The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-07-12

I recollected that only the day before
BERTHE had found il somewhere up
stairs and carried it down in high glee.
seized it and rushed in to Kitty's
welcome presence Margaret had joined
her, and had come to her senses.
alt is not loaded, Fan," she said
softly, "but have the cartridges here.
He is still at work. Light the candle
and slip them in, and then we can FIRE
from the long room door"
"Do you mean me to shoot t..hemsnP"
"No, only to FIRE at him. You'll
never hit him, but / wish couldp
1 followed her advice. / was not an
adept, but 1 knew enough to load
modern breechloader. Then we put
out the candle, softly opened the door
into the entry and the opposite door
into the long room.
Margaret and Kitty stood close to me,
but at my back the man was just rails
ing the window.
The next instant the thunder of
heaven seemed ringing in my ears
mingled with the crash of broken glass
and wild, terrible cry, half-oath, half
prayer, followed by dull, sickening
thud.
A very demon OF rage took possession
Of me. All fear was gone.
dashed across the room, and, one
after another, in frenzied succession,
fred the remaining barrels of the revol-
yer out into the night through the shat
tered window. Then turned and fed
upstairs after Margaret and Kitty, who
were leaning as far as possible from the
attic-windoW, and screaming for help at
the top of their lungs.
1t was nearer than we hoped. When
Kitty paused to take breath before a
fresh outburst, there were audible
through the thinner piping of Margar.
cts cries q violent rattling and rapping
on the door below US.
Kitty only added greater volume to
her shouts; but, nevertheless, I heard
distinctly clear AMI full haloo that
brought comfort to my heart.
"Oh, do hush ?" screamed, shaking
them vigorously. "There's man down.
stairs Listen u
"Who's there?" piped Margaret,
mnsically, for all the quaver in her
tones.
"What is the matter, ladies?" an
| swered gentleman's voice. "What has
happenedf"
"Oh, for the love of heaven |" burst
forth Betty; "we're all murdered in our
| beds?"
"Is there anything wrong ?" impa-
tiently reiterated the voice.
"Yes, there is" called in my turn
"Who are you, and will come DOWN.
"I am Professor Jouvain."
"From Ralston !" exclaimed Mar
ypret. ST thought I knew the voice.
Oh, thank God r.
She sank crying on the floor by the
children's cot, and hurried away. By
the time opened the east room door,
where the lamp was still bright and the
fire glowing as when we sat down tc
our books and quiet evening, the pro
lessor had been joined by some of the
neighbors.
The ringing shots had echoed far an6
with terrible meaning through the quie
valley. There was the rapid beat o
running footsteps, coming nearer and
nearer, to right and lett. as we stood
facing each other.
The professor was tall. dark ant
handsome. I saw at a glance, as b,
stepped into the circ le of light, that ht
was another sort from any had seen o
late-or ever
He was wonderfully ccol and calm
the quietude of strength and gentle
ness. Involuntarily bent toward him
relieved, soothed, thankful, at rest
He drew my hand through his arm, an,
led me at once to the large, low coucl
near the fire.
"Sit down, and tell us all about it,
he said, smiling pleasantly. "You ar
chilled from excitement. What ha
frightened youP Who fred thos
shots ?"
81 did. oh, shot man Do yo
think he can be dead ?"
"Dead p cried one of the farmers
with jolly laugh. My lawd, miss
I'll bet he amt dead, ef you p'inted
at him."
heard them all laugh saw th
professors grave smile /; but did nc
mind it. There was more behind tina
, they knew. The cry and the fall cam
back to me with terrible meaning.
"Oh, but he was hurt 1t was th
first shot. Oh, somebody, please, go
He was at the window of the long room
, on the other porch"
"This way /" cried Kitty, opening th
} door into the long room and taking u
the lamp.
{ They all followed her except the pre-
1 fessor; candidly own held him an
, would not let him go.
. sob, dent leave me- am so frigh
ened. 1t was so terriblep
, But it is all over now" he saiC
gently. "You must not lose your sell
, control when you have been so brave
4 1 must go now. They are calling m,
Don't move l will come back an
. tell you what it means"
There was no need for him TO com
: back. heard plainly what they sal
to him, although their voices were cur
8 ously subdued and muffled.