Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-04-04

Gays ana nights away from home en-
gagged in gambling and plunging into
the most reckless dissipation. Ada
demonstrated, entreated and prayed,
but he tauntingly told her she knew
all that before. One night he brought
to his own house set of gamblers,
and in room not far from his wife's
apartment, carried.on a carousal near
ly all night. He lost enormous sums
of money, and toward day came to his
wife's room intoxicsted. Ada was
sitting by window, weeping; he
cursed her bitterly, told her he had
spent everything they had, that he
intended leaving her that day, and
that she could 60 home. My poor
sister said not word in answer to this.
When day dawned she set out, and
reached us as | have told. When /
had heard all, | paced the floor in
fever of expectation. Ii seemed as if
the moments would crush me as they
passed. The hours wore on, and
Norton came not. The atmosphere of
the house grew sufocating. l walked
out into the yard murmur of voices
fell on my ear--the sound seemed to
come from the rear of the building. |
: walked round the house and came sud-
: denly upon party of men-fOur in
number. Two of the men stood few
PAGES apart, pistols in hand. | knew
them at a glance; one was Gray, the
other-Norton. Ere / could reach
> them, report of pistols rang out on
the air and Gray fell forward on his
t face. Norton stood erect-unharmed.
"You have killed him." said one of
the men.
s "Then my work is done," said Nor.
a ton, "and | must 60"
e NO." said l, suddenly confronting
e him, "your work has just begun; we
{ must settle this matter here, nO,U; :"
S and as | spoke handed him a pistol.
i The moon was shining full upon us,
h and | saw him turn pale and hesitate.
"If you have one spark of honor in
r your soul you will fight me here"
e continued.
!. Greatly Norton" said one of the
It men, "this is something unusal, but l
n don't see how you are to get out of it
G without fighting this one too. "Well,
y he said carelessly, II can do that.
n We walked away a little from the
!. place where Gray lay, and taking our
a places awaited the signal and fred. !
l. am not fighting character but tell
r you my friend, the report of our pis-
d tolls lifted mountain load from my
d heart. | looked toward Norton, he
e had fallen backward to the ground.
e | walked up to him; his face was turn.
It ed up TO the full moonlight, ghastly
l. and still. He was dead, they said. |
h walked back to Gray who lay just as
}. he had fallen, he was dead. | remem.
e Der nothing after that A spell Of
n brain fever ensued from which | re-
d covered to stand a trial for murder.
n | was acquitted on the plea of insanity.
Is Norton they said was buried; yet he
| may have had a sham burial and
d bribed witnesses. do not know, but
1t | believe firmly that this man who
|, calls himself Weston is the man who
vt tell by my hand that night"
| The tears were in Mays eyes wher
l. Clifton paused.
], "Why do you follow him YETI" sht
W asked.
lie ITO remove from the path of limo
't cent lite-prilgrims viper who may
a sting them when they think not.
& He forged a note for thousands be
IL fore he went away and | would Sc,
s, justice awarded to him."
, "You can tell me what Ada wa
eS like" said May; chad she fair Gre
as clan face, with great innocent blu
eyes, concealed by long silken lashes
I'll graceful mass of curls which fell owe
e. her shoulders, and smile of mirtl
W round very red lips%
ID Clifton looked at his companion il
10 surprise.
I'd "You have never seen Ada?" h
TX said.