The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-04-08


the truth came out.
!. 1t was the day before Allan Cumnor's
gong. Hugh had been away, on his
friends business,to purchase some horse
gear that was needed. 1t was already
darkening when he reached home, but
seeing the light in his dining room lie
walked across the garden, making a short
Gu, and was In the act of stepping on to
the veranda, when he saw bis wife, Florry,
with her arms around AIaa Cumnor's g
neck. The shock was more than he could
; bear and be staggered step or two and
sank to the ground.
The noise startled the lovers for Flor
ry came to the door; Cumnor followed
her
SIT was only your fancy, darling
There was nothing there"
"Oh," she said with sob OF relief; 81
could have sworn l heard Hugh's voice.
1t sounded as II he was dying and CT Jed
my God!'"
"Nonsense," was The reply.
And they remained where they were,
in the full light.
"At the Mooi, then," said he. ~ will
wait at the ferry till you come"
"At the Mooi, them" she replied, and
then continued: "How much did you
say Uncle Foster had died worth p
"About twelve thousand ,and with that,
my darling, we can be happy together
for all our lives, in America or Australia,
or anywhere"
81 will 60 anywhere with you," she
said shut shall bring nv dowry with
me-" And then she laughed low-that
her lovers blood should not curdle at
that laugh! For these diamonds that
Hugh always calls mine are worth, he
says, come thousands! ~
And Hugh, lying there on the grouni
at their very feet in the shadow OF tie
veranda steps, felt the words burning
one by one into bis brain, like drops Of
melting lead. And then they went inside
again. The shutters were closed and
Hugh lay there. At last, on his hands
and knees. he crawled away like some
wounded thing. Then Hugh raised him
self on bis knees aud after awhile got on
his Feet walked round to lhe front OF the
house and called out to his servants.
Dogs began to bark; Kaffits shouted in
response; the front door was thrown
open--and there stood his wife radiant
with smiles Of welcome.
"Good gracious! said she; "whst is
the matter with vou7 You are all dus!
and look so paler'
sit is nothing" he said. 81 got fall
at the Slip-and l am afraid the horse is
more hurt than / am-but I'll go to bed
Dead or alive have to be ut that sale
tomorrow at Thompson's."
The wretched wife did not even &C
her part; she forgot to ccndole aud sym.
pathlze; her heart. such as it was, was
full Of her lover and to-morrow's elope-
ment. Later on she remembered her
duty, but on going to him fouud her hus-
band with bis eyes closed fast, evidently
asleep, so she tripped back to her lover.
Next morning Hugh was the first astir !;
he had dressed and breakfasted: seen
the colt galloped by his Kaffir jockey,
given the orders for the day and was
ready to start for Thompson's, some
twelve miles off, before Cumnor appear
ed. Florry came out soon after and
they exchanged good-bys in the verau-
da.
"We shall meet again in-somewhere, "
said Alan laughingly
"Oh! certain, too" was Hugh's reply
"we're bound TO meet again, but"
| And then the colt reared, and then it
kicked, and then it swung round and
made savage grab at the riders foot
and finally it bolted
| The road TO Thompson's lay due east (;
but Hugh pulled the colt round due west
and passing behind the Hoppie came
down by Kaffir path through the bush
back to the river again.
"Ahoy, there, ahoy!' he cried, and
Kaffr Joe jumped up from his whiting
and brought the boat over and in ten
minutes they were back again on the
other side.
"Now take my horse up to the house
and stay there with it. I have got to
wait for friend and will look after the
'erry for you; and ! box here, Joe, lend
me- your hat"
i And away wen! Joe, giggling nightly
at seeing the Inkos in his hat with all
the cocks feathers in it and the scarle,
band. When Joe was out of sight Hugh
got into the boat and waited. An hour
hai passed when
"Ahoy, there, ahoyT came familiar
voice ringing across the river, and With
his back to the newcomer Hugh took the
rope in hand and began pulling the boat
across AS he neared the bank he gave
a pull with all his might and then, as the
ferry boat giided up to land. be turned
around and faced, as he had expected
Alan Cumnor.
Neither spoke. Hugh was as grim as
death, Alan speechless with amazement
But Hugh leaped out and taking hold oi
the horse with one hand and his friend
with the other led them to the boat
Alan stepped in mechanically and Hugh
began to pull at the rope. Half way
across he stopped
, "It's short distance" be said pulling
out two revolvers "but so much the bet
ter for both of u.s."
Then he gave Alan one.
"Stand up," he said, "on that end there
J clear of the horse. shall stand or
, at this end and hold the boat steady ,
And there they stood, the outraged hus.
band and TIE lover facing one another,
the ferry-bost's length between them.
The two men raised their pistols. The
reports we're simultaneous, and then, or
a sudden, Alan, shot through the fore.
head, reeled back and fell into the swift.
running river. And Hugh, ,thro wing the
lrev0lvers into the water, took the rope