Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-21

! fear, upufted TO my own suddenly,
and before she knew, | stopped and
kissed her for the first time. She
sprang away with faint low cry
but / flung pride and prudence to the
winds at the touch of those velvet
lips.
Heaven bless the danger that
brings you to my side ]" | cried. "Oh,
Liz sweet Liz IL love you?'
She stood alta little distance, watch
ing me with startled eyes. as if uncer-
tain whether to stay or fly. Her in
decision was very brief, however.
II know" she said, putting up her
hand with deprecating gesture, as if
TO keep me off 81 know you do. And
I too-no, don't touch me, please-if
didn't care for you more than all
the world, should be here tonightP
Oh, Liz! but it was hard TO hear you
say those words and yet stand quiet
and obey.
my cousin came home to- day, she
vent on, hurriedly the man have
told you of. what do / know if he s
nv cousin or not2 What do / know
whose child am, But that's no mat
ter. All of you-gentle and simple
call me a beauty; aud jim swears
that I shall be mis- wife"
A quick shudder raj vlslbly
through all her frame as she spoke
those words; and 1 uttered a cry of
rage.
Hes heard OF you, she added,
quickly. Fathers been telling him
you fancied me, and they sat this
evening drinking and plottlGg togeth-
err, and though ] couldn't hear half
they said, know your LIES not safe. r"
Here, in her anxiety for me, she for.
got the stolen kiss, and came and
stood beside me, placing in her earn
estness, one hand upon my arm.
And fathers got your gun.
| started in surprise. The gun she
spoke of was valuable one that had
mysteriously disappeared from my
tent. knew it had been stolen, but
! certainly had not suspected old Ben
Allen, who had specially busted
himself in trying to discover the
thief
"He has, has he2" I cried. "rhe in
fernal old hypocrite and scoundrel! l
don't believe he's any more your father
THAI l am! And so it was he who
stole my gum"
The earnest hand was still upon my
arm, and the pale, sweet face upturn-
ed.
81 ask you to forgive him for my
sake, she said, land not stay to try
to get it back again. Your life's not
safe between them. Father is owing
jim money, and was to be taken for
the debt. When | said | wouldn't
marry him thay 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 frst'
In her agitation she betrayed her
feelings as she had never done before.
| caught her in my arms.
"And If | should go will you let
them force you to marry him" |
cried
"Nayw she answered, firmly, with
| her beautiful. serious eyes fixed full
on mine. They could never force
me. See herer She placed her lit
tie hand in mine. 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 a cry of rage a man
sprang from among the pines, and
made as if to seize her Instinctivelv,
rs recognized Ben, flung her round
beyond his reach and placed myself
before her. That movement saved
my life.
For, ON the instant, the report of a
gun was heard, and old Ben Allen,
with ono agonized cry, fell dead be-
fore US; while Liz with a wild scream
of horror, dropped on her knees be
side him.
| stood, for one brief second, Devil
| dered, horror-stricken, then darted
away in the direction whence the shot
had been fired. The crashing of the
underbrush, as under the feet of some
one in full flight, guided me. In
among the pines picked up a gun,
whose warm and still smoking barrel
showed that it had been the murder
ers weapon, but | found not him who
had fired it. So, after a hasty, fruit
less search, l returned to the scene of
death, where / found, despite the
lonely spot and lateness of the hour,
a crowd had already collected rough,
uncouth fellows; wood-cutters and
charc al-burners and the hke-all
sworn friends and comrades of the
Aliens, and natural enemies of all
men richer than themselves. They
received me with howl of loathing.
Here's the murderer. Seize him,
boys The gun is in his hand It
was Jim who spoke, Lizzies reputed
cousin. | locked round Tor her, but
she was gone.
l was Sc zsd, of course, without be-
ing allowed to say a word, and nus
tied to the neighboring town-a rough.
wild place, at best, but | was glad to
get there, for that was a rough. wild
ride that led to it, with such rude es-
cort among the pines.
| had laughed contemptuously 10