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


1 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,hemanP"
I gasped.
"No, only to fire at him. You'll
never hit him, but wish couldp
followed her advice. I was not an
adept, but knew enough to load a
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 a 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 l 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 a violent rattling and rapping
on the door below us.
Kitty only added greater volume to
her shouts; but, nevertheless, 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 ~
"Who's there2" piped Margaret,
musically, for all the quaver in her
tones.
"What is the matter, ladies?" an
swered gentleman's voice. "What has
happened"
"Oh, for the love of heaven !" burst
forth Betty; "we're all murdered in our
bedsP"
"Is there anything wrong ?" impa-
tiently reiterated the voice.
"Yes, there is" called in my turn
WHO are you, and 1 will come DOWN.
"I am Professor Jouvain."
"From Ralston I" exclaimed Mar
yoret. 81 thought knew the voice.
Oh, thank God |"
She sank crying on the floor by the
children's cot, and 1 hurried away. By
the time opened the east room door,
where the lamp was still bright and the
dre glowing as when we sat down to
our books and quiet evening, the pro-
lessor had been Joined by some of the
neighbors.
The ringing shots had echoed far and
with terrible meaning through the quiet
valley. There was the rapid beat OF
running footsteps, coming nearer and
nearer, to right and lett, as we stood
facing each other.
The professor was tall, dark and
handsome. I saw at glance, as he
stepped into the circ le OF light, that he
was another sort from any had seen oi
late-or ever
He was wonderfully ccol and calm
the quietude of strength and gentle
ness. Involuntarily l bent toward him
relieved, soothed, thankful, at rest
He drew my hand through his arm, and
led me at once to the large, low coIct
near the fire.
"Sit down, and tell us all about it, ;
he said, smiling pleasantly. "You are
chilled from excitement. What hal
frightened youP Who fired those
shots?"
81 did. Oh, I shot man Do yor
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 il
at him."
I heard them all laugh saw the
professors grave smile but did MOI
mind it. There was more behind thar
they knew. The cry and the fall came
back to me with terrible meaning.
"Oh, but he was hurt 1t was tht
hrst shot. On, somebody, please, go
He was at the window of the long room
on the other porch"
"This way |" cried Kitty, opening the
door into the long room and taking uI
the lamp.
They all followed her except the pro,
fessor; candidly own held him and
would not let him go.
"Oh, don't leave me am so fright
ened. 1t was so terriblep
But it is all over now," he said
gently. You must not lose your self
control when you have been so brave
1 must go now. They are calling me
Don't novel 1 will come back and
tell You what it means"
There was no need for him to come
back. heard plainly what they said
to him, although their voices were curl