The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-31
say those words and yet stand quiet


told you of. What do know if he's
my cousin or not? What do / know
whose child l am? But that's no mat
ter. All of you-gentle and simple
call me a beauty; and Jim swears that
| shall be his wife,
A quick shudder ran visibly through
all her frame as she spoke those words;
and uttered cry Of rage.
He's heard of you," she added,
quickly. Fathers been telling him
you fancied me. and they sat this even
ing drinking and plotting together, and
though couldn't hear half they said,
1 know your life's not safe Here, in
her anxiety for me. she forgot the
stolen kiss, and came and stood beside
me. placing in her sarnestness, one
hand upon my arm. ':And fathe4's got
your gun"
l started in surprise. The gun she
spoke of was valuable one that had
mysteriously disappeared from my
tent. l knew it had been stolen, but
certainly had not suspected old Ben
Allen, who had specially busted HIM
self in trying to discover the thief.
''He has, has heP" l cried. THE
Internal old hypocrite and scoundrel!
Don't mind me speaking so of Ben, my
darling. | don't believe he's any more
your father than am! And SO i was
he who stole my gun!'
The earnest hand was still upon my
arm, and the pale, sweet face upturned.
Il ask you to forgive him for my
sake" she said. ''and not stay to try
to get it back again. Your life's not
safe between them. Father is owing
Jim money, and 1 was to be taken for
the debt. When l said l wouldn't
marry him they laid the blame on you.
and swore to shoot me If spoke to you
again. But it's you they'll shoot-oh.
my dear! my dear! The bullet that
kills my heart will pass through yours
first!'
In her agitation she betrayed her
feelings as she had never done before.
caught her in my arms:
''And if l should 60 will you let them
force you to marry him?" cried.
''Nay" she answered. firmly. with
her beautiful, serious eyes fixed full on
mine. ''They could never force me.
See here!" She placed her little hand
in me. I'm no wife for you. but love
you, dear, and for your sake I'll go
single to my grave.
The moon had risen higher now and
her light made all things visible.
Scarcely had the words left Lizzie's
lips, when with - cry of rage q man
sprang from among the pines, and
made as if to seize her. Instinctively,
as recognized Ben. flung her round
beyond his reach, and placed myself
before her. That movement saved my
life.
For, on the instant, tho report of a
gun was heard, and old Ben Allen,
with one agonized cry, fell dead before
us; while Liz. with wild scream of
horror, dropped on her knees beside
him.
l stood, for one brief second. be-
wildered. horror stricken, then darted
away in the direction whence the shot
had been fired. The crashing of the
under brush, as under the feet of some
one in full flight, guided me. In
among the pines picked up gun.
whose warm and still smoking barrel
showed that it had been the murderer's $
weapon, but found not him who had
fired it. So, after a hasty, fruitless
search, l returned to the scene of
death, where [ found, despite the lone
ly spot and lateness of tho hour, a
crowd had already collected-rough,
uncouth fellows; wood-cutters and
charcoal-burners. and the like; all
sworn friends and comrades of the
Aliens, and natural enemies of all men
richer than themselves. They received
me with q howl of loathing.
Here's the murderer. Seize him,
boys! The gun is in his hand" 1t was
Jim who spoke, Lizzie's reputed cous-
in. l looked around for her, but she
was gone.
ing allowed to say word, and hustled
to the neighboring town-a rough, wild
place, at best. but was glad to get
there, for that was 3 rough, wild ride
that led to it, with such rude escort,
among the pines.
had laughed contemptuously to
myself, at first over the accusation
made against me. l knew Liz could
prove my innocence with q word. But
the matter began to look far more SER
ious when learned that the girl could
not be found.
Jim Allen, the foul traitor, swore
that he had seen me fire, and that LA
was nowhere near US at the time, and
score of vindictive voices cried out
that had como from among the pine
trees with the gun still in my hand.
and that the gun was mine!
1t was so, indeed-the weapon that l
had lost. and that now appeared in
fatal evidence against me.
Liz could have saved me, but Liz
onH tor th N NM 4otu
over my own possible fate was the tor
turing fear of what might have befallen
her.
They proved that l had loved the
backwoods beauty. They dared to cast
loved-pure as the proudest lady in the
land she was!-,in order to show that
there was angry blood between me and
her father. rose in my place to bear
witness to her purity.
"You vile slanderer" l cried to Jim
Allen, ''if ever leave this accursed
place. and find her, Liz of the Pines
shall be my wifer'
He looked at me with an evil scowl
of hate.
you will never leave this place
aliven' he said.
began to think that he spoke the
truth. The bitterness. the haste, the
prejudice, which they brought to bear
upon my trial, left me no room for hope
of justice. The circumstantial evil
dence was terrible. and a verdict of
guilty seemed almost foregone con-
clusion-when suddenly there stag
gered into the courtroom pale, worn,
haggard woman, who fell-with n
moan of anguish-prone at the judges 8
feet.
No one knew her. An officer came
forward to take the wretched. ragged
creature away. Then, rs he lifted the
seGseless form. the head fell back-a
miserable bonnet dropped from it
down tumbled mass of magnificent,
long. black hair. and in an instant we
recognized-lying apparently dead be-
fore us-Liz of the Pines!
All was immediate confusion. Idon't
know how got to her. but did, and
had her in my arms, and never knew
that Jim Allen had aimed pistol at
me until saw him struggling and in
custody.
II ,,,o, ,n oxar diroof1u Che m