The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-31

pitch dark, and the scattered gas lamps
only tended to make the darkness more
visible. She Was not s timid giEl, but
she never did like that long walk alone
l 1t night. Quietly adjusting her dress
and putting her hand in her pistol
/ pocket, she started forward. As she did
50, she saw figure stealing along the op-
i posite side Of the street and then crossing
toward the path she must take. She hur.
| rsed along, and sodid the figure now in
front Of her. When she slackened her
/ pace 50 did the figure. The street was
deserted, but Eva gave her pistol
i tighter grin and moved on couEageonsly,
just as they got TO the middle Of the
| darkest block the figure turned and came
toward her. 1T loomed up ~ the dark
ness like giant. she spoke quickly
'tOat Of my way, sirf No answer.
Crack went the little pistol
The figure never needed it
Crack again.
.sGreat Scottl Eva, do you want 70
kill mel" howled Jack. as he felt q sharp
pain rush through his upper arm.
tsGreat Scott! put up that gun. Don't
| Won know me? Jerushal Whewl You've
| blown nv arm of Don't you know
meg" And Jack capered around on
the sidewalk holding his arm, while the
/ warm blood commenced 70 trlckle out
at his cuff.
| Eva stood almost dazed.
eOh. John, why did yon not speak
Why did Won act sos Have ! hurt you
Are YOU Killed? Are you dyingI What
shall / dot Come, hurry home; don't
die here in the street; let me carry you
let me support you. It's only q short
way home. Here, lean on me.
And Eva clasped him around the
body and rushed him forward. Jack
felt as if he was being waited through
the air by fairies. They hurried up the
steps and into the house. Mrs. Baseom
met them.
"Whv, children, what is the matter
John is as pale rs ghost. What Is 1t,
Eva? Look at Johns hand all covered
with blood! Where have you been, and
what has happenedT
They ierked off Jacks coat and rolled
up his sleeves. SurS enough there was
little bullet hole in the aeshy part Of
the arm. It had gone through but
| touched no bones. 1t was not very serl.
| Gus, and Mrs. Bascom soon dressed and
bound it up. As Jack marched off t.
his room he looked at Eva humorously
and said:
"You can now see that pistol is of n'
account" :.
"There were four more charges in it
Cousin Jack"
Il believe don't want any more o
them tonight. hope can use my arm
tomorrow.
Jack Law awake long time thinking
over the matter. He had been very stu
bid. He felt that. What would Eyi
think of him? And what girl she was
What intrepidity and characterI Iha
girl is treasure, thought Jack, as b
fioated off into the land of dreams.
AS for Eva, she did not sleep q wink
She could hardly accuse herself Q
wrong. and vet she could not excuse heI
, self. To think that she wounded Jacl
. was terrible. She might have kiile'
him. Even now he might lose his arm
How dreadful! And on her sleePles
, pillow she upbraided herself the who'll
night through. One thing she detel
mined to do. As soon as it appears
that Jacks arm was all right she wonl
return home.
Jack appeared at the breakfast table
his arm somewhat stiff and sore, but nc
much more painful than if he ha
=. been newly vaccinated. He tried
feeble Joke or two, but both Eva an
/ Mrs. Bascom felt too serious for niue
conversation.
"Eva thinks she viii go home" sal
5 Mrs. Bascom.
3 "WhatY' said Jack, sharp pain ruI
D ming quickly through his breast, sharpe
5 than the pain in his arm.
] EVA says she will return to blacl
4 water in day or two" :.
"I don't think you ought to, Couisl
E Eva"
''Yes. John, think l mus"
= A little later Jack and Eva We
standing side by side in the parlor.
81 suppose Eva, it may be best *
q Won to return home for the present; bl
3 do you know | am wounded incurably
+ Don't say that. Oh, it can't be SO
r "Not in my arm, dearest, but in n
s heart"
Is "Oh, JackP'
: = "Ana if you go home now, may
) come for you soon and make this yo'
! homer
+ Eva looked up into Jacks eyes, h
. own full of light and love, and gent
e whispered:
:. "Yes, John"
"Then," said Jack, rs he clasped h
- in his arms, 'it was the luckiest shot
d the dark ever heard OF.