Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-07-01


women ?"
The hermit, fairly wrlthing 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 move of his
hand.
Then. drawing brace of heavy revolv-
ers, he extended them both toward the
other.
"Take one, he said fercelY. al see
YOU are not armed; but they are loaded
alike, and you have nothing to fear from
that score"
Without word the bewildercd victim
mechanically took one of the profTered fire.
arms.
Mid the applause of the crowd, the duel
Isl led the way to the door, and out into
the open air.
Jostled and pushed by the excited spec
tators, the hermit slowly followed.
Once outside and the young strangers
second began to measure off the ground for
the duel.
duelists took the positions assigned them.
The challenger emphatically waited the
slow movement of his foe.
II call upon you 10 Witness" said the
recluse of Lone Cabin, addressing the spec
tators, ''that this is no quarrel of mine.
But, after this treatment | have received
from this man, whom | positively say |
never saw before, am driven TO this. If
| fall, please see that have proper burial.
AS last favor beg that you wilt not in
any way try to discover my identity. Win
you promise that3"
Receiving the hearty assent of the by
standers, the man signihed that he was in
readiness for action.
There succeeded the ominous ''one, two,
three, fire." when the young stranger rap
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 remained mo.
of the fallen man.
''Is he deadl" cried one.
Dead as stone" exclaimed a tall
weather-beaten mOuntaineer who was bend
ing over the silent form.
"Then my work is done, and the wrongs
my poor sister suffered are avenged !" said
the younger stranger as he turned to join
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 1t away, they were surprised
to see the long, flowing beard worn by the
unknown person fall 10 the ground, and
face as white and smooth as a maidens
suddenly disclosed TO their gaze.
A glance told them that it was false, and
that the Hermit of Lone Cabin was a
womani
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:
My God! 1t is my slster!' 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.
A long sickness followed, however, and
it was months before the whole story was
known.
''The Hermit of Lone Cabin" was in
deed the sister of hin 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 broken-hearted, was few
days after abducted and borne away TO 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 a life of loneliness. Her brother
Ralph, who had been away at school for
three years, learned of her misfortunes and
supposed death, and returned to his home
to begin search for the villain who had
been the cause of so much suffering.
Warren Arnolds true name was Loren
Gray, and Ralph ever spoke of him by that
name, though his sister had never known
him it.
Accompanied by his friend, Norman
Ariin, he had sought far and wide for him,
but to make at last that well-nigh fatal
error in mistaking the ''hermit" for his foe.
AS his sister had not seen him for eight
years, and at time there is most change
IN ones appearance she had not recognized
him.
When she was able, they all returned to
their homes happy company.
Later, Norman Arlin became her hus-
band, and a new life dawned for her.
The Lone Cabin still stands, memento
of the past.