The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-06-30
IN kill yer fust.r
"You pap :" exclaimed the girl.

me. But mus go. Think better o the
matter, ole man. had come over ter AZ
fur Manh, but | see you ain, IN 10
humor. Good night"
Marth,' said the old man when
young Stages had gone. air yer goin'
ter marry him.
Yes, pap.
An ruin yer ole father
My margin shouldn't ruin you
Ill kill that feller fust.'
:. You can't skeer me, pap. II you kill
him, you'll halter kill me-
For several days nothing was said of
the approaching marriage The old man
seemed TO have forgotten his interview
with young Stages, for he went about his
work cheerfuly. The girl worked with
him. Sometimes she would stop and
study his face, as though trying TO catch
a relentng expression. but she saw moth
ing tina, spoke OF any change either for
better or worse.
I'm goin' over ter Uncle Gabe 5. pap
said the girl one evening. an you
needn't look fur me back afore mornn'.
I'm goin' to help cousin puss make her
dress
The old man did no, reply. When
night came he took Down his gun and
went into the woods. He stationed him
self near the path leading to the Stages
plantation. some one walked along The
path. Stages mu;tered the ED nan.
He raised his gun and fred raerc mas
no, HE slightest aoise oil 4 struggle. and.
turning. the old man hurried home. lie
at doan IN Aatgh,s room and ta9ashh
He arose and neryously pacea the fl5or
lie had committed murder. and already
the thought weighed heavily upon aim
lie was avenged, though. liIs gin would
not marry Stages but he regretted the
foul deed.
They'll hang me- lie suddenly
gasped. III leave The country and
he approached the door. but his knees
shook SO that he wen, back and SIT down
He believed in literal hell. He believed
that the devil would pour hot lead down
his throat. What would Mar,h do
Would she see him hung: He heard
footsteps. Martin" he gaspcd. Ill
tell her. She said she wasn't er comm
home till
Stages entered and confroted him His
face looked IS hard as stone There WAS
a steady, unwinking gaze IN his eyes.
= YoG though, you had killed me. did
yes
les bu thank cod that d..n';.
Young Sta marie no reply IL:
stood gazing II The Old rlan lie looked
up At i ero-,-beam. The old mans gaze
followed rs. He seemed 10 measure the
old mans height; The old man looked
down a, himself Siaggs took rope
from his bosom and drew strong cord
from his pocket.
Cross your han 5
oh. Lord don't tie me.
The Lord ain, a gon' ter tie yer | m
the man that's goin' ter do IL
= I'm sorry that | tried ter Kill yer.
young Stages. lie; me OF, an yer may
marry Marih.
Gross yer A8nS
The old man obeyed. S:aggs tied his
, lands. and then tied his ankles then he
made moose IN the rope. put II over the
old mans head. and threw one end OF the
rope over the Gloss beam.
-" Let me see my chile agn.
Young Stages drew the rope ,ight
tied II To the bedsiead. and lief,
the room. In few moments he
returned bearing the girls body in his
arms. The old man would have fallen
If the + pc had no, held him. Stages
placed the body on the bed.
Look Ny'
"oh. Lord I've killed my child oh.
Lord" =
H.oh :" and. approaching, Young
Stages goused o., one OF the old man,
eyes. tore i; from hun. and stamped il.
Lock ia, anl he turaed the OH
mans head. aad directed the remainia4
eye A, the erpse. and then he Tore out
the eye, and mashed j, eth his foo:
The cd man howied. Young Stages
selscd ihe rope itled the old man from
The tloor. and ag8in tied il 10 the bed
stead lie gated ii his victim for mo-
ment. He turned 70 The dead sri. kissed
her brow. and slowly walked from me
house. lie neared the rlver. bu, did
not change his course. The sun VAS
rising. ana i ,hone on his face hard and
cold asa roet. He stood on the river
bank for moment and stepped oil
Ills body sunk Ike 4 stone. AMI the vel
laA waters closed over HIM.