Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-08-15

thought no less than it was a
summons from the doctor to saw he
had not a moment to live; but no it
was from Augustus himself, and ran as
follows.
"DEAREsr MARY:
MY engagement is broken of She whom
tried to love- (that tried to love- was a reaI
stroke OF genius the only one my poor boy
was ever guilty oD has proved as false to me
as was to ano' her. | dare not ask you to pitv
me; | have not deserved it. Alone, friendless
penniless, there remains but one course for
me. Farewell. Comfort my mother. and for
get your wretched, bfoken-hearted
AUGUSTUS"
81 did not believe in it. No, l did
not believe in that letter In the first
place, | could not imagine any one
contemplating really desperate step
and writing sach carefully worded
'epistle. Secondly, it would have been
to me, not to Mary, he would have
written, unless he wanted something
more from her than merely kindly
remembrance after death. 1t looked to
me much more like returning sanity
than the madness Of self-destruction
However, Mary was in such whirl of
terror and agitation that there was
nothing for it but send for cab and
tdht buC uISJ iIdlu W LODuOD. III i
hadn't been afraid she would think me
very hard-hcarted, l would have
pointed out that if he actually intended
to make away with himself, we should
arrive rather late. But / didn't feel
many misgivings on that point.
eve reached his chambers at last,
and Mary rushed up stairs too per-
turbed to speak. followed, but
paused n moment before entering, and
looking through the half-open door.
beheld tableau which made me think
he had calculated to a nicely the mo-
ment of our arrival. AT table Uttered
with books and papers sat Augustus.
his hair very untidy; his eyes upturned
to the ceiling; one arm thrown over
the back of his chair; in the other
hand he grasped a pistol. At the
noise of our entrance | observed he
made an elaborate attempt TO conceal
the pistol under very small piece of
blotting-paper.
MARY dropped on her knees at his
feet. | felt inclined to ring for the cur
tain to descend. 1t was with difficulty
l kept myself from applauding.
"'Oh Augustus! sobbed Mary, how
could YOU be so cruel? Come back to
us. Your mother has forgiven you; /
have forgiven you. Oh! come back, and
let us all be happy once more
"He put his arms about her and wept.
AS for me, | could think of nothing but
pistol; it fascinated me. | felt so utter
" sure that it was harmless that | was
not able to resist the temptation of try
ING it. Pointing it at Mary, / exclaimed:
"'Sooncr than you should give your
self to one so worthless l would see
you dead AZ my feet
Mary screamed. Augustus did not
even change color, but taking the
weapon from my hand, asked calmly:
Are you mad, mother?'
"Oh my poor boy! am afraid it is
you who are going mad, when you con-
template committing suicide with an
empty pistol.
''He changed color then; but before
he could answer, Mary did just the
most sensible thing that any girl could
have done under the circumstances
she tainted right away. The hurry and
excitement and reaction had been too
much for her. SO we had enough to do
in trying TO revive her; and when that
was effected thought the best thing
was for us all to have lunch, which we
accordingly did;and it was quite touch
ing to see Mary's pretty ways with
Augustus. She was rs anxious for him
to forget the past, and try TO be happy
in the present, as if he had been in no
way to blame.
80 there was nothing further for me
to do but persuade the silly boy to
come home with us, and make prepara-
4:o,, co.. tba ,yolJipn opI cnpport