crazed,
instead of returning to her friends, she had
| sought life of loneliness. Her brother
/ Ralph, who had been away at school for
/ three years, learned of her misfortuues and
supposed death, and ret&rned to his home
| 10 begin a search for the villain who had
been the cause Of 80 much suffering.
! Warren Arnold's true name was Loren
Gray, and Ralph ever spoke of him by that
/ name, though his sister had never known
/ him by it,
Accompanied by his friend, Norman
/ Ariin, lac had sought far and wide for him,
/ but TO make at last that well-nigh fatal
error in mistaking the "hermir' for his foe
! As his sister had not seen him for eight
/ years, and 40 time there is most change
IN ones appearance she had not recognized
I hm.
I When she was able, they al returned 10
/ their homes a happy company.
| Later, Norman Arlin became her hus-
band, and q new life dawned for her.
/ The Lone Cabin still stands, a memento
Of the past.